Academy of American Poets
Teach This Poem: "A New National Anthem" by Ada Limón
Ada Limon's poem, "A New National Anthem," offers young scholars an opportunity to reflect on the significance of the US national anthem and the extent to which Key's vision applies to all Americans. After watching a video of Whitney...
Curated OER
Places Where I See the Flag
Students examine the symbolism of the American flag and places where they see the flag. They sing the Star Spangled Banner, develop a list of places where they see the flag, and complete a page for a class flag book.
Curated OER
Star -Spangled Illustrations
Third graders create a PowerPoint presentation to show their patriotism and express their thoughts on the meaning of The Star-Spangled Banner with this exciting and creative activity.
Curated OER
Poetry and Our National Anthem
Students express the meaning of the Star-Spangled Banner. In this American history lesson, students read through the national anthem and complete an activities from a list of choices. Some choices include: writing the anthem in your own...
Curated OER
Tonic Chord in "The Star-Spangled Banner" (Grades 5-8 Chorus).
Students demonstrate perception of the root, third and fifth of the tonic chord by appropriate movement responses. They analyze and describe music. Students listen to the middle C played on the keyboard and sing to it on the syllable do.
Curated OER
The Design of Fort McHenry: The Star Fort
What makes an effective fort, and why might a city feel that they need such a structure? Your young historians will explore the purpose and design for Fort McHenry, and build their own models of a fort based on the information they...
Curated OER
The Star Spangled Banner
Fourth graders perform research about the star spangled banner and then perform the song. The background to the song helps to build literacy skills with the writing of a paper. The author is also investigated for historical context.
Curated OER
General Music: Grades 4 & 5
The story behind the Star Spangled Banner sets off this singing and music lesson. Emergent singers study facts about Francis Scott Key and his famous song, they then discuss and practice singing the first verse paying close attention to...
Curated OER
By Dawn's Early Light
Fourth graders explore the history of the "Star-Spangled Banner". In the process, they explore how the lyrics of a song can be a form of poetry and the principles of cause and effect. After a class discussion, 4th graders complete a...
Library of Congress
Stars, Stripes and Symbols of America: Comparing Our Flag, Past and Present
Your young historians will compare and contrast the details of the American flag today with an an image of the nation's flag from the post-Civil War era, and identify the flag's importance as a national symbol through analysis...
Curated OER
The National Anthem Project: Notating "The Star-Spangled Banner" (Middle Level Strings).
Young scholars hear a melody, play in their instruments and write it down on manuscript paper. They correct their melody and play from their own manuscript paper. Students continue this procedure at least once a week.
Friends of Fort McHenry
Citizens For and Against the War of 1812
Use this exceptional resource to examine the discourse and debate that occurred at the start of the War of 1812 with your class. Learners will first consider their own position on the war in a silent journal writing activity. Then after...
Curated OER
Star-Spangled Banner Interview
Fourth graders, working in pairs, interview either Dr. Beanes, Francis Scott Key, or General Robert Ross about the events that led to Francis Scott Key being aboard the ship during the bombing of Fort McHenry. One person interviews the...
Friends of Fort McHenry
Baltimore – Caught in the Middle
Choosing sides is no easy matter, and this was certainly true for the citizens of Baltimore in the beginning stages of the Civil War. Using video, group analysis of several primary sources, and discussion, this detailed and thorough...
Curated OER
Songs of America
Combine your lesson plan on patriotism with a lesson plan on comparing and contrasting. Focusing on The Star Spangled Banner, Take Me Out to the Ballgame, and The Old Folks at Home, this lesson plan prompts learners to compare and...
Curated OER
Focus on Harmony
Harmony is the focus of this band lesson. Upper graders play the Star Spangled Banner, while focusing on harmony, chords, and musical voice. This lesson includes several suggested cross-curricular activities.
Curated OER
A Wing and a Prayer
Fourth graders improvise missing harmony accompaniment for a soloist performing "The Star Spangled Banner." Groups select several familiar melodies that they can produce while individual students take turns improvising a new harmony part.
Friends of Fort McHenry
Privateers in the War of 1812: Soldiers or Thieves?
Do governments have the right to authorize individuals to perform illegal acts during times of war? Did the US government really employ pirates? Use the War of 1812 as your vessel to answering these questions through class discussion and...
Friends of Fort McHenry
Was the War of 1812 Our Second War of Independence?
Though it occurred almost 40 years later, could the United States have been fighting for their independence again in the War of 1812? Using appropriate primary source material from each of the two wars, compare and contrast the situation...
Curated OER
Oh, Say Can You See...
Learners explore the meaning behind "The Star-Spangled Banner." In this music lesson plan, students sing the first verse of the national anthem and watch several performances of "The Star-Spangled Banner." Learners define several...
Curated OER
Patchwork Flag
Learners read the story By the Dawn's Early Light, sing the Star Spangled Banner, put the words together in sentence strips, make a list of American qualities, and more. Through learning with music in this American Patriotism lesson...
Curated OER
Introduction to American Literature
Eleventh graders define freedom, write about what the Star Spangled Banner means to them, and in cooperative groups write a new verse to the national anthem.
Curated OER
Singing Patriotic Music
Students sing, alone and with others, a varied repertoire of patriotic music, including "America" and "The Star Spangled Banner," to sing expressively with appropriate dynamics, phrasing, and interpretation.
Curated OER
Let the Music Play: Bicentennial quarter reverse
To better understand who George Washington was and why we celebrated the bicentennial, pupils read a story and complete a worksheet. They sing and talk about the song, "Yankee Doodle Dandy" as they march around the room.