Jamie+Palmer

Home PLN 8 Main Page Megan Lum Josephine Pacheco Sarah Randall Jamie Palmer Rachel Beck

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Lesson Plan: Oh, Say, Can You See What the Star-Spangled Banner Means? =====

Click [|HERE] to view a lesson plan about the[| National Anthem], or view the PDF document below: = =  Rachel's Response I feel like this lesson is excellent for children who are in grades 3-5. It is very important that the students understand the meaning behind the national anthem especially since they will hear it for a large portion of their time in school. I like the idea of having the students choose their favorite part of the song. However, I feel as if the students would enjoy creating a drawing about what they believe the American value stands for, instead of providing a written explanation. The drawings would be pasted on the front of the handmade flags which the teacher could then display around the classroom. Sarah's Response I really like this lesson. I think that it does a great job of detailing out everything you need to the teach the students and what they will be learning. I like your idea of having them each pick out their favorite part of the song and explaining how it expresses an American value. I agree with Rachel in how drawings may be a better way of going about providing what they believe the value stands for. Depending on the grade this lesson is used, writing may be better but in this case I think drawing may be more fun and engaging for the students. By doing something the students enjoy you will have a much easier time getting them to do the project. Josephine's Response This lesson covers all the basics of what the flag means. I particularly like how it covers the history of the flag and includes a picture of the only 15- striped flag. A possible extension activity would be to make a flag about 1/2 the sizes of the original flag (30 x 42 feet). It could be constructed out of cloth and the students would write the National Anthem on it, in fabric paint. The students could be split into groups so that each group works on a part of the flag. When they are done the flag could be hung in the classroom.  Megan's Response This lesson plan was very organized and well thought out. This is an important lesson because it teaches students about the National Anthem, something that they may sing every morning but never give much thought too. I like how this lesson aims to teach the history of the National Anthem, when it started out as a simple poem. I feel that students will be shocked and interested when they find out that the flag he was singing about had fifteen stripes instead of thirteen. I also like how students are constantly reflecting and discussing what they learned throughout each day's lesson. Even though there are many parts to this lesson, it engages students because it doesn't become monotonous. I really like the song and I feel that students will really enjoy that section.
 * Summary: ** This lesson is meant to help students understand the meaning of the national anthem. It asks big questions such as: How does the song express America's core values? What are some symbols it uses? How is the flag a Symbol for America? One of the many activities that are suggested is one where the class reads the lyrics and looks for symbolic meaning of the national anthem. I would suggest that students pick their favorite part of the national anthem and explain how it expresses a specific American value. They would then make their own American flag out of paper with the value written on the front. In addition, they would be asked to provide an explanation for why they believe the American value is important.