On the morning of September 14, 1814, just a few days after the British had burned Washington, DC in the War of 1812, the American lawyer Francis Scott Key sat aboard a British naval ship seeking the release of William Beanes, an American doctor whom the British had captured. The previous day, Key had watched from his ship near Baltimore Harbor as the British fleet began its bombardment of … Read more »
Distinguished scholar-teachers Amy and Leon Kass demonstrate how short stories, speeches, and songs can be used to enhance civic education and how a pedagogical approach that stresses learning through inquiry can make primary sources come alive for students of all ages.
View the CurriculumBuy the Book
“What a wonderful collection of American songs, speeches, and stories. It should be valuable for teachers, students, parents, and readers of all kinds.”
— Diane Ravitch