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Making America's Best Idea Even Better
Fort McHenry National Monument and Historic ShrineThe Fort McHenry Guard fires a volley during the Defenders Day program.
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Fort McHenry National Monument and Historic Shrine
Lesson Plans & Teacher Guides

Lesson Plans

Grade 4 - Maryland Voluntary State Curriculum standards (pdf 1.28 MB)

Grade 8 - Maryland Voluntary State Curriculum standards (pdf 1.22 MB)

Grade 4 - The War of 1812 - Baltimore's Role - Students will read primary and secondary source documents to identify the actions of the citizens in the defense of Baltimore during the War of 1812. This lesson was developed for the Young Defenders Day program. (pdf 7.89 MB)

Secondary - Fort McHenry as a Prison: A Soldier's Life - Students will use primary source documents to understand the activities and living conditions of soldiers garrisoned at Fort McHenry during the Civil War. (pdf 5.5 MB)
To Print This Lesson Plan  (pdf 3.8 MB)

 

Teacher's Guide

Teacher's Guide - Lesson Plans, Bibliography and Evaluation (pdf 386 KB)

 

Additional Lesson Plan Sources

Smithsonian Institution's Star-Spangled Banner Preservation Project - Save Our History: The Star-Spangled Banner Project, Teacher's Manual, Grades K-8

Teaching with Historic Places - "The Rockets' Red Glare": Francis Scott Key and the Bombardment of Fort McHenry
Learn how the British bombardment of Fort McHenry in Baltimore led to the writing of “The Star-Spangled Banner” and how Key’s song became a powerful symbol for Americans.

The American Flag Foundation, Inc. - Honor America: An Educational Resource Handbook for Grades 3-5

The American Legion - Flag Education & Etiquette

The Flag House & Star-Spangled Banner Museum - Education Programs Resource Book

The Pride of Baltimore - Maryland with Pride: Exploring Maryland, Grade 4
The Wonderful Human Flag  

Did You Know?
On September 12, 1914, the 100th anniversary of the British attack against Fort McHenry, 6500 local school children cloaked in red, white and blue, formed a giant replica of the Flag, which was appropriately named, “The Wonderful Human Flag.”

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Last Updated: September 17, 2009 at 15:15 EST