Teacher Script: D.C. in Flames!

Warm-Up: Capital Catastrophe (5 minutes)

Teacher: "Good morning, everyone! Let's start with a quick thought experiment. Imagine you heard on the news that a very important city in our country, maybe even our capital, was under attack. What kind of feelings would that bring up? What do you think might happen? Take a moment to jot down your ideas or just think about it."

(Allow students to think, write, or share. Guide a brief discussion, connecting to the idea of national symbols and safety.)

Teacher: "Today, we're going to travel back in time to a moment when something very similar happened to our very own capital city, Washington, D.C.!"

Introduction: A Young Nation's Challenge (5 minutes)

(Display D.C. in Flames! Slide Deck - Slide 1: A Young Nation Under Attack)

Teacher: "Our story takes place during a time called the War of 1812. Does anyone remember anything about the War of 1812? No worries if not, we'll learn some exciting parts today! This was a big conflict between America and Great Britain, just a few decades after America became an independent country. Our young nation was still trying to find its way, and Washington, D.C. was its brand new capital, a symbol of our freedom and democracy."

Teacher: "Think about what makes a capital city so important. What kind of buildings are there? Why do we need a capital?" (Pause for student responses, guide towards government, laws, leadership, national identity.)

(Display D.C. in Flames! Slide Deck - Slide 2: Why D.C.?)

Teacher: "Well, the British had a clear reason for targeting D.C. They wanted to punish America, especially after some American attacks on Canada. They thought that if they could destroy our important government buildings and symbols, it would really lower American spirits and perhaps even break our new nation. Sadly, D.C. wasn't very well defended, and many people were completely unprepared for what was coming."

The Redcoats Are Coming! (10 minutes)

(Display D.C. in Flames! Slide Deck - Slide 3: The Redcoats Are Coming!)

Teacher: "It was August 1814, a hot summer day. British troops were marching directly towards Washington, D.C. Imagine the panic! People were scrambling, trying to escape and save what they could. Our President, James Madison, was away with the troops, but his brave wife, First Lady Dolley Madison, was still in the White House."

(Display D.C. in Flames! Slide Deck - Slide 4: Dolley's Daring Rescue)

Teacher: "Dolley Madison showed incredible courage. Instead of just fleeing, she decided to save important pieces of American history. She famously directed servants to take down a huge, famous painting of George Washington. She also helped save important state papers and other valuables, making sure they didn't fall into enemy hands or burn up. Why do you think it was so important to save these things, especially the painting of George Washington?" (Guide discussion towards historical value, national symbols, and preserving identity.)

D.C. in Flames! (5 minutes)

(Display D.C. in Flames! Slide Deck - Slide 5: D.C. in Flames!)

Teacher: "On August 24, 1814, the British arrived. They marched into our capital and, sadly, began to set fire to many of our most important public buildings. The White House, where the President lived, was burned. The Capitol Building, where our laws are made, was burned. Even the Treasury Building and the Library of Congress were set ablaze."

Teacher: "Can you imagine seeing our capital city, the heart of our country, burning? How would that make you feel? Scared? Angry? Sad?" (Allow students to express emotions.)

Teacher: "It's interesting to note that even nature played a part! A powerful hurricane and a tornado actually hit D.C. the very next day, putting out some of the fires and even causing damage to British ships!"

Rising From the Ashes & A Turning Point (5 minutes)

(Display D.C. in Flames! Slide Deck - Slide 6: Rising From the Ashes)

Teacher: "The British didn't stay long after the fires. They left D.C. the very next day. Americans were definitely shocked and devastated, but they were also incredibly determined. The city quickly began to rebuild. The White House and Capitol were repaired and rebuilt, even stronger than before. From this destruction, a stronger sense of national pride emerged. It was like saying, 'You can knock us down, but you can't keep us down!'"

(Display D.C. in Flames! Slide Deck - Slide 7: A Turning Point)

Teacher: "So, what lessons do you think we learned from this terrible event? How did the burning of Washington, D.C. actually make America stronger in the long run, even though it was such a destructive event?" (Encourage students to think about resilience, unity, and the importance of defense.)

Cool-Down: Reflect & Rebuild (5 minutes)

Teacher: "For our cool-down today, I'd like you to think about one important thing you learned about the burning of Washington, D.C. and why you think it's an important event in American history. You can share it out loud or write it down on your Reflect & Rebuild Cool-Down sheet."

(Collect responses as an exit ticket.)

Capital Catastrophe: What If... ?

Imagine you just heard news that the capital city of a country was under attack.

1. What kind of feelings might you have? (Circle all that apply or add your own!)

   • Scared
   • Angry
   • Sad
   • Confused
   • Worried

   • ---

2. What do you think might be the biggest problem for the country if its capital city was damaged or destroyed?
   
   
   
   
   
   

Reflect & Rebuild: My Learning Snapshot

1. What is one new thing you learned today about the British burning Washington, D.C.?
   
   
   

2. Why do you think it is important for us to learn about this event in American history?