Teachers who have made "The Star-Spangled Banner" a central part of their students' repertoire have found that students can learn it and take pride in staging this familiar song that even their parents consider too difficult. Many teachers recognize that the first obstacle in teaching the anthem is that students do not know the words or understand what they mean. Terms such as "rampart" and "perilous" may be unfamiliar to elementary students; defining those terms can help them remember the words. Some teachers use books, documentaries, and other resources to take students back to the War of 1812 and the battle at Fort McHenry that inspired Francis Scott Key to write the poem that became the national anthem. Mary more suggestions on how to teach the National Anthem are included in this article.