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 while singing the song.  They will learn about the Battle at Fort McHenry and Francis Scott Key through listening to several children’s books.
Lesson:
1. Play several different recordings of The Star-Spangled Banner, both instrumental and vocal to introduce the song, instructing students to listen carefully.  Have a discussion about the music-what was the same/different, what instruments did you hear, what is the name of the song?  
2. Read a story book to the students about Francis Scott Key, the Battle at Fort McHenry, and the writing of The Star-Spangled Banner such as By the Dawn’s Early Light-The Story of the Star Spangled Banner by Steven Kroll and Dan Andreasen.
3. Teach students the words to the song The Star-Spangled Banner using several different activities so that different learning styles will be used.  Begin by having the students repeat the words in rhythm, repeating each line and then adding additional lines.  Have the students follow along with the words while singing.  Define any difficult words while teaching the students the song.  Have students follow along with the sheet music while singing.
4. Show students the original manuscript in Keys handwriting, the first Broadside, and the first printed sheet music.
5. To further practice and reinforce the words, have students sing along with a story book that has the words to the song or with a you tube video that has the songs lyrics.
6.  Students will also learn and sing several other Patriotic songs for the school assembly on 9/12/14 celebrating the 200th anniversary of  The Star-Spangled Banner including Yankee Doodle, You’re a Grand Old Flag, and America-My Country ’tis of thee.
 Sheet Music-The Star -Spangled Banner
Yankee Doodle
You’re a Grand Old Flag
America, My Country ’tis of thee
Videos of the songs with the lyrics
The Star -Spangled Banner
Yankee Doodle
You’re a Grand Old Flag
America, My Country ’tis of Thee
Resources:
Francis Scott Keys hand written manuscript
First Broadside of The Star-Spangled Banner
First printed sheet music of The Star-spangled Banner 1814
Additional Resources:
Spotify-Patriotic music vocal and/or instrumental
Amazon.com
Get America Singing-Hal Leonard
By the Dawn’s Early Light-The Story of the Star-Spangled Banner by Steven Kroll and Dan Andreasen
Star Spangled Banner by Rachel E.
National Music Standards:
1. Sing alone and with others a varied repertoire of music
6. Reading and notating music
7. Evaluate music and music performances
8. Understanding relationships between music, the other arts, and disciplines outside the arts
9. Understanding music in relation to history and culture