A Star Spangled Performance, Part 2

A Star Spangled Performance, Part 2

A Star Spangled Performance, Part 2
Reading Level

	edHelper's suggested reading level:	grades 7 to 8
	Flesch-Kincaid grade level:	6.96

Vocabulary

	challenging words:		punctual, hailed, re-read, emphatic, syllable, perilous, emphasis, rockets, presentation, original, battle, glare, group, writing, stage, boulders
	content words:		Star Spangled Banner, Francis Scott Key, Fort McHenry, United States, Scott Key

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A Star Spangled Performance, Part 2
By Beth Beutler

¹     Lenna's student group had met faithfully for three weeks to prepare for their presentation about the Star Spangled Banner. Each meeting, they had re-read the story of how Francis Scott Key watched the fight for Fort McHenry. He was inspired by how the flag remained waving even with the bombs going off around it. It was symbolic of the strength of freedom and the United States' desire to preserve it.

²     The group chose Ben, a tall boy, to play Francis Scott Key. One of the girls and her mother restored an old pair of knickers and fixed the sleeves on an oversized shirt so he would look like he belonged in the 1800's. The boys were in charge of making the props, including building a cardboard fort and a flag pole. They were also to come up with a way to create a mist, or sense of the smoke, through which Francis Scott Key watched the battle.

³     One of the girls, Ammy, had a beautiful voice. The rest of the group was emphatic that she be the one to sing the anthem in the background.

⁴     The day of the performance arrived. All the classes came together in the school auditorium. Lenna was getting a little nervous but was excited too. She had reminded everyone to be punctual, and they had all arrived early.

⁵     Finally, the time came for their group to come out. The boys quickly arranged the cardboard box on one end of the stage and the flag pole and flag a few feet apart. They turned on a fan so the flag gently fluttered. They placed some props that looked like boulders in front of a cave. Then they set a stool in the middle of another cardboard box that was meant to represent the British ship on which Francis Scott Key was being held captive.

⁶     Ben climbed atop the stool. He held a pad and looked toward the flying flag with a tranquil look on his face.

⁷     The lights went down, and the auditorium grew quiet. The music began to play, and Ammy's sweet voice sang out each syllable clearly. She placed emphasis on words that showed the pride of America.

⁸     "Oh, say can you see?

⁹     By the dawn's early light

Paragraphs 10 to 24:
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