Addy Learns a Lesson

Chapter One: A New Home
Do you think freedom will be easy for Momma and Addy? Why?


Chapter Two: Freedom?
Have you felt cramped?

Would you like to share a bathroom with ten families?

“Freedom got a cost” do you think that still applies today?

How did you feel when you learned to read your name?


Chapter Three: Tested
Compare Harriet to a girl you know.

Do you think friends and enemies have changed in the last century?

Do you have a friend you study with?

How did you learn to read?

Do you think Addy is being fair to Sarah?


Chapter Four: The Lines are Drawn
What is your family like?

Have you watched troops leaving for Iraq?

Have you been made fun of?


Chapter Five: The Spelling Match
Have you been left out?

Describe a time your parents were proud of you.

Have you been in a spelling bee?

What prizes have you won in school?

Watch Akeelah and the Bee


Looking Back
Learn to sing “America”

America (My Country, 'tis of Thee) by Rev. Samuel F. Smith (1808-1895)
My country, 'tis of Thee,
Sweet Land of Liberty
Of thee I sing;
Land where my fathers died,
Land of the pilgrims' pride,
From every mountain side
Let Freedom ring.

My native country, thee,
Land of the noble free,
Thy name I love;
I love thy rocks and rills,
Thy woods and templed hills,
My heart with rapture thrills
Like that above.

Let music swell the breeze,
And ring from all the trees
Sweet Freedom's song;
Let mortal tongues awake;
Let all that breathe partake;
Let rocks their silence break,
The sound prolong.

Our fathers' God to Thee,
Author of Liberty,
To Thee we sing,
Long may our land be bright
With Freedom's holy light,
Protect us by Thy might
Great God, our King.

In February, 1832, Reverend Smith was reading through some German music and was particularly attracted to the tune of "God Save the King," although he was unable to understand the German words. "In a brief period of time at the close of a dismal winter afternoon" (his own words), he penned the verses as they now appear. The tune itself was controversial. It was considered to be "un-American" in later years, even though the tune had actually appeared in America before 1776. It was used for a number of patriotic songs, including God Save the President, and God Save George Washington. In 1798, it appeared again as an Ode to the Fourth of July, with the words, "Come All ye Sons of Song. "The author removed one of the original verses dealing with tyrants and ending with "No more our blood be shed... By alien hands."

“Rally Round the Flag”
Rallying Song

Yes, we'll rally round the flag, boys
Rally once again,
Shouting the Battle Cry of Freedom
We will rally from the hillside
We'll gather from the plains,
Shouting the Battle Cry of Freedom!

Chorus: The Union forever!
Hurrah boys hurrah!
Down with the traitor, up with the star,
While we rally round the flag, boys
Rally once again
Shouting the Battle Cry of Freedom!

2. We are springing to the call
Of our borthers gone before,
Shouting the Battle Cry of Freedom.
And we'll fill the vacant ranks
With a million freemen more,
Shouting the Battle Cry of Freedom!

Chorus:

3. We will welcome to our numbers The loyal, true and brave, Shouting the Battle Cry of Freedom And altho' they may be poor Not a man shall be a slave, Shouting the Battle Cry of Freedom!

Chorus:

4. So we're springing to the call From the East and from the West, Shouting the Battle Cry of Freedom. And we'll hurl the Rebel crew From the land we love the best, Shouting the Battle Cry of Freedom!

Chorus:

Battle Song
We are marching to the field, boys, We're going to the fight, Shouting the Battle Cry of Freedom, And we bear the glorious stars For the Union and the right, Shouting the Battle Cry of Freedom. Chorus: The Union forever! Hurrah boys hurrah! Down with the traitor, up with the star, For we're marching to the field, boys,

Going to the fight, Shouting the Battle Cry of Freedom!
2. We will meet the Rebel host, boys, With fearless heart and true, Shouting the Battle Cry of Freedom, And we'll show what Uncle Sam has For loyal men to do, Shouting the Battle Cry of Freedom. Chorus: 3. If we fall amid the fray, boys, We'll face them to the last, Shouting the Battle Cry of Freedom. And our comrades brave shall hear us As they go rushing past, Shouting the Battle Cry of Freedom. Chorus:

4. Yes, for Liberty and Union We're springing to the fight, Shouting the Battle Cry of Freedom. And the vict'ry shall be ours For we're rising in our might, Shouting the Battle Cry of Freedom. Chorus


This song was written as a rallying song for the Union and its supporters and was extremely popular up North. It was also known and sung down South by Confederate troops as well, who wrote their own verses.