Star-Spangled lessons
<p>Avery Denney, a fifth grade student at North Idaho STEM Charter Academy, surveys the room Tuesday during a live video conference from Fort McHenry celebrating the 200th anniversary of Francis Scot Key's writing of the "Star Spangled Banner" at the Rathdrum school. About 65 fifth and sixth graders joined five other schools to participate in the interactive conference from Baltimore.</p>
<p>Peighton Jensen takes notes about the War of 1812 and the origins of the “Star Spangled Banner” during the video conference.</p>
RATHDRUM - On Tuesday, 200 years after Francis Scott Key penned "The Star-Spangled Banner," that history came to life at North Idaho STEM Charter Academy.
Activities surrounding the bicentennial of the national anthem at Fort McHenry, including actors who fielded students' questions, were brought to the Rathdrum school via a live broadcast.
Sixth-grader Abigail Thomson appreciated the opportunity to tap into the national event from North Idaho.
"It's nice to have this chance in education," she said. "We were able to hear how our country came together through war and how we were able to fight off such a strong (British) army even though we were smaller.
"The flag signifies that, if we come together, we can accomplish anything."
Sixth-grader J.T. Rec said it was apparent that the British were surprised at the American victory.
"We always have faith in what we can do," Rec said. "We never give up."
Student Avery Denney asked the Francis Scott Key actor how long it took him to write his poem called "Defense of Fort McHenry," which later became "The Star-Spangled Banner."
Key, upon seeing the American flag over the ramparts at Fort McHenry the morning after a 25-hour bombardment of the American forces, was so inspired by what he saw during the Battle of Baltimore on the night of Sept. 13, 1814, that he wrote words that have become part of our national fabric.
"When you were inspired by the sights ... it was an easy poem to write," the actor told Denney. "It wrote itself. One day after the battle I had it finished."
Another student, Nora Smith, learned that women had many roles during the Battle of Baltimore, ranging from running businesses to supporting the troops with supplies. One of the most visible contributions was that of Mary Pickersgill, who made the flag hoisted over Fort McHenry in the War of 1812.
North Idaho STEM was one of only six schools in the country to participate in the telecast. The school obtained the technology through a grant from the Idaho Education Network, the broadcast was presented by the National Park Service.
"The whole purpose is to give students more exposure," teacher Dave Johnson said. "Idaho can be isolated, but with today's technology we can be anywhere in the world. Textbooks will never be able to do that."