The Star Spangled Banner
at
Fort McHenry

 
 

Introduction:
    Our flag is very special to us.  It represents our country and the men and women who lived and died to preserve our freedom.  When Francis Scott Key wrote the "Star Spangled Banner", he was watching the battle of Baltimore.  We were fighting the British in the war of 1812.  He was a prisoner on a British ship, and was watching to see if the flag still flew over Fort McHenry after a night of fierce fighting.  When he saw the flag, he was inspired to write the words of the song.

Task:
     Read the information in the links that are listed below to find out more about the battle, the flag, and the "Star Spangled Banner".  Listen to the "Star Spangled Banner", and make a slide show to illustrate the song.  You will need to use Powerpoint or another similar slide show program.
 

Process:
 

      1.  First, go to the links given you, and read about Fort McHenry, the flag, and Francis Scott Key.
     2.  Using powerpoint or a similar slideshow program, create a slide show consisting of five slides about the song, TheStar Spangled Banner.  The first should be a title slide, the next two need to illustrate two phrases of the song, the next should be a paragraph telling what it means to you to be an American, and the last slide should be an ending slide which identifies you as the author of the slide show.  Be sure to type the phrases which you are illustrating on the proper slides.
      3. Put the pictures into the slide show and select the transition you want.  Do not use sound unless you want to read what you have written while the slide is being shown.

Resources:
 Fort McHenry - The Flag
The Battle and the Anthem
Fort McHenry NM and Historic Shrine
Home Page
Fort McHenry - Archeological
The Battle of Baltimore
 Star Spangled Banner
Battle of Baltimore - The Star Spangled Banner
 

Evaluation:
 1. Do you have a title slide, at least two illustration slides, a paragraph slide, and an end slide?
  2.  Did you tell which part of the song you were illustrating in each picture?
  3.  Did you put your pictures into the slide show, and choose the transitions you wanted?
 

Conclusion:
   The "Star Spangled Banner" is now our National Anthem, and is known all over the world.  It represents our country, its people, and its values.  Many have died in order to preserve the freedom that it represents.  We all owe our freedom to those who died in order that we might be free.  That is why we always stand when we sing the song.