The Star-Spangled Banner, put to music by Francis Scott Key, is the American National Anthem. Learning and performing the national anthem is a good project for students learning about the flag, patriotism, Key and the Star Spangled Banner. Work in conjunction with your school music teacher, or work with the students to memorize the words, then plan to perform during a school Flag Day or other patriotic holiday assembly.
The American flag, also known as the star spangled banner, has gone through many transformations as the United States was formed and changed over the years. Have your students reproduce the different flag styles from the Liberty Tree flag flown on American ships in 1775 to the current American Flag using construction paper. String the artwork around your classroom in a time line as a student-curated museum of the star spangled banner.
The Star-Spangled Banner is a song that represents freedom to many Americans. Students, during a unit or theme on patriotism or the United States, can study the history of the song and the flag itself, and write a short essay on what freedom means to them. Fourth grade students are old enough to think about whether the star spangled banner meant freedom for everyone living in the United States during the time in which the anthem was written.
There is a wide range of etiquette rules associated with the American flag. For instance, there is a protocol in place for disposing of a flag that is worn out. There are also rules for raising and lowering the flag, as well as storage. There are even rules for displaying a flag during a parade. Have your students study these rules, then make a poster about them to display either in the classroom or in a part of the school building where others can learn from it as well.