Star-Spangled Patriotism

ENGAGE Listen to this! ◦ What is the name of this song? ◦ What makes this song special to our country? ◦ Why is this song such a part of our identity as Americans? ◦ What do the words mean? ◦ When was the song written? ◦ Why was the song written?

EXPLORE The Star Spangled Banner is our national anthem. An anthem is a special song sung to show honor and loyalty. The United States was at war with England in Just before an attack by the British, the American soldiers raised the United Stated flag over their fort. Not far away, Francis Scott Key, an American poet and lawyer, watched the battle. Following a British attack during the night, Key looked through the morning sky for the United States flag. When he saw it still waving over the fort, he knew the Americans had won, and he began writing the words to "The Star Spangled Banner" on the back of a letter. He wrote the entire song in one day. The poem was set to music composed by John Stafford Smith. It has officially been the national anthem since When the Star-Spangled Banner is sung, Americans should stand and face the flag, and many people put their hand over their heart while singing this National Anthem.

EXPLORE Now that you know a little about the anthem-- ◦ How did the war provide us with something positive? ◦ If you were Francis Scott Key, would you have thought to write “Bombs bursting in air” as you watched the battle?

EXPLORE Each group will get a verse from The Star- Spangled Banner Then, each group will create a visual representation of the selected line and write in their own words what the line means

EXPLAIN Let’s share our illustrations! ◦ How do the words of this song represent our country? ◦ Why is this song so much a part of who we are as Americans? ◦ Why does it make us feel patriotic?

ELABORATE Check out these symbols of America! ◦ Why are all of these things symbols of our country? ◦ Do you think that when other people see pictures of these things that they think of America? Why or why not? ◦ How do they help people of our country show patriotism? ◦ Have these things become part of our identity as Americans?

EVALUATE SUMMATIVE ASSESSMENT You will work in partners to make a museum exhibit of a symbol of America. The exhibit must include: ◦ A hand drawn illustration ◦ An index card ‘museum plaque’ to go beside their illustration that tells about the symbol. Symbols include: ◦ Flag ◦ White House ◦ Uncle Sam ◦ Elephant and Donkey ◦ Statue of Liberty ◦ Liberty Bell ◦ Bald Eagle ◦ Lincoln Memorial ◦ Mount Rushmore ◦ Washington Monument