Oh, Say Can You See?
If you’re looking for an interesting topic to focus on for a history–or music or art!–lesson, check out these Star-Spangled Banner lesson plan ideas and create your own national anthem homeschool unit study. March 6 is National Anthem Day!
Explore the history of the “Star-Spangled Banner” with this online exhibit featuring a collect-the-stars quiz, interactive flag graphic, and more.
Check out some fun facts about Francis Scott Key and the writing of the “Star-Spangled Banner” at americanhistoryforkids.com.
In the course of your national anthem unit study, your students will notice that the Star-Spangled Banner of Francis Scott Key’s day looks quite a bit different from our modern-day flag. Use that observation to start exploring the history of our flag, the evolution of its design, and the elements of our modern flag and what they represent.
This simple craft from My Creative Life creates a replica of the flag flown during the Battle of Baltimore in 1814 and can be used to help reinforce the history of events which brought the flag from the ramparts of Fort McHenry to the Smithsonian.
Sensory and fine motor activities are excellent ways to introduce and reinforce topics to very young children and students with special needs. Try incorporating some of the sensory activities described in this Group by Group blog post into your homeschool.
Of course, the United States isn’t the only nation with its own patriotic anthem. You can explore this library of flags and national anthems from around the world. Consider activities such as identifying common themes within a range of anthems or researching the history of the anthem of another country as optional activities that can be tailored for a range of student ages and abilities.
