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Learn about the Portuguese flag

First suggested by Moot 2025 United Kingdom Contingent
Uncover the stories behind Portugal’s flag and make your own!

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You’ll need

  • Coloured pens or pencils
  • Scissors
  • Craft materials (for example, tissue paper, pipe cleaners, stickers)
  • Sticky tape
  • Paper drinking straws
Portugal Flag Outline A4
PDF – 35.6KB
Download Portugal Flag Outline A4

Before you begin 

  • Use the safety checklist to help you plan and risk assess your activity. There’s also more guidance to help you carry out your risk assessment, including examples.  
  • Make sure all young people and adults involved in the activity know how to take part safely.
  • Make sure you’ll have enough adult helpers. You may need some parents and carers to help.  

The World Scout Moot is a global event for Scouts and Guides aged 18 to 25. It's held every four years in different countries, bringing young people together to make new friends, discover new cultures and enjoy exciting adventures. 

The next Moot will be held in Portugal in 2025. The event has three parts: a semi-independent expedition, a large camp with Scouts from around the world and a special experience after the main event. Portugal’s a beautiful country in Southern Europe, known for its fascinating history, stunning beaches and warm weather. This year’s participants will have the chance to explore Lisbon’s historic streets, relax by the sea and take part in outdoor activities, such as hiking and surfing. Learn more about the 16th World Scout Moot. 


Planning and setting up this activity 

  • Print out copies of the Portuguese flag worksheet, enough for one per person.
  • You may wish to have a copy of the Portuguese flag to show everyone. 

Running this activity 

  1. Gather everyone together and ask if anyone knows what the Portuguese flag looks like. You could show everyone a photo of the flag.
  2. The Portuguese flag has two main colours: green and red.
  3. Green stands for hope for the future, and red represents the bravery and sacrifices of the Portuguese people.
  4. In the middle is a yellow armillary sphere, which is an old tool sailors used to explore the seas.
  5. On top of it is a red shield with five smaller blue shields, showing Portugal’s victories in old battles. The flag changed a lot over time – the current one has been used since 1911, after Portugal became a republic (they no longer had a king)
  6. Give everyone a blank outline of the flag. They can decorate using any materials available, such as colouring pencils, pastels, felt tips, paint, tissue paper, card and paper, stickers or other craft materials. They can use traditional colours or create their own unique design for a new Portuguese flag.
  7. After the flag’s been decorated, cut out the flag carefully along the edges. 
  8. Place the flag on a flat surface and stick a paper straw along the left side of the flag. You can use sticky tape. The straw will act as the flagpole. 

Reflection

This activity was all about the Portuguese flag. Was there something about the flag that stood out to you? Can anyone remember any of the facts about the flag or what the different parts of it mean?  Everyone made their own versions of the flags too. Did you use the traditional colours, or did you make your own design? What made you choose those colours or that design?  Now that your flag is finished, what do you think about it? Where are you going to put it? What else would you like to learn about Portugal or other countries? Do you know what other country’s flags look like? 

Safety

All activities must be safely managed. You must complete a thorough risk assessment and take appropriate steps to reduce risk. Use the safety checklist to help you plan and risk assess your activity. Always get approval for the activity, and have suitable supervision and an InTouch process.

You must run your activities in line with the Safeguarding Code of Conduct for Adults (Yellow Card) and report any concerns to the UK HQ Safeguarding Team.

Scissors

Supervise young people appropriately when they’re using scissors. Store all sharp objects securely, out of the reach of young people.

To make this activity easier, you could cut out the flag templates before the session. 

  • Some people might struggle with using scissors. Make sure to provide scissors everyone can use, such as left-handed, tabletop scissors, loop scissors or easy grip scissors. People could tear, rather than cut with scissors too. You could provide pre-cut materials too. 
  • Make sure to have accessible equipment or methods available, such as left-handed tools, tearing instead of cutting out, or thicker materials for easier grip. 
  • Make sure any equipment is laid out in a way that’s accessible to everyone. There should be space or access for everyone to move around and reach anything needed. 
  • Some people might not like how it feels to touch some items or textures, or they may not like getting messy. No-one should be forced to touch something they feel uncomfortable with. They could wear gloves, use another object to interact with the item or find another way to do the activity. Someone else could do that part of the task. For example, you could use glue instead of sticky tape. 
  • This activity can be done standing or sitting, with those sitting either on the floor or on chairs. 

 

All Scout activities should be inclusive and accessible.

Squirrels All Around Us Challenge Award
Beavers International Activity Badge
Cubs International Activity Badge
Scouts International Activity Badge
Explorers International Activity Badge

If you enjoyed this activity, try one of our other Moot 2025 activities.