Today’s Walking Classroom looks at America’s national anthem, “The Star-Spangled Banner” and the historical battle that inspired its lyrics. “The Star-Spangled Banner” was originally written as a poem after a battle in the War of 1812, when Francis Scott Key saw the flag flying over Fort McHenry and he knew that the British had failed in their attack. The song is often sung at sporting events and other special occasions that allow us to celebrate our country and show our pride in America.
Character Value: Patriotism
Click for Standards Alignment
Common Core
L–Language | SL–Speaking and Listening | RI–Reading: Informational | RL–Reading: Literature | W–Writing | RH–6-8 Literacy in History/Social Studies | RST–6-8 Literacy in Science & Technical Subjects Elementary School:RL.3.1, RL.3.4, RL.3.5, RI.3.2, L.3.5, SL.3.1, SL.3.4
RL.4.1, RL.4.2, RL.4.4, RI.4.3, L.4.5, SL.4.1, SL.4.4
RL.5.1, RL.5.4, RL.5.5, RI.5.3, L.5.5, SL.5.1, SL.5.4
Middle School:
RI.6.2, RI.6.3, SL.6.1, SL.6.4
RI.7.2, RI.7.3, SL.7.1, SL.7.4
RI.8.2, RI.8.3, SL.8.1, SL.8.4
Supplemental Resource Links and Downloads
Quiz: (Make sure you're already logged into your Gmail account, then click to copy this Google form to your Google Drive. Quiz keys are here.)
“Star-Spangled Banner” Google Quiz
Slide Deck:
“Star-Spangled Banner” Slide Deck
Provides a background of Francis Scott Key and his writing of “The Star Spangled Banner.”
Recounts how Francis Scott Key, captive aboard a British warship, watched the Battle of Fort McHenry and later wrote the poem which would be come America’s national anthem.
Reveals the history of America’s national anthem and how it was originally written as a poem by a young American lawyer during the War of 1812.
Listen to a live performance of our National Anthem by the United States Army Field Band and Soldiers’ Chorus.
Explore the history of the flag that inspired Francis Scott Key to write “The Star-Spangled Banner” using this interactive from the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History.
Look for the American flag (Activity 1) and discuss why it might show up in different places in this activity from the National Endowment for the Humanities.
Match terms related to “The Star-Spangled Banner” to their definitions or appropriate sentences.
Choose a line of “The Star-Spangled Banner” and illustrate its meaning in this activity from Crayola.
The musical score for “The Star Spangled Banner” with lyrics from CARRS Music Store in Baltimore.
Francis Scott Key autographed manuscript of “The Star Spangled Banner,” 1840.
See More Podcasts in Subject Area: Social Studies
See More Themed Groupings that Contain this Podcast: America! America!, Songs and Poems