Pennant Flags Teaching Resources

Print pennant flags that fit your classroom theme, and explore printable pennants for classroom events and holidays, as well as flags designed around the core academic topics.

This printables collection is full of colorful and engaging classroom decor created by the Teach Starter graphic design team with students and their needs in mind!

If your brain goes directly to baseball rather than classroom decor when you hear the term pennant, you may be curious about what these flags are, how to make them and how to hang your pennants. Read on for a primer from our teacher team!

What Is a Pennant Flag?

Sometimes called a bunting or a bunting flag, a pennant is a type of decorative flag that's typically made of triangular or rectangular pieces of fabric sewn or attached to a string or rope. They're designed to be hung vertically from a horizontal bar or string — with the pointed end at the bottom — and together they form a series of flags and add a festive touch to decor.

Pennants don't have to be fabric — in fact you'll see them made from plastic, wood and, of course, paper (like these printable options!) — and they often feature vibrant colors, patterns or designs.

Here's a bit of information for the etymologists out there — the term pennant initially referred to a rope for hoisting before going on to refer to the flags that hung from warships. It was sometime in the late 1800s that the term came to refer to flags symbolizing a sports championship — especially baseball.

These days they can be used to decorate a lot more than ships or stadiums. They're popular on parade floats, hanging on dorm room walls and — of course — as part of your classroom decor!

How to Make Pennant Flags

Printable pennant flags can save you time as you decorate your classroom, but how do you make actual bunting from your pile of pretty printables? Follow our simple step-by-step guide!

Materials

• A PDF of your chosen pennant flags from Teach Starter
• Paper or thick card
• Scissors
• Hole punch
• String or ribbon
• Adhesive (optional)

Instructions

1. Print the pennant flags — Download the PDF and print the flags from Teach Starter. Make sure to adjust the print settings according to the size and type of paper or card you are using.
2. Cut out the flags — Carefully cut out each bunting flag along the provided outline.
3. Punch holes — Rather than cutting out little holes at the top with scissors, save time by using a hole punch to create holes near the top corners of each flag. This is where you will thread the string or ribbon through to hang the flags.
4. Arrange the flags — Determine the order and spacing of the bunting flags. You can arrange them in a specific pattern or alternate different colors or designs. It's easiest to lay them out on the floor or a table in the right sequence before hanging them!
5. Thread the flags — Take a length of string or ribbon, and thread it through the holes or along the top edge of each bunting flag. Leave a small gap between each flag to allow them to hang freely. You can tie knots or use adhesive to secure the string or ribbon to the flags if necessary.
6. Hang the string of flags — Once all the flags are threaded onto the string or ribbon, it's time to hang your bunting! You can use adhesive hooks, tape or pins to attach the pennants to walls, windows or across the classroom.

How Far Apart Should Pennant Flags Be?

Wondering just how far apart your flags should be? The good news is there's no hard and fast rule.

The bigger question is how much space you have in the classroom vs. how many flags you want to hang! What's important is simply to have even spacing between each flag so your string of flags looks visually pleasing.