NONfiction Lesson 1 visual

A Word Workout Script

My Country ‘Tis of Thee A famous song we now sing Was known first as “God Save the King.”

Its words were changed when a new land fought For liberty, fairness, and freedom of thought.

The Civil War was fought for four long years And a divided nation sang though its tears and fears.

The war was finished; the time of healing was long. Fitting changes were made to the words of the song.

Marching and signing protesters fought for a land Where all folks could vote, be equal, take a stand.

From forest to field, our flag waves proud and free While its citizens fondly sing “My Country, ‘Tis of Thee.”

Web Resource · Library Lessons · Oct 2015 • LibrarySparks NONfiction Lesson 2 visual

Chain Link Timeline Strips

Example:

1 “My Country ‘Tis of Thee” 2 1939 3 Sung by Marion Anderson at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, DC

1. The title of the song at that time 2. The date of the event 3. The details (e.g., who, where) of the song Create a Paper-Chain Timeline • Receive a strip. • Read the information on it to yourself. • Read the information on it to the class. • Place yourself next to the person who has the date nearest to yours. • Once the strips are in order, attach the links together.

Web Resource · Library Lessons · Oct 2015 • LibrarySparks NONfiction Lesson 2 ACTIVITY

“God Save the King” 1740 England

“Whitefield’s Tune” 1757 American colonies during the French and Indian War

“A New Song” 1765 Boston, Massachusetts, in protest of the Stamp Act

“God Save the Thirteen States” 1780 Pennsylvania, after the United States won independence from England

“Ode to Be Sung on the Arrival of the President of the United States” 1789 President ’s inauguration

“Rights of Women: A Lady’s Version of God Save the King” 1795

“My Country, ‘Tis of Thee” 1831 Boston, Massachusetts; hymn lyrics by Samuel Francis Smith

“My Country, ‘Tis of Thee” 1840 Abolition verse published in Protest Songs in America

Web Resource · Library Lessons · Oct 2015 • LibrarySparks NONfiction Lesson 2 ACTIVITY

“God Save the South” 1862 Richmond, Virginia

“Song of Freedom” 1863 Verse celebrating the Emancipation Proclamation

“A New National Anthem” 1891 Labor activist protest song

“A Red Man’s America” 1919 Native American protest lyrics

“The New America” 1920 Woman’s suffrage verse

“The Star-Spangled Banner” 1931 U.S. Congress selects a national anthem

“My Country, ‘Tis of Thee” 1939 Sung by Marion Anderson at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, DC

“My Country, ‘Tis of Thee” 1963 Part of speech by Martin Luther King, Jr., at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, DC

“My Country, ‘Tis of Thee” 2009 Sung by Aretha Franklin at President Barak Obama’s first inauguration in Washington, DC

Web Resource · Library Lessons · Oct 2015 • LibrarySparks NONfiction Lesson 3 ACTIVITY

Fun with American Symbols and Songs Part I Patriotic Tunes Anagrams An anagram is a word or phrase that is made by rearranging the letters of another word. The letters in the title of the song “My Country, ‘Tis of Thee” can be rearranged to read Toy Tony Fruit Scheme, which would be an interesting title for a book! Match the tune to its pretend book title anagram.

____1. “Grand Old Flag” A. Dandy Unlit Hair Loss ____2. “” B. Haiti Hotel Chef ____3. “” C. Glad Land Frog ____4. “” D. Hero Was Aching ____5. “” E. Add One Ole Key ____6. “Hail to the Chief” F. Dogs Became Liars

Part II Patriotic Symbols A symbol is something that stands for something else. Often an important item, such as a symbol, can be known by several names. Match the different names for the patriotic symbol. Be prepared to discuss which name you like best.

____1. A. Old Glory ____2. The Executive Mansion B. The ____3. State House Bell in Philadelphia C. The Presidents’ Mountain ____4. American Flag D. Lady Liberty ____5. E. The White House

Web Resource · Library Lessons · Oct 2015 • LibrarySparks NONfiction Lesson 3 Answer Key ACTIVITY

Fun with American Symbols and Songs Part I Patriotic Tunes Anagrams An anagram is a word or phrase that is made by rearranging the letters of another word. The letters in the title of the song “My Country, ‘Tis of Thee” can be rearranged to read Toy Tony Fruit Scheme, which would be an interesting title for a book! Match the tune to its pretend book title anagram.

____1.C “Grand Old Flag” A. Dandy Unlit Hair Loss ____2.F “God Bless America” B. Haiti Hotel Chef ____3.E “Yankee Doodle” C. Glad Land Frog ____4.A “This Land Is Your Land” D. Hero Was Aching ____5.D “Anchors Aweigh” E. Add One Ole Key ____6.B “Hail to the Chief” F. Dogs Became Liars

Part II Patriotic Symbols A symbol is something that stands for something else. Often an important item, such as a symbol, can be known by several names. Match the different names for the patriotic symbol. Be prepared to discuss which name you like best.

____1.D Statue of Liberty A. Old Glory ____2. E The Executive Mansion B. The Liberty Bell ____3.B State House Bell in Philadelphia C. The Presidents’ Mountain ____4.A American Flag D. Lady Liberty ____5.C Mount Rushmore E. The White House

Web Resource · Library Lessons · Oct 2015 • LibrarySparks NONfiction Lesson 3 ACTIVITY

Vocabulary Challenge

In My Country, ‘Tis of Thee: How One Song Reveals the History of Civil Rights by Clair Rudolf Murphy, the author uses many words associated with patriotism. Twenty of these words are listed below. Use these words to complete the suggested activities. You may pick and choose which activities you would like to do to create your own grade. Use a separate sheet of paper for your work. liberty patriot auspicious justice emancipation prevail Yankee victorious freedom revolution colonial abolitionist allegiance slavery independence trumpet anthem declaration England Confederation

Task 1: Put all the words in alphabetical order. Possible Points: 20 Points Earned: ______

Task 2: Look up a word in the dictionary and write the complete definition. Possible Points: 5 points for each complete definition Points Earned: ______

Task 3: Write a poem using four of the words. Give the poem a title. Possible Points: 20 points (5 points per word) Points Earned: ______

Task 4: Choose your favorite word and the word you like the least. Explain why you made those choices. Possible Points: 20 points Points Earned: ______

Task 5: Choose five words to illustrate together in a picture. Possible Points: 20 points Points Earned: ______

Web Resource · Library Lessons · Oct 2015 • LibrarySparks NONfiction Extensions

Reading

Students who are interested in picture books dealing with civil rights may like these titles. • Child of the Civil Rights Movement by Paula Young Shelton, illustrated by Raúl Colón. Random House, 2010. • Rosa by Nikki Giovanni, illustrated by Bryan Collier. Square Fish, 2005. • Separate Is Never Equal: Sylvia Mendez & Her Family’s Fight for Desegregation by Duncan Tonatiuh. Harry N. Abrams, 2014. • Sit-In: How Four Friends Stood Up by Sitting Down by Andrea Davis Pinkney, illustrated by Brian J. Pinkney. Little, Brown & Co., 2010. • We March by Sharon W. Evens. Roaring Brook Press, 2012. • We Shall Overcome: The Story of a Song by Debbie Levy, illustrated by Vanessa Brantley-Newton. Hyperion, 2013. • When Marion Sang: The True Recital of Marian Anderson by Pam Muñoz Ryan, illustrated by Brian Selznick. Scholastic Press, 2002.

Art

Bryan Collier, the illustrator of My Country, ‘Tis of Thee, is well known for his unique combinations of watercolor and collage. An excellent example of how his illustrations tell a story can be found on pages 24–25; within the unifying tent, ghost-like soldiers on both sides of the US Civil War are depicted as fighters, writers, and record keepers. Explain to the students that a collage is a piece of two-dimensional art assembled by repurposing other materials. Supply paper, glue, fabric scraps, and magazines. Challenge students to create a collage representing a patriotic song or symbol.

Compare and Contrast

The featured book’s dust jacket boasts a very different illustration than the one on the hardcover. Ask students to list five ways the illustrations are alike and five ways they are different. Discuss why they think the book publisher may have decided to display two different covers.

Writing

On the last page of the book, the author invites the reader to be creative by stating, “Now it’s your turn. Write a new verse for a cause you believe in. Help freedom ring.” The author’s website includes the “My Country ‘Tis of Thee Music Project,” where poets and musicians can submit their creative endeavors (www.clairerudolfmurphy.com/mctt-music-project). Encourage your students to write a new verse of the song for a cause they care about and submit their work to the author’s website.

Web Resource · Library Lessons · Oct 2015 • LibrarySparks