For the next 9 weeks we are going to Explore the American Revolution. Jan - Feb 2014
We are going to cook colonial food, dance a minuet, learn a bit about portraiture, and write with quill pens. We’ll read the Stamp Act, and Declaration of Independence. We’ll memorize the preamble to the Constitution and Phillis Wheatly poetry. We’ll learn about the roles of slaves, free blacks, Native Americans, Jews, and women in the revolution. We’ll play a lot of charades. Do a lot of painting, drawing and hands on activities. Throughout the course, I will focus on cultivating the following habits of mind:
YOUR HOMEWORK for WEEK 1
Jan 2014
Week 1: Day 1: Review of Colonial Life - Great Awakening
Day 2 : French and Indian War Group Activities Read Chapter 7 History of US (13 Colonies) review life in the Colonies Watch this presentation *Read History of US Colonies to Country Frenchmen and Indians and/or read Tina's French and Indian War together online Day 3: Do a skit on the French and Indian War Read a bit about Life in American Revolution using History of US/SOTW Choose independent Reading book Introduce Key Players names and brief Bio * Introduce our multi media applications on the IPAD *Assign homework - Watch LIberty Kids episodes 1 -2 Week 2
Homework: Color the British and American flags on the cover of your portfolio. Memorize a stanza from the Wheatley poem. Write what you think the ‘Join or Die’ cartoon means in your own words. Watch Episodes 3 - 6 for Liberty Kids (look for these characters and write about Patrick Henry and Paul Revere) Jan Week 2: Through Boston Massacre
Day 1
Day 2: Group Activities Activity 1: Interactive Timeline Using the Ipad (shared) Using a piece of newsprint, we will create a timeline from 1763 to to 1774. We included: French and Indian War (or Seven Years War), Sugar Act, Stamp Act, Stamp Act Congress, Quartering Act, Boston Massacre, Tea Act, Tea Party, and Intolerable Acts. View it from BOTH sides... Activity 2: Tax Time We simulated colonial reaction to a series of tax acts passed by Parliament to raise money to pay for the Seven Years War and to pay England for the protection of the colonies. Students pulled cards from a bowl to take on one of the following roles: King/Queen (1); Parliament (2); Tax Collector (1); Colonists (everyone else). I handed out cups of 10 pennies to each participant, sat the Queen in a tall chair, positioned Parliament just below her and explained that Parliament would draw new laws from a bowl and, when applicable, the tax collector would collect taxes, sell stamps, etc. I also explained that if you ran out of money and could not pay your tax, you would be sent to debtor’s prison and could only get out if someone else chose to pay your debt (and the daily 1 pence fee for keeping you in prison). The laws were:
Day 3
Activity 1: History Pocket As students walked in, they found a spot around the table and began to work on their portfolios, folders with projects that I copies from History Pockets: American Revolution. We sorted soldiers from the two sides into Loyalists and Rebels, and analyzed the most famous political cartoon of the era. Homework
Week 3 Watch Episodes 7 - 11 of Liberty Kids Ethan Allen, John Handcock, John Adams Jan Week 3: “No More Kings” George Washington, Patrick Henry
Day 1 Activity 1: Oral Presentations They’ll also recite the stanza they memorized from To His Excellency George Washington by Phillis Wheatley. Activity 2: “No More Kings” Every child will fold their paper in half lengthwise. On the left, they’ll write “Accurate,” and on the right “Inaccurate.” I’ll ask them to watch “No More Kings” from Schoolhouse Rock, looking for accurate and inaccurate depictions in the video. After watching it once, I’ll give them a few minutes to fill in their papers. Then we’ll watch it again, looking for inaccuracies and accuracies. Next, I’ll have them get with a partner to make a joint list. Finally, we’ll make a giant list on newsprint, with one point for each answer they come up with. If they get more than 10 points, I’ll let them have a two-minute dance party. Read Aloud: Liberty of Death to page 10 Day 2: Patrick Henry Listen to Patrick Henry's Speech Activity 1: Character Clues - work on Bios from Key Characters Students will exchange organizers (that they did for homework) with one another, and try to guess the characters using the picture and clue. Activity 2: Headbanz We own the game Hedbanz, and have enough bands for each child. I’ll make character cards (each card has the name of a character from the book) and place them in a pile. All student put on a head band and place a card in it without looking. The first child begins by asking YES/NO questions in attempt to guess their character before the timer runs out. If they do so, they get a token for their team (boys versus girls). If there is still time, they can take another card and ask questions until the time runs out. If time runs out before the player guesses their character, the card remains in the band until Round 2. After every player has a turn, round 1 is over. Play for two rounds and count up the points. Day 3: Paul Revere Read Longfellow’s Midnight Ride of Paul Revere. Memorize any stanza from poem. “The Shot Heard Round the World” Read Aloud: Paul Revere's Ride (historical fiction - the Strange Museum - Paul's Ride) Activity 2: Paul Revere’s Ride Students will recite the stanzas they memorized, and we’ll discuss what we like about the poem and what was misleading. Each student will then make an interactive 3-D map. You can find the lesson plan (which is excellent) and all of the materials to print in the book Interactive 3-D Maps: American Revolution. The map allows you to teach about Paul Revere’s life, as well as the ride. The front cover of the book states the projects are “maps that students make and manipulate to learn key facts and concepts – in a kinesthetic way!” My kids love them. Activity 3: “The Shot Heard Round the World” We’ll watch “Shot Heard ‘Round The World.” After watching it we’ll discuss why people call the battles at Lexinton and Concord the shot heard ’round the world. I’ll read them the beginning of the Emerson poem “Concord Hymn,” which is the origin of the phrase. We’ll talk about why no one could have used that phrase until decades later. _______________________________________________________________ HOMEWORK: Week 4
Jan Week 4: Day 1 Begin reading Johnny Tremain About the Author. Summary of the Story. Homework Read Johnny Tremaine Day 2: Johnny Tremaine Activity 1: A Soldier’s Life As students walk in, they find a spot around the table and begin to work on their portfolios, folders with projects that I copies from History Pockets: American Revolution. From Pocket Number 4: A Soldier’s Life, they will do the following: Highlight interesting facts from the background information on page 42; glue the fast facts from page 41 to a piece of construction paper, complete the Uniforms activity from pages 43-45; complete the Powder Horn activity on pages 46-48; complete the Women in the War activity form pages 52-54. Day 3 - George Washington Read Aloud sections of several of our George Washington books Do notebooking page for George Washington older kids: The Secret Six - The Spy Ring that Saved George Washington GEORGE WASHINGTON by NEST Art - PORTRAITS The Museum of Fine Arts in Boston offers these great classes for kids, Artful Adventures. Our class is going for three-week unit on colonial and early American portraits. Each week, will spend a thirty minutes in the galleries, learning about the portraits, and then an hour in the studio working on painting a portrait. Homework Week 5
Jan Week 5 Bunker Hill Breed's Hill Battles Review Timeline Ben Franklin Day 1 American Revolution Magic Treehouse Research - Chapter 5 to introduce battles Activity 1: Battles As students walk in, they find a spot around the table and begin to work on their portfolios, folders with projects that I copies from History Pockets: American Revolution. From Pocket Number 5: Battles, they will do the following: Highlight interesting facts from the background information on page 57; glue the fast facts from page 56 to a piece of construction paper, complete the Battle of Bunker Hill activity from pages 58-60. Activity 2: British Victory at Bunker Hill We’ll watch a short clip of the Battle of Bunker Hill from the History Channel. Students will break up into two groups to come up with arguments to support one of two positions, either that the colonists or the British won the battle. Day 2 Review the events Finish Creating Timeline Activity 3: Timeline Game I will fill two trash cans with 20 inflated balloons in each. 10 of the balloons will have events written on slips of paper and taped to the balloons. Students will form two teams. When I say go, the first person from each team will run to the trash can, pull out a balloon and bring it back to their team. When they tag the next person, that person will go to the can and pull out a balloon. This continues until they find all ten balloons with slips of paper. While the team is getting balloons, members who are not running can pull off the slips of paper, and arrange the events in order. They will tape the events on a poster board, and write the year of the event next to it. The first team to correctly complete their timeline wins. Events: The End of French and Indian War, Sugar Act, Stamp Act, Stamp Act Congress, Quartering Act, Boston Massacre, Tea Act, Tea Party, Intolerable Acts, Battle at Lexington and Concord, General Washington takes over command of the Continental Army, 1st Continental Congress, Phillis Wheatley writes “To His Excellency George Washington,” Battles of Bunker Hill and Breeds Hill. Day 3 Benjamin Franklin read What’s the Big Idea Ben Franklin?) Work on Franklin Lapbook HOMEWORK:
Watch Episodes 20 -26 Feb Week 1: Tea Time Activity 1: Understanding Common Sense (25 minutes) We will read aloud an abridged interpretation of Common Sense. Students will work in pairs to answer questions about the document. Click here for the worksheet. Activity 3: Tea Party (1.5 hours) During the tea, we will teach the kids how to dance a minuet and a jig. _______________________________________ Homework Watch Episodes 26-32Read: Declaration of Independence. Memorize: Introduction to Declaration _______________________________________ Feb Week 2: Declaration of Independence Activity 1: Jefferson’s Declaration As students walk in, they’ll find a spot around the table and begin to work on their portfolios, folders with projects that I copies from History Pockets: American Revolution. From Pocket Number 3, they will work on Jefferson’s Declaration. They’ll highlight interesting facts from the background information on page 32. Then we’ll discuss key vocabulary: self-evident, endowed, unalienable. We’ll read the introductory statement on page 33, and students will copy the statement on the bottom of the page. Activity 2: “Fireworks” Watch Schoolhouse Rock “Fireworks.” We’ll watch it a couple of times and have the kids sing along and recite the introduction to the Declaration. Activity 3: CRAFT Give students white t-shirts and fabric markers. Have them design a t-shirt to take home. It should have one of the slogans we have learned in the class, or a phrase from the Declaration. (Examples: Give me liberty or give me death. Taxation without representation is tyranny. Life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. Join or Die.) The shirts should also have a symbol/picture that illustrates or amplifies the phrase. ___________________________________ Homework Watch Read Forge by Laurie Halse Anderson; Rewrite 10 more of Washington’s Rules in your own words. __________________________________ Feb Week 3 : Crossing the Delaware Day 1 Activity 1: 3-D Map Each student will make an interactive 3-D map. You can find the lesson plan (which is excellent) and all of the materials to print in the book Interactive 3-D Maps: American Revolution. The map allows you to teach about Washington crossing the Delaware. The front cover of the book states the projects are “maps that students make and manipulate to learn key facts and concepts – in a kinesthetic way!” My kids love them. Activity 2: The Painting We’ll look at the famous painting, seen at the right, and analyze what was accurate and inaccurate. This website does a great job discussing the painting. We’ll also look closely at who was in the boat with Washington. (See page for a description of who was in the boat.) Day 2 Activity 3: Writing Skits Students will get in groups of three or four, each one taking on a character from the boat. They will write a quick character description with a bit of history (where are they from, how did they end up in the boat, etc). Then they will come up with a skit, showing the three or four characters in one fictional scene that took place sometime before the night crossing of the river. Day 3 Valley Forge Activity 1: Rules of Civility and Decent Behavior Choose 5 that you believe are important and then rewrite them in your own words. The rules can be found here. Activity 2: Yankee Doodle Dandee Learn song’s original meaning and write new lyrics based on two event we have studied. For background knowledge and lyrics, read pages 4-8 of this lesson plan, from the Education Department of the Mount Vernon Estate and Gardens. Activity 3: Battles of the Revolution Board Game Ask, “What tasks did the Patriots have to complete to become a free nation? (Be sure to include both military and civilian tasks.)” Make a list as a class. Working together, students will make a Candyland-like board game with tasks to be completed on the way to British Surrender at Yorktown. Break them into pairs. One pair will have to draw a game board, with blank squares and designated squares for tasks. They should also draw a picture of Yorktown at the end. One group will have to make four figures to compete to be the first to Yorktown. One pair should make playing cards without task pictures on them. (They can do colors, like Candyland, or numbers.) The remaining pairs will them draw task pictures on the board game and the playing cards. (You’ll need to have cardboard, markers, cut up index cards, and materials for the figures available for the students to work with.) With remaining time, students can play the game they designed. ______________________________ Homework Watch Episode 4 of John Adams Complete watching in Episodes of Liberty Kids you missed watching ____________________ Feb Week 4 Day 1 Activity 1: Quill Pen We’ll complete Activity 4, from the Independence Hall National Historical Park Junior Ranger Packet. We’ll need these materials: drinking straw, scissors, Kool-Aid®, small cup, tape, construction paper, and a teaspoon. Students will cut the straw at an angle so that it comes to a point. Then, cut the construction paper like a feather and tape the paper to the straw. Next, our Kool-Aid® mix into a small cup and add no more than a teaspoon of water. Stir until combined. Finally, they will write with their new pens on paper, allowing the ink to dry before you move your document. New Jersey Colonial Money Day 2 . Read: Preamble to Constitution Read Constitution Books A virtual Trip to the National Archive to see the Declaration of Independence, The Constitution and The Bill of Rights. Day 3: Birth of a Nation Activity 1: History Pocket As students walk in, they’ll find a spot around the table and begin to work on their portfolios, folders with projects that I copies from History Pockets: American Revolution. From Pocket Number 7, they will highlight interesting facts from page 81; rewrite 10 articles from the Treaty of Paris in their own words; color in the Great Seal and learn the meaning behind its symbols; and rewrite the Preamble to the Constitution. Activity 2: “Three Ring Government” & “Preamble” Watch Schoolhouse Rock “Three Ring Government” and “Preamble.” We’ll watch the Preamble a couple of times and have the kids sing along and recite the introduction to the Declaration. Activity 3: Electing the 1st President The election of the first President was by appointed electors, not by a general election. All states that had approved the Constitution by the first Wednesday in January 1789 would appoint electors on that day. Those electors would assemble on the first Wednesday in February 1789 and vote for a President, and the business of running the government under the new constitution would begin a month later. Using a copy of the Senate journal, from April 6, 1789, students will work in pairs to make a bar graph of the electoral votes for the 1st president. We’ll discuss which states had the largest and smallest populations, and what might have changed the election’s outcome. |
Teacher Source:
Missions Ipad Virtual American revolution People: American Revolutionary War Unit Study This is a small list of important people who lived during the time of the Revolutionary War. There are so many great people who lived during this time; it ended up being very difficult to narrow it down! You will come across many more names in your readings. I would encourage you to do some research on your own and YOU pick and choose whoever you would like to study, even if they aren’t on the list. Above, in General Resources, you will find a list of more in-depth biographies.
Episode 1 - The Boston Tea Party (Samuel Adams) Episode 2 - Intolerable Acts (Phillis Wheatley) Episode 3 - United We Stand (Abigail Adams) Episode 4 - Liberty or Death (Patrick Henry) Episode 5 - Midnight Ride (Paul Revere) Episode 6 - The Shot Heard Round the World (John Parker) Episode 7 - Green Mountain Boys (Ethan Allen) Episode 8 - Second Continental Congress (John Hancock) Episode 9 - Bunker Hill (Joseph Warren) Episode 10 - Postmaster General Franklin (John Adams) Episode 11 - Washington Takes Command (George Washington) Episode 12 - Common Sense (Thomas Paine) Episode 13 - The First Fourth of July (Thomas Jefferson) Episode 14 - New York, New York (Betsy Ross) Episode 15 - The Turtle (David Bushnell) Episode 16 - One Life to Lose (Nathan Hale) Episode 17 - Captain Molly (Thomas Jefferson) Episode 18 - American Crisis (Robert Bell) Episode 19 - Across the Delaware (John Honeyman) Episode 20 - American in Paris (Alexander Hamilton) Episode 21 - Sybil Lundington (Sybil Lundington) Episode 22 - Lafayette Arrives (Sarah Fulton) Episode 23 - The Hessians are Coming (Sarah Fulton) Episode 24 - Valley Forge (Baron von Steuben) Episode 25 - Allies at Last (Moses Michael Hayes) Episode 26 - Honor and Compromise (Abraham Nenhem) Episode 27 - The New Frontier (Shawnee Chief Cornstalk) Episode 28 - Not Yet Begun to Fight (John Paul Jones ) Episode 29 - The Great Galvez (Bernando de Galvez) Episode 30 - In Praise of Ben (Ben Franklin) Episode 31 - Bostonians (Iroquois chief Joseph Brant) Episode 32 - Benedict Arnold (Benedict Arnold) Activity 3: Bowl Game I fill a bowl with 20 slips of paper. Each kid pulls out a slip and gives as many verbal clues as needed for the other kids to guess the person or event on the slip. Next, we put all of the slips back in the bowl. In round two, when they pull out a slip, they have to act it out with no words. The people and events on the slips: John Adams, Abigail Adams, Benjamin Franklin, Join Or Die, Phillis Wheatley, Boston Massacre, Tea Party, Stamp Act, Quartering Act, French and Indian War, King George, Lord North, Sam Adams, General Gage, “Taxation Without Representation is Tyranny,” Governor Hutchinson, Patrick Henry, George Washington, Crispus Attucks, Sons of Liberty. Reading Guide Johnny Tremaine |