My Country, 'Tis of Thee

The song America, and the words liberty and freedom.

Warm-up, learn, try it together, practice, then a quick check. About 15 minutes.

What children learn in Level 47

In 1831, Samuel Francis Smith wrote the words to a song called America. Many people call it My Country, 'Tis of Thee. Tap Read it to me to hear it!
The song uses old words. 'Tis means it is. Thee means you. So My country, 'tis of thee means: My country, it is about you.
Sweet land of liberty means a lovely land where people are free. Liberty means freedom.
Of thee I sing means: I sing about you, my country.
Land where my fathers died means the land where people in our families lived long ago. The pilgrims were people who traveled far to a new land long ago. Pride is a happy, good feeling.
From every mountainside, let freedom ring! That means: let freedom be heard all over the land, even on the mountains.
Your turn! Sing it: My country, 'tis of thee, sweet land of …? Liberty!
Try it with a grown-up! Sing America together. Can you sing it all the way to Let freedom ring?

Georgia Standards of Excellence in Social Studies:

SS1CG2 — Explore the concept of patriotism through the words in the songs America (My Country 'Tis of Thee) and America the Beautiful (for example: brotherhood, liberty, freedom, pride, etc.).