Fort McHenry National Monument and Historic Shrine - Lesson Plans & Teacher Guides (U.S. National Park Service)

Lesson Plans

Grade 4 - Maryland State Curriculum standards (pdf 1.28 MB)

Grade 8 - Maryland State Curriculum standards (pdf 1.22 MB)

Grade 4 - The War of 1812 - Baltimore's Role - Students will read primary and secondary source documents to identify the actions of the citizens in the defense of Baltimore during the War of 1812. This lesson was developed for the Young Defenders Day program. (pdf 7.89 MB)

Grade 4-5 - What was Francis Scott Key writing about? - This lesson should be taught after the introduction to the attack on Fort McHenry during the War of 1812. The students will use this lesson to dissect the lyrics to “The Star-Spangled Banner” and gain a better understanding of the song. They will also discuss the song’s relevance to the country’s present state of the union and discuss whether the lyrics are still applicable to America today. (pdf 202 KB)

Secondary - Habeas Corpus in Crisis Times - Students will explore original source materials illuminating the suspension of the writ of habeas corpus during the Civil War. Students will examine Lincoln’s suspension of the writ of habeas corpus and the non-judicial detention of Southern sympathizers during the Civil War. (pdf 49 KB)

Secondary - Fort McHenry as a Prison: A Soldier's Life - Students will use primary source documents to understand the activities and living conditions of soldiers garrisoned at Fort McHenry during the Civil War. (pdf 5.5 MB)
To Print This Lesson Plan (pdf 3.8 MB)

Teacher's Guide

Teacher's Guide - Lesson Plans, Bibliography and Evaluation (pdf 386 KB)

Additional Lesson Plan Sources

Friends of Fort McHenry - Long May It Wave: The War of 1812 and Fort McHenry, A National Curriculum for Grades 4 Through 8
To support teachers in Maryland and across the United States as they commemorate the Bicentennial of the War of 1812 in their classrooms, the Friends of Fort McHenry has developed a national curriculum on the War of 1812 and Fort McHenry for grades 4 through 8 in partnership with the National Park Service. This curriculum features downloadable lesson plans that correlate to the Maryland State Curriculum for Social Studies and the Common Core State Standards Initiative and emphasize historical thinking skills. Each lesson plan includes primary source documents and images, student worksheets, and suggestions for accommodations and extensions.

Smithsonian Institution's Star-Spangled Banner Preservation Project - Save Our History: The Star-Spangled Banner Project, Teacher's Manual, Grades K-8

Teaching with Historic Places - "The Rockets' Red Glare": Francis Scott Key and the Bombardment of Fort McHenry
Learn how the British bombardment of Fort McHenry in Baltimore led to the writing of "The Star-Spangled Banner" and how Key's song became a powerful symbol for Americans.

The American Flag Foundation, Inc. - Honor America: An Educational Resource Handbook for Grades 3-5

The American Legion - Flag Education & Etiquette

The Flag House & Star-Spangled Banner Museum - Education Programs Resource Book

The Pride of Baltimore - Maryland with Pride: Exploring Maryland, Grade 4

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