By Elyse Fuchs

Songs and Symbols

1.1.3Identify American songs and symbols and

discuss their origins.

Pre-Activity Discussion Play the Star Spangled Banner. Raise your hand if you have heard this song

before.Where have you heard it?

Have students brainstorm why people were singing it and discuss their ideas.

Our National Anthem • Explain to the students that

you are going to read them a book called The Star Spangled Banner by Peter Spier. – The books is composed of

the words to the song, and the pictures help to explain what the words of the song mean.

• While reading the book, explain the connections between the illustrations and the words.

• After finishing the book, play “The Star Spangled Banner” again and have the students sing along.

Symbols What is a symbol?What symbol is honored by this song?What does the American flag stand for?What does it looks like?Why does it have 50 stars and 13 stripes?

IdentificationIdentify pictures of the flag in the book.Identify other American symbols illustrated

in the book, such as the eagle. Explain the meaning of these symbols with

the students. For example, discuss the importance of the Statue of Liberty’s torch.

Activity There are a number of different expressive

arts activities that may be used for this subject.Make a patriotic pinwheelMake a patriotic windsockCreate a collage from different pictures that

show patriotic symbols, words, and actions.

Other Ideas It might be fun to get the whole school

involved by putting on a patriotic themed program. The students could perform different patriotic songs for the parents.

It might also be fun to host a patriotic parade at the school. The class could make pinwheels or windsocks and carry them during the parade. Patriotic music can be played I the background.

Other IdeasThis might also be a good opportunity to

teach the students proper care of the American flag, such as the proper fold.

This would also be a good opportunity for students to learn about Betsy Ross, who sewed the first flag, and about Francis Scott Key, who wrote “The Star Spangled Banner”.

EvaluationAsk the students:Which bird is an America symbol?Which flag is the American flag? How can

you tell?Which statue is an American symbol?Which part of the Statue of Liberty reminds

you that it is an American symbol?