Unicorns, the Alphabet and a Flag The Let's Go Club

This is the Let's Go Club, but mini!

Expect making, exploring,

super sizing, dancing,

fact-finding and laughing.

We've only got a few minutes,

so get ready for more fun from the Let's Go Club.

Fact fans, today we're finding out all about...

countries!

Polar ice caps, roads on street maps.

Languages spoken

across great oceans.

Ships go sailing,

flags are waving.

Passports out...

to fly about!

Come on, let's get to those facts.

First up, today's Stars & Stripes design of the American flag

was drawn up by a 17-year-old schoolboy called Robert G Heft.

But he was only given a B- for it.

Robert's teacher said that if he could get the important people

of the United States government to like the flag,

then he'd give him a better grade.

So Robert did! And his flag,

known as the Star Spangled Banner, is now 60 years old

and has been flown on important buildings all over the world.

We'd definitely give him an A star!

Next, the Spanish national anthem, the Marcha Real,

has absolutely no words,

and was composed by back in 1761,

before electricity was invented.

Lots of songwriters have tried to give Marcha Real words,

but none have stuck.

Lyrics were written for the anthem in a competition

before the Beijing Olympics, but after only five days,

it was decided that the anthem should stay lyric-less.

Oh, well. At least you'll never forget the words!

Next to Hawaii. Aloha!

Did you know the Hawaiian alphabet only has 13 letters?

It has five vowels - A, E, I, O, U -

and seven consonants - H, K, L, M, N, P and W.

And something called an 'okina, which is a silent...

..pause.

Even though Hawaiian is the national language of Hawaii,

only 1,000 people living there speak it.

Most of the islanders actually speak English. I say!

And finally, can you guess what Scotland's national animal is?

it's not a stag,

or a highland cow.

Not even the Loch Ness monster.

It's a unicorn!

700 years ago, King Robert of Scotland

liked magical unicorn stories so much,

he picked the animal for his country.

Unicorns have been seen on Scottish money ever since,

and are still used in royal symbols today.

Not bad for a rainbow-loving animal that isn't real!

Fact.

You can join the Let's Go Club too.

Grab a grown-up, and head to the CBeebies website.

There are songs to sing,

things to make and do,

and CBeebies Radio too.

Remember, we're the club that never closes!