As educators guide students through conversations around civics, history, and national identity for the 250th anniversary of the United States, finding meaningful entry points can feel daunting. How do we move beyond empty platitudes and decorations on school bulletin boards? What would it look like to ask young people to genuinely inquire about loyalty, citizenship, and belonging?

My first hope is that the latest issue of the Questions Journal provides a window into what types of conversations around patriotism are possible within schools; and provides a useful resource for educators looking to engage students in questions such as: “What is Patriotism?”

Over the past decade, I have become increasingly drawn to the use of visual art as a stimulus for philosophical inquiry. At first it was a refreshing way to “mix up” my inquiry dialogue format, but it has now become part of my foundational practice. I appreciate the ways in which art-based inquiries can open up possibilities for student thinking and shift how we engage as a community. So with that in mind, I would like to encourage you to check out the newest addition to our PLATO Toolkit: a lesson plan that explores concepts related to patriotism through visual art. 

On the 250th anniversary of America, students will be even more attuned to the visual culture that surrounds patriotism – national flags, historical monuments, branded and commercialized content. This latest lesson plan invites students to critically analyze how visual culture constructs, reinforces, or subverts concepts of loyalty, national identity and historical memory. 

Students are invited to explore questions such as:

• Can you criticize your country and still be patriotic?
• What gives a symbol its authority over a people?
• How do history, war, and systemic injustice change how a person experiences patriotism?

Explore the Resource: Visit the PLATO Toolkit to download the free Patriotism Explored through Art lesson plan today!