My beautiful flag, You are waving today, To honor a hero true; Columbus who gave us Our dear native land, Our land of the Red, White and Blue.
I'll wave my flag for Discovery Day, And before I get frightened I'll scamper away.
The children stand in a circle. They choose one to represent Columbus. The children all sing the song (given below). As they sing the fifth line Columbus points to three children, who become the Nina (baby), the Pinta, and the Santa Maria. These three children come inside the circle, and wave arms up and down as though sailing. The children now all repeat the song, marching round in the circle, waving arms up and down, and the children inside the circle skip round also.
The song is then repeated, children standing in a circle, and the three chosen as Nina, Pinta and Santa Maria choose three children to take their places by pointing at any three children in the circle.
Game may continue as long as desired or until all have had a chance to go inside the circle.[A]
[A] The story of Columbus may be dramatized in connection with this game.
Columbus was a sailor boy, Many years ago. A great ship was the sailor's joy, Many years ago. The Nina, the Pinta, the Santa Maria, Little vessels three, The Nina, the Pinta, the Santa Maria, Sailed out across the sea.
Once I made a little ship, Down beside the sea; And I said, "Come now, dear winds, And blow it back to me!" O little ship that sails the sea. O wind that blows it back to me!
Wave the flags, wave the flags; We are sailor boys at play; Wave the flags, wave the flags, On Columbus Day. O'er the waters we will go, Singing, singing, as we row; Wave the flags to and fro, On Columbus Day. (_Children wave flags_)
Cross the flags, cross the flags, With their pretty colors gay; Cross the flags, cross the flags, On Columbus Day. We would like to sail, 'tis true, O'er the waters bright and blue, So we cross the flags for you On Columbus Day. (_Children cross flags_)
_1st_--Columbus was a sailor bold, At least that's what I have been told.
_2d_--I would also like to sail the sea, If not too far from mother's knee.
_3d_--He had three ships to sail the sea, One ship would be enough for me.
_4th_--In the Nina I would go; But what if stormy winds should blow?