The Story of the Star-Spangled Banner

Before you begin researching about how the Star-Spangled Banner was created, you will be handed a packet that you will use to complete this Web Quest. News reporters take notes while they research to write down the questions they have and the answers they find.

1. An Overview of the Story of the Star-Spangled Banner

You are now going to research some background information about America's flag and the Star-Spangled Banner. While you visit this website make sure to answer these questions in your handout.

�       What war was going on when the flag was made?

�       Where did the flag fly?

�       Why is the flag important?

�       Who wrote the song The Star-Spangled Banner?

2. Pack your bags you are traveling to Fort McHenry! You need to be careful because the Battle of Baltimore is occuring!

While you visit this website make sure to answer these questions in your handout.

�       Where is Fort McHenry?

�       What happened at the Battle of Baltimore?

3. While you were visiting Fort McHenry you stumbled into Francis Scott Key. 

While you visit this website make sure to answer these questions in your handout.

�       Who was FrancisScott Key?

�       Why is he important to the story?

4. What happened to the Star-Spangled Banner after the Battle of Baltimore?

While you visit this website make sure to answer these questions in your handout.

�       What happened tothe flag after the War of 1812?

�        How did it get to the Smithsonian Institution?

5. Just as you were going to return home after your trip to Fort McHenry, you met Mary Pickersgill and she was making a flag!!!

While you visit this website make sure to answer these questions in your handout.

�       Why did Mary Pickersgill make the flag?

�       How was the flag made?

�       What did the flag look like?

6. Click here to see the how the original Flag looked like.

7. Pack your bags! You are coming home!

8. Welcome Home! You did a great job researching! Now you are ready to write your reflections about how your journey to Fort McHenry as a Baltimore Patriot reporter. Write how simple/difficult it was to find information about how the Star-Spangled Banner was born. Please use the Journal Entry template in your packet to write your reflections. Make sure to add details about what youlearned from your trip to Fort McHenry and any interesting facts you discovered and any interesting people you met.

9. Wow! You are almost finished! Now you need to finish writing yourarticle. You will publish it in the Baltimore Patriot Newspaper. You will use this website to help you design, write and publish your article. Make sure you use some of the important facts that you researched in your article. [You may use the Newspaper Article template in your packet to brainstorm.]  

10. Once you finish writing your article, make sure to PRINT it on the Printing Press.