THE STAR SPANGLED BANNER:What Does the Flag Mean to Me?

The War

• Little Known Fact:– Although it’s events inspired one of the nation’s most

patriot songs, the War of 1812 is relatively little-known in American history

USS Chesapeake Captured U.S. Frigate Chesapeake and the British Frigate Shannon. Aquatint by Robert Dodd, 1813.

Making the Flag

• Sewn by Mary Pickersgill (1776-1857)• The flag remained in the Armistead family until

1907• It was donated to the Smithsonian in 1912 and has

been on display for the public to enjoy.

Mary Pickersgill On display at the Smithsonian Castle Preserving the Flag, 1998

What Does This Mean For Me?

• How is the Star Spangled Banner relevant to children and young adults today?

Activity: Share Your Story

• Discuss• Investigate• Reflect • Create• Share

What’s the Point?

• Students will be encouraged to produce personal expression in multiple formats and analyze primary sources

AWESOME!

A Star Spangled Legacy

• Begin by looking at the American flag from different eras

• How have American’s expressed themselves with each flag?

Flag of the Second Continental Light Dragoons

Flags of the Civil War

Flags of WWII

The Flag of the Sixties

How Has the Flag Changed Over Time?

• How have others expressed their ideas about what it means to be an American through their use of the flag?

• How have they modified the flag?• What different groups have used it as a

symbol?

Look Around

• Have students research and look at flags from various eras to see how the meaning has changed

• Have students look at how flag rules and rituals have changed over time;

why were they put into place?

Getting Started

“In the years since 1814 (when the national anthem was written), in times of celebration and crisis, pride and protest, people have raised the flag to express their ideas about what it means

to be an American.”

• Offer the following prompt questions:• What does the American flag stand for?• What does the American flag mean to you?• Is the American flag considered a sacred symbol? Why

or why not?• Does it represent you? Why? In what way?• Have you ever used the flag to make a statement?

Create!

In the End…

• Students will be able to:• Describe various meanings that the flag has had to

people throughout the course of history• Analyze primary sources• Express what the American flag means to them through

art and words

Skillz & Stuff

• Students will engage in critical thinking, creative writing, analysis

• Content areas: Arts, English Language Arts, Social Studies, U.S. History

Appropriate for all ages!

Questions?