"America the Beautiful" by Katharine Lee Bates

Read Katharine Lee Bates’ iconic American poem in this upper elementary handout! Written in 1893, “America the Beautiful” is a classic poem that celebrates America’s spirit, land, and people. It was later set to music, resulting in the song still sung by Americans over a hundred years later.

As students read the poem, they can reflect on its themes, study its vocabulary, and identify its rhyme scheme. Students may also read this poem in the context of American history, paving the way for discussions about historical events in the late 1800’s.

Learn more about the United States with Read and Color National Symbols: United States of America and The Statue of Liberty.