Most countries have an “anthem.”
In this case, an anthem is an official song—usually something rousing and inspirational—that represents a country and is meaningful to it.
For instance, Canada’s national anthem is O Canada. In the United States, they sing The Star-Spangled Banner.
A country’s anthem is an important song because it helps to unite the people in the country and it helps them to show their national pride.
National anthems are often played before sporting events like baseball games, basketball games and hockey games. In North America, often two national anthems are sung, the Canadian and the American anthems, when the teams represent those two countries.
Recently, there was a hockey game in Toronto between the Toronto Maple Leafs (a Canadian team) and the Nashville Predators (an American team).
Singer Michelle Madeira was singing The Star-Spangled Banner to the crowd in Toronto when her microphone malfunctioned. It stopped working altogether, so that her singing could no longer be heard.
But that didn’t stop the Toronto audience. The mostly Canadian fans picked up where the singer left off, singing the Americans’ national anthem for them.
At the end of the song, everyone burst into applause. They then sang O Canada.
A fan recorded the video of the incident (see below) and put it on YouTube, where it has had more than a million viewings.
Unfortunately the game went against the Leafs, who lost badly to the Predators, 9 to 2.
Watch the video of the incident, here. This video is from YouTube and was posted by user bagabus.
CURRICULUM CONNECTIONS
By Kathleen Tilly and Joyce Grant
Writing/Discussion Prompt
When this story was written, on Nov. 21, the video had had 1,384,988 views. How many has it had now? Do you think the video is going “viral”? Explain why or why not.
Reading Prompt: Extending Understanding
What is the star-spangled banner referred to in the American national anthem? Why do you think that is the name of the anthem for the US?
Primary
Extend understanding of texts by connecting the ideas in them to their own knowledge and experience, to other familiar texts, and to the world around them (OME, Reading: 1.6).
Junior
Extend understanding of texts by connecting the ideas in them to their own knowledge, experience, and insights, to other familiar texts, and to the world around them (OME, Reading: 1.6).
Intermediate
Extend understanding of texts, including increasingly complex or difficult texts, by connecting the ideas in them to their own knowledge, experience, and insights, to other familiar texts, and to the world around them (OME, Reading: 1.6).
Language Feature: Internet Research of National Anthems
The national anthem for Canada is called O Canada and the anthem for the United States is The Star-Spangled Banner.
What are the names of the national anthems for the following countries:
1. Algeria
2. Brazil
3. Israel
4. France
5. Australia
6. Japan
7. Russia
8. Ethiopia
9. Morocco
10. Chile
