Module II: Informational Writing through Patriotic Song

War of 1812 Battle with Techmseh
War of 1812 Battle with Techmseh

A.   “Star Spangled Banner” Model Writing Lesson Details: What important information do the Lyrics of “The Star Spangled Banner” and related art works tell us about the life and times of Francis Scott Key and others who lived about 1812?

Here, since we are writing for information, we will go into more depth concerning the creation of  “The Star-Spangled Banner” and its history.  This lesson should primarily be a model by teacher with the assistance of students.  The lesson might require approximately two weeks to complete. See Procedure.

  1. Materials and Links for teaching (modeling informational writing):
    1 Review related items and children’s books from Module I, opinion writing.
  2.   “Star-Spangled Banner” music by US Marine Band
    4.  Informational Pre-write Templet
    5.  Hail Columbia, song lyrics and video
    6.  Background flag information for teacher review
    7.  David Hildebrand singing an 1816 version of “The Star-Spangled Banner”(about 51 min into video)
    8.  National Park Service Star-Spangled Banner website
    9.  Smithsonian Flag Mary Pickersgill website
    10.  Mary Pickersgill Maryland Hall of Fame website
    11.   Several Power Points on American Symbols and Famous Americans
    12.  The Flag Maker by Susan Bartoletti (children’s book)
    13.  Pickersgill receipt for two Fort McHenry flags

B. “Oh! Suzanna” Writing Lesson Details: What important information do the lyrics and related art work from the time period of the Civil War tell us about the life and times of the people who lived during this period.

In this lesson, teachers introduce and help students examine the songs and literature of the Civil War era in order to determine the way of life of many people who lived during the mid-1800s.  Students should organize and prepare the written informational product primarily on their own, but with teacher and team assistance.    The lesson might require approximately two- three weeks to complete.  See Procedure.

Materials and Links for teaching informational writing:

Moery family  trunk brought with Jacob to US from Epsach, Switzerland arriving on April 14, 1865.
Moery family trunk brought with Jacob to US from Epsach, Switzerland arriving on April 14, 1865.


Children’s Books (in most public libraries):
*Civil War on Sunday by Mary Pope Osborn
*Hope’s Gift by Kelly Lyons
*Civil War Drummer Boy by Verla Kay

  1.  * Children’s Books about the Gold Rush
  2.  “Oh! Suzanna“, Music and Lyrics by Stephen Foster
  3.  “Oh! Suzanna” you tube vide0
  4.   “I Hear America Singing” by Walt Whitman
  5.   “Come Up From the Fields Father” by Walt Whitman
  6.   Video showing how the carpenter built in the mid 1800s.
  7.   “Casey at the Bat” by Ernest Thayer reading and words 
  8.   Civil War Photos 
  9.    On the Civil War Homefront worksheet 
  10.   Informational Pre-write Temple 
  11.    Civil War Fill in the Blanks 
  12.    PBS Gold Rush Site 
  13.    Smithsonian Folkways Gold Rush music (many songs of sentimentality)
  14.   Information writing paper
  15.   Pre-Write paper
    1
    6.  Background immigration information for teachers, mid 1800s
Civil War post card sent from Lebanon, KY.