Abolitionist Star Spangled Banner —"Oh Say, Do You Hear?" (1844)

In the 19th-century, the music and words known today as the national anthem of the United States —”The Star-Spangled Banner”—was deeply associated with American identity but just one of many patriotic songs. All of America’s patriotic songs were part of an ongoing cultural dialogue known as the broadside ballad tradition. New lyrics were  written to…

Star Spangled Music Day—Wed. Sept. 14, 2016

JOIN US TO CELEBRATE A BANNER BIRTHDAY! The Star Spangled Music Foundation (SSMF) is pleased to announce a national Star-Spangled Music Day #3 for Wednesday, September 14, 2016 in celebration of the 202nd anniversary of the United States National Anthem — “The Star-Spangled Banner.” For this day we ask that Americans far-and-wide and especially K-12…

Star Spangled Songbook Published!

Our book of sheet music and anthem history—the Star Spangled Songbook—has been published to mark the song’s 201st anniversary!The Star Spangled Songbook tells a largely forgotten story of the United States of America—of the symbiosis of both anthem and nation—in more than seventy songs with full text and performable sheet music. These all-new scholarly editions…

Star Spangled Music Day Photo Contest

Send pics of your Star Spangled Music Day celebration to info@starspangledmusic.org or post them to our Facebook Page. Submit by September 22, 2014 at 5:00 p.m. for a chance to win copies of our Poets & Patriots commemorative CDs. Ten schools will be selected at random and will receive two free copies, one for the…

Physical Education—Colonial Dance Lesson

Students will learn a colonial dance from 1814 when The Star-Spangled Banner was written.  Students will first watch several videos of children performing colonial dances and then learn the dances.  Students can perform the dances in their Physical Education classes or as a part of the school assembly. Lesson: 1. Discuss with students that they…

Music Lesson-Learning about Francis Scott Key and the song The Star-Spangled Banner

Students will be learning about Francis Scott Key, the Battle at Fort McHenry, and the story of the composition of The Star-Spangled Banner.  Students will be learning to sing the song, The Star-Spangled Banner through several methods such as listening, repeating the words in rhythm, and reading the words and following along with the music…

Visual Art Lesson—Studying Paintings of the Battle at Fort McHenry

In preparation for the 200th anniversary of The Star-Spangled Banner, students will learn about the Battle at Fort McHenry by studying paintings portraying this event.  Students will also study the painting By the Dawn’s Early Light painted for the 100th anniversary of the Battle at Fort McHenry. Lesson: 1. Study three paintings of the Battle…

Development of American Democracy: An Analysis of the Evolution of American Political Parties to the Anacreon Tune

Development of American Democracy:  An Analysis of the Evolution of American Political Parties to the Anacreon Tune AP US History Social Studies Grade Levels (9–12) by Vincent Stewart, Bowie High School The Development of American Democracy Lesson Plan Overview:   A student centered activity where students research the development of various American political parties and tell the stories of…

O Say Can You Sequence?

Grades 2-4 by Kathryn S. Gallagher PS13Q The Greatest Flag That Ever Flew details the creation of “The Star Spangled Banner” through the eyes of Caroline Pickersgill, daughter of flag maker Mary Pickersgill. Students will sequence this key event in American history, and give voice to Grace Wisher, a young apprentice largely lost to history. Goals and Objectives…

Symbols and Sounds of Freedom

  TITLE: Symbols and Sounds of Freedom Primary Subject: Social Studies Secondary Subject: Reading/Language Arts Grade Levels (4–6) Homer L. Thomas, Prince George’s County, MD Short Description: Symbols and sounds convey meaning and often evoke an emotional connection or response. This lesson is designed to help students examine the concepts of freedom and patriotism and…