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The Night Our Anthem Was Written is a free printable Kindergarten to Grade 2 social studies worksheet on what a song tells about the event behind it, aligned to C3 Framework indicator D2.His.12.K-2. It prints 6 questions with an answer key on its own sheet of paper, in 25 versions that each ask different questions, so no two students in the class work from the same page. Print it from the browser or download it as a PDF — no account, no email.

Set 20 of 25 · the same problems every time you open this link.

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Set 1 has all 25 in a single PDF. All 25 sets ask different questions.

The Night Our Anthem Was Written

D2.His.12.K-2

NameDate

Read the anthem and the note, answer the questions, then circle the best answers.

1.Look at the source, then answer the questions.

The Star-Spangled Banner

Verse 1 of "The Star-Spangled Banner," by Francis Scott Key, September 1814. It became the national anthem by an Act of Congress on March 3, 1931. The note after it was written for this worksheet. O say can you see, by the dawn's early light, What so proudly we hailed at the twilight's last gleaming, Whose broad stripes and bright stars through the perilous fight, O'er the ramparts we watched, were so gallantly streaming? And the rocket's red glare, the bombs bursting in air, Gave proof through the night that our flag was still there; O say does that star-spangled banner yet wave O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave? Note: Key wrote these words after watching British ships attack Fort McHenry in Baltimore all night. In the morning, the American flag was still flying over the fort.

  1. 1. Why was it good news that the flag was still there in the morning?
  2. 2. When did he write them?
  3. 3. Write one question you could ask Francis Scott Key about that night.
  4. 4. Who wrote the words of this song?
2.What was Francis Scott Key's job?
  • A.A British sailor
  • B.A lawyer
  • C.A king
3.Which fort did Francis Scott Key watch being attacked?
  • A.Fort Sumter
  • B.Fort Knox
  • C.Fort McHenry
4.At which kind of event is the anthem often played?
  • A.Only at bedtime
  • B.Only in other countries
  • C.A ball game or a school assembly
5.What do many people do when the anthem is played?
  • A.Leave the room
  • B.Sit and talk
  • C.Stand and face the flag
6.Where do many people place their right hand during the anthem?
  • A.In a pocket
  • B.On top of the head
  • C.Over the heart

LessonPrint · D2.His.12.K-2 · Set 20 · free to copy for classroom use

Answer key — The Night Our Anthem Was Written

Set 20. Prints on its own sheet.

  1. 1.1. It meant the fort had not fallen to the British ships. 2. In September 1814. 3. A question about the attack on Fort McHenry, such as where he watched it from. 4. Francis Scott Key.
  2. 2.A lawyer
  3. 3.Fort McHenry
  4. 4.A ball game or a school assembly
  5. 5.Stand and face the flag
  6. 6.Over the heart

Last reviewed 2026-09-05. Aligned to D2.His.12.K-2 of the C3 Framework for Social Studies State Standards.