The National Anthem Project

A curriculum-writing project developed by ACE/FAAE, in connection with the MENC-sponsored National Anthem Project, explores ways to teach about and through The Star-Spangled Banner, written by Frances Scott Key during the War of 1812. Studies show that two of every three American adults do not know all of the lyrics to the first verse of the song. The National Anthem Project was begun last year by MENC: The National Association for Music Education, with support from numerous businesses and organizations, in an effort to get America singing The Star-Spangled Banner. To learn more about this project, visit the MENC Web site (www.menc.org) and FMEA’s Web site (www.flmusiced.org).

ACE/FAAE has joined the effort by providing lesson plans and support materials for K-12 education. These lessons were created by a variety of music educators from around the state of Florida. They connect us with the past, help us reflect on the present, and inspire us to think about the future. Each lesson is multidisciplinary and provides a plethora of extension ideas that can be used by music educators and their colleagues in other disciplines.

ELEMENTARY – 3 lessons
          Combined Kindergarten/Grade 1 lesson
          Combined Grade 2/Grade 3 lesson
          Combined Grade 4/ Grade 5 lesson

MIDDLE – 4 lessons
          General Music lesson
          Chorus lesson
          Band lesson
          Orchestra lesson

HIGH – 4 lessons
          Chorus lesson
          Band lesson
          Orchestra lesson
          Marching Band Pre-game Drill

Please feel free to share your questions or suggestions with Karen Johns, Project Coordinator, at the following email address:

MENC wants to know how The National Anthem Project has impacted your local community!  We are currently putting together stories to alert the media and government about the success that the National Anthem Project has had on music education nationwide.

• Do you have a National Anthem Project success story that you would like to share? 
• Do you have more students interested in taking band, orchestra or choir at your school?  
• Are administrators more supportive of music education and your music teacher?  Perhaps even allotting more funding to the music program?    
• Are community leaders more aware of your music program as a result of the Project? 

If so, we want to know!  Please respond to as soon as possible to let us know!  
 
Thank you so much for your support of the National Anthem Project and we look forward to hearing from you soon!
 
Sincerely,
Stephanie Jones  

Stephanie K. Jones
The National Anthem Project Assistant
Project Development and Programs Assistant
MENC: The National Association for Music Education
1806 Robert Fulton Dr.
Reston, VA 20191
703/860-4000 ext. 325