• Invitation to inquiry
• Open minds
• Stimulate curiosity

Image source: flickr.com

• Build background knowledge
• Connect to content
• Discover interesting ideas

We will become anthematologists and study national anthems from around the world to determine the cultural values represented in the song. In the United States, our national anthem is the Star Spangled Banner. Whenever the anthem is being performed, it is an actual law to remove our hats and stand. While listening to the video of Whitney Houston's interpretation of the song, pay attention to the lyrics to determine what cultural values are reflected in the anthem.

Let's examine the Star Spangled Banner and discuss its' cultural values.

• Why do you think our government has made this a law?
• Were the songs written to record an important part of history?
• What does the anthem mean to the country who have adopted them?
• Are they just songs or are there lyrics that have deep meaning to the citizens of the country?
• Are the instruments used unique to the country's culture?
• Are there any elements of the music unique to that culture?

Throughout the research process, you will use a variety of inquiry tools and strategies.

First, use the resources below to build background knowledge, connect to the content, and discover interesting ideas.

• Begin your Inquiry Journal by responding to these Inquiry Journal Prompts.
• Engage in conversation in an Inquiry Circle to develop ideas and discuss emerging questions with a small group of classmates.

We will be analyzing the elements of the national anthems based on:

• interpreting a composer’s message
• gaining a cultural/historical perspective
• musical elements

The United States National Anthem was used to record an important part of history as seen in this video and explained in further detail on this website. These sites will explain the historical significance of the song and were found through databases searches.

• Explore interesting ideas
• Look around
• Dip in

Task and Product

Visit this website so you can explore and click on the different countries to choose your country to study. This may a country that is in your cultural heritage, have an interest in learning about, or the anthem caught your attention. This may be a country that is in your cultural background or have interest in learning about.

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Use exploratory search strategies like browsing, scanning, and skimming a variety of resources. "Dip in" to read and reflect as you explore.

• Use the Stop and Jot strategy to record ideas and questions in your Inquiry Journal.
• Use the Pair-Share Protocol to clarify your ideas, get feedback, and gain insight.
• Use the Inquiry Log to keep track of sources that might be useful for your inquiry.

You will be creating a Public Service Announcement to inform the citizens of the country about the National Anthem's historical significance using one of the following tools- voicethread, powerpoint, video, photostory, brochure, or a tri-fold.

• Evaluate the achievement of learning goals
• Reflect on content
• Reflect on process

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Image source: www.flickr.com

Icon from Kuhlthau, C.C., Maniotes, L.K.,  & Caspari, A.K. (2012).  Guided inquiry design: A framework for inquiry in your school. Santa Barbara, CA:  Libraries Unlimited.

Assessments

The following scoring tools may be used or adapted by you and your teacher to evaluate your research process and your final product and presentation. You can use these assessments throughout your inquiry process to plan, make decisions, monitor your progress, and self-assess your achievement of your inquiry-based learning goals.

• Pause and ponder
• Decide direction
• Identify inquiry question

Questions

Overarching Question:

Essential Inquiry Question: Why and how do the citizens of this nation show respect for their anthem? Guiding Questions Why do you think our government has made this a law? Were the songs written to record an important part of history? What does the anthem mean to the country who have adopted them? Are they just songs or are there lyrics that have deep meaning to the citizens of the country? Are the instruments used unique to the country's culture? Are there any elements of the music unique to that culture? Add in any other questions that you thought of while researching.

Image source: www.flickr.com

• Gather important information
• Go broad (search)
• Go deep (read)

Gather & Sort

Apply effective search strategies in order to locate and evaluate sources and digital content relevant to your information need. Read deeply from pertinent resources and apply reading strategies to construct meaning. Use the Inquiry Log to make choices and track your inquiry journey. Use strategies and tools for note-taking, documentation, and reflection as you gather: Use the organizer to to determine the cultural values represented in your studied country's national anthem. You may continue to use Culturegrams or another database from student resources to find more information about the history of your country. Refine your inquiry question or focus as needed, based on your research findings so far and your new insights and understandings. Demonstrate digital citizenship and avoid plagiarism by paraphrasing or quoting information, and by citing your sources in a Works Cited list.

Image source: www.flickr.com

• Reflect on learning
• Go beyond facts to make meaning
• Create to communicate

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Create

Analyze your research notes to reflect on your learning. What new insights have emerged in response to your Essential Inquiry Question?

Have you analyzed the national anthem for each of three purposes for listening to music:

1. to interpret a composer’s message
2. to gain a cultural/historical perspective
3. musical elements

Synthesize your findings by creating a product to communicate new meaning and understanding.

Your product should be informative about the values in the anthem and what inspired the composer to write the song, why the performer is so passionate about the song, and how do the citizens of the country show respect for their anthem.

Evaluate your research product and presentation according to the scoring criteria.

• Learn from each other
• Share your learning
• Tell your story

Share

Present your finished project to your inquiry community.

While listening to the others students presentations, compare and contrast the presented national anthems to yours.

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• Evaluate the achievement of learning goals
• Reflect on content
• Reflect on process

Evaluate:

• Reflect on your learning of the content by writing a response to the Overarching Question; support your response with ideas and evidence from both your own research and your classmates' presentations.
• Reflect on your inquiry process using Self Reflection on Inquiry.

Extend your learning:

Analyze the other patriotic songs from the United States for the same musical elements.

Image source: www.flickr.com