Lesson Plan
War of 1812: Burning & Banner
Students will be able to describe the key causes and major events of the War of 1812, including the burning of the Capitol and the White House, and the circumstances that led to the writing of “The Star-Spangled Banner.”
Understanding the War of 1812 helps us appreciate how the United States grew as a nation and how important symbols, like our national anthem, came to be. It shows us how past conflicts shape our present identity.
Audience
4th Grade Students
Time
30 minutes
Approach
Through engaging slides, discussion, and a short activity, students will explore the causes and key events.
Materials
Prep
Review Materials
10 minutes
- Review the War of 1812 Slide Deck to familiarize yourself with the content and flow.
- Read through the War of 1812 Script to prepare your talking points and discussion prompts.
- Print enough copies of the War of 1812 Worksheet for each student.
Step 1
Warm-Up: What Do You Know?
5 minutes
- Begin by asking students what they already know about the War of 1812 or any famous American historical events. (Use Slide 1 and the War of 1812 Script for guidance).
2. Introduce the lesson's objective: to learn about the causes, key events, and the story behind 'The Star-Spangled Banner.'
Step 2
Causes of Conflict
5 minutes
- Use the War of 1812 Slide Deck (Slides 2-3) to explain the main reasons for the war, such as impressment and trade disputes.
2. Facilitate a brief discussion using prompts from the War of 1812 Script to check for understanding.
Step 3
Key Events: Burning of Washington D.C.
10 minutes
- Present Slides 4-6 from the War of 1812 Slide Deck to describe the British attack on Washington D.C.
2. Highlight the burning of the Capitol and the White House, and Dolly Madison's role in saving important artifacts.
3. Engage students with questions about the impact of these events, guided by the War of 1812 Script.
Step 4
The Star-Spangled Banner
5 minutes
- Transition to Slides 7-8 of the War of 1812 Slide Deck to explain the Battle of Fort McHenry and Francis Scott Key's experience.
2. Share the story of how 'The Star-Spangled Banner' was written and became America's national anthem.
3. Play a short instrumental version of the anthem if time permits, or simply read the first verse aloud.
Step 5
Wrap-Up & Worksheet
5 minutes
- Distribute the War of 1812 Worksheet.
2. Have students complete the worksheet individually or in pairs to reinforce key concepts.
3. Briefly review answers as a class or collect for assessment.
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Slide Deck
What Do You Know About 1812?
The War of 1812
- Have you heard of it?
- What do you think caused it?
- What important things happened?
Welcome students and gauge their prior knowledge about historical conflicts or important American events. Encourage them to share anything they've heard about the War of 1812.
Why Did We Fight?
Causes of the War of 1812
- Impressment: British ships captured American sailors.
- Trade Restrictions: Britain limited who America could trade with.
- Native American Support: Britain supported Native Americans resisting American expansion.
Think: Why would these things make Americans angry?
Explain that the war was primarily between the United States and Great Britain. Emphasize the concept of 'impressment' where British navy captured American sailors. Also mention the trade restrictions and British support for Native American resistance.
Freedom & Rights at Stake
America's Stance
- The U.S. felt its rights as an independent nation were being ignored.
- Many Americans wanted to expand their territory.
- War Hawks (members of Congress) pushed for war!
Keep it simple for 4th graders. Focus on the idea that the US felt its freedom and rights were being challenged.
British Attack: Washington D.C.
A Shocking Event
- In August 1814, British forces attacked Washington D.C.
- This was a huge blow to the young United States.
- Imagine your capital city being attacked!
Introduce the idea of a major attack on the U.S. capital. Set the stage for the dramatic events.
Flames in the Capital
The Burning of Important Buildings
- The Capitol Building (where Congress meets) was set on fire.
- The White House (where the President lives) was also burned.
How do you think Americans felt watching their capital burn?
Describe the burning of these iconic buildings. Mention the significance of these structures as symbols of the American government.
Dolly Madison's Heroism
Saving History
- Dolly Madison, the First Lady, showed great courage.
- She saved important documents and a famous portrait of George Washington from the White House.
Why was it important to save these items?
Highlight Dolly Madison's bravery and quick thinking. This adds a human element and a positive story amidst destruction.
The Battle of Fort McHenry
A Fort Under Attack
- After Washington D.C., the British attacked Baltimore, Maryland.
- Their target was Fort McHenry.
- This battle was a crucial moment in the war.
Transition to the next major event. Emphasize that despite the burning of D.C., the war continued, and there were other important battles.
And the Banner Still Waved!
A Poem Becomes a Song
- Francis Scott Key watched the battle from a ship.
- All night, he wondered if the fort would surrender.
- At dawn, he saw the American flag still flying!
- This inspired him to write a poem: "The Star-Spangled Banner."
Tell the story of Francis Scott Key. Explain his perspective as he watched the battle from a ship and how seeing the flag inspired him. Mention the flag's size.
Our National Anthem
The Star-Spangled Banner
- Francis Scott Key's poem became a very famous song.
- It officially became the national anthem of the United States in 1931.
- It reminds us of a moment when America showed great strength and spirit.
Conclude by reiterating the anthem's significance and its role as a symbol of American resilience and pride.
Script
War of 1812: Burning & Banner Script
Warm-Up: What Do You Know? (5 minutes)
Teacher: "Good morning, everyone! Today we're going to travel back in time to learn about an important part of American history. Before we dive in, can anyone tell me something they already know about the War of 1812, or perhaps another famous event in American history? Don't worry if you don't know much about 1812; we're here to learn!"
(Allow a few students to share their thoughts. Use War of 1812 Slide Deck - Slide 1).
Teacher: "That's great! Today, our goal is to understand why this war happened, some big events that took place, and how one of the most famous American songs came to be. It's a fascinating story!"
Causes of Conflict (5 minutes)
Teacher: "Let's look at why the War of 1812 started. Take a look at War of 1812 Slide Deck - Slide 2. Imagine you're sailing on a ship, minding your own business, and suddenly another country's navy forces you to join their crew! That's called impressment, and it was one of the big reasons America was upset with Great Britain."
"Britain was also trying to stop American ships from trading with other countries. This hurt American businesses. And finally, Britain was supporting Native American tribes who were resisting American settlers moving onto their lands."
"These reasons made many Americans, especially a group in Congress called the 'War Hawks' (see War of 1812 Slide Deck - Slide 3), feel like the United States needed to stand up for itself and declare war to protect its freedom and rights. What do you think about these causes? Which one sounds like it would make you the most upset and why?"
(Facilitate a short discussion, encouraging students to explain their reasoning.)
Key Events: Burning of Washington D.C. (10 minutes)
Teacher: "Now, let's talk about some incredible events during the war. After a few years of fighting, something shocking happened in August 1814. Look at War of 1812 Slide Deck - Slide 4. British soldiers marched into Washington D.C., our nation's capital!"
"They did something that probably made many Americans feel very sad and angry: they set fire to important government buildings, including the Capitol Building and the White House!" (Refer to War of 1812 Slide Deck - Slide 5) "Can you imagine our capital city, with its famous buildings, being on fire? How do you think people in America felt when they heard this news?"
(Allow for a few responses.)
"But there's also a story of a hero from this time: Dolly Madison! She was the First Lady, President James Madison's wife. Even as the British were approaching, she bravely stayed behind to save important items from the White House, like official documents and a famous painting of George Washington!" (Show War of 1812 Slide Deck - Slide 6) "Why do you think it was so important for her to save those things, especially the portrait of George Washington?"
(Discuss the importance of preserving history and national symbols.)
The Star-Spangled Banner (5 minutes)
Teacher: "The British thought that by burning Washington D.C., they would break America's spirit. But they were wrong! After D.C., they moved to attack Baltimore, Maryland, specifically a place called Fort McHenry." (Show War of 1812 Slide Deck - Slide 7)
"During this battle, a man named Francis Scott Key was on a ship, watching the fight from afar. All through the night, cannons roared and rockets glowed. He wasn't sure if the American forces at the fort would win or lose."
"But when the sun rose the next morning, what do you think he saw? The American flag, a huge one, was still flying proudly over Fort McHenry!" (Refer to War of 1812 Slide Deck - Slide 8) "This sight filled him with such pride and relief that he immediately started writing a poem about it. This poem became our national anthem: ‘The Star-Spangled Banner.’"
"Isn't that amazing? Our national anthem tells the story of this brave battle and the flag that kept flying. (If time allows, play a short instrumental excerpt or read the first verse aloud. Show War of 1812 Slide Deck - Slide 9) "It reminds us that even in tough times, America can overcome challenges."
Wrap-Up & Worksheet (5 minutes)
Teacher: "Okay everyone, it's time to show what you've learned! I'm going to hand out this War of 1812 Worksheet. It has a few questions about what we discussed today."
(Distribute the worksheets. Give students time to complete them individually or in pairs. Circulate to provide support.)
Teacher: "Excellent work today! We covered a lot: the reasons for the War of 1812, the burning of Washington D.C., and the incredible story behind our national anthem. Remember these important events and how they shaped our country!"
Worksheet
The War of 1812: Burning & Banner Worksheet
Name: ____________________________
Date: ____________________________
Part 1: Causes of the War
-
List two reasons why the United States declared war on Great Britain in 1812.
a. ______________________________________________________
b. ______________________________________________________
### Part 2: Key Events -
What two important buildings in Washington D.C. were burned by the British in August 1814?
a. The __________________________________________________
b. The __________________________________________________
-
Who was Dolly Madison, and what brave thing did she do during the attack on Washington D.C.?
_________________________________________________________________________________________
### Part 3: The Star-Spangled Banner -
Who wrote "The Star-Spangled Banner"?
______________________________________________________
-
What inspired him to write this famous poem?
_________________________________________________________________________________________
-
When did "The Star-Spangled Banner" officially become the national anthem of the United States?
______________________________________________________
Answer Key
The War of 1812: Burning & Banner Answer Key
Part 1: Causes of the War
-
List two reasons why the United States declared war on Great Britain in 1812.
a. Impressment: The British navy captured American sailors and forced them to serve on British ships.
b. Trade Restrictions: Britain was interfering with American trade by limiting who the U.S. could trade with.
(Also acceptable: British support for Native American resistance against American expansion.)
### Part 2: Key Events -
What two important buildings in Washington D.C. were burned by the British in August 1814?
a. The Capitol Building
b. The White House
-
Who was Dolly Madison, and what brave thing did she do during the attack on Washington D.C.?
Dolly Madison was the First Lady (President James Madison's wife). She bravely saved important documents and a famous portrait of George Washington from the White House before the British burned it.
### Part 3: The Star-Spangled Banner -
Who wrote "The Star-Spangled Banner"?
Francis Scott Key
-
What inspired him to write this famous poem?
He was inspired after watching the Battle of Fort McHenry all night and seeing the American flag still flying over the fort at dawn, showing that the Americans had not surrendered.
-
When did "The Star-Spangled Banner" officially become the national anthem of the United States?
It became the national anthem in 1931.