Most people have heard the first verse of The Star Spangled Banner—the national anthem of the United States—but did you know that's not the whole song? Written in 1814 by Francis Scott Key during the Battle of Fort McHenry in the War of 1812, The Star Spangled Banner was officially made the national anthem in 1931. Here, kids can jump into the lyrics of our country's national song with a creative reading comprehension activity. Kids read the song, circling any words they don't understand, then draw a picture to illustrate the first verse.