Description

South Africa’s nickname is ‘the Rainbow Nation’.  This comes from the eleven diverse population groups, and languages of the people who call this country home.  This South African flag will make any 1 of the 65-million people, proud.  Furthermore, it is one of the most geographically varied countries on the African continent, with its fertile plains of the highveld, and the wide-open Savannah. Found at the bottom of the African continent, South Africa is unique, as it has 2 oceans, the Atlantic Ocean and Indian Ocean surrounding the country.

Officially, the South African flag colours do not hold any symbolism, although they have unmistakable historical origins. Black, yellow, and green are the colours of ruling ANC political party. Red, white, and blue are a nod to both the flags of the European colonists as well as the old Boer republics. The V or Y shape, which can be interpreted as “the convergence of diverse elements within South African society, taking the road ahead in unity”.

It can also be said that the colours hold the following unofficial meanings:

• Red symbolizes bloodshed, and sacrifices made in South Africa’s struggle for independence
• White stands for Europeans, and peace and harmony between native people and Europeans
• Green represents fertility of the South African land
• Yellow stands for the mineral, and other natural wealth of South Africa
• Black represents the native people of South Africa
• Blue stands for blue sky, and the 2 oceans, and endless opportunities for South Africans

Features of the South African Flag

• vibrantly coloured material flag
• small enough to stand on a Montessori shelf, desk or table top
• with a plastic stand, which can be removed from base
• aligned to the Montessori Geography curriculum

Size:  

• the flag is 15cm x 10cm / (6″ x 4″ )
• the stand (including the flag) is 33cm tall / ( 13″ )

Related Products

• The parts of a flag activity gives children an understanding of what the different components of a flag mean
• The South Africa Puzzle Map forms part of the geography curriculum
• The Africa Flags – 3 Part Cards activity lists 60 countries with their individual flags

Further Reading and Resources

1. Montessori Education and its Cultural and Peace Curriculum, a blog written by Caroline Kerr at The Sammamish Montessori school.