Larissa DeScala, Rosie England, Lauren Hoagland, and Victoria Zerambo

April 10, 2016

ELD 376 | Social Studies Project Part 2
Dr. Hester
The Revolutionary War
Why Should We Listen to You, Britain?

Know
British vs. American Colonists

Boston Tea Party - band of

Bostonians dressed as Mohawk

Indians who boarded British ships

and dumped 342 chests of tea into

the Boston Harbor

Loyalists (supported Britain) and
Patriots (wanted independence from
Britain)

Paul Revere: Patriot, silversmith,

created lantern system to warn of
British Invasion

Said the British are coming during

the battle of Lexington
13 colonies (Delaware. Pennsylvania,

New Jersey, Georgia, Connecticut,

Massachusetts, Maryland, South
Carolina, New Hampshire, Virginia,
New York, and Rhode Island)
George Washington was the general
of the Army

Betsy Ross: credited with making the

first stars and stripes American flag
Molly Pitcher- she assisted soldiers
by giving them water in pitchers.
She also fired a cannon when her
husband was wounded.
America was being taxed for the
previous British war
Delaware River Crossing
Princeton Battle- Washington

Wonder

Learned

How long was the war?

War took place from 17751783
Stamp Act 1765 - start of
How many battles were
taxing on American colonists
there?
Because of the Boston Tea
Party, a series of measures
Where did the battles
known as the Intolerable
take place?
Acts were made
Olive Branch PetitionWhat is the Continental
continental congress reached
Congress?
out to Britain to negotiate to
stop full war from breaking
How many soldiers
out but the king rejected it
were killed in total?
Battle of Bunker Hill was the
What is the Continental first major battle which
ended in British victory, but
Army?
encouraged the revolutionary
cause
What is the Olive

Fought using linear tactics of

Branch?
war (standing in lines)
Weapons were slow loading
What helped the
Patriots had support from
Patriots win?
France and Spain (allies)
What was it like for

The first shots fired were at

civilians living in the
Lexington and Concord in
colonies?
Massachusetts
What is the British
The battle of Trenton was
perspective of the
when Washington crossed
American Revolution
the Delaware River
today?
The battle of Saratoga was a
huge defeat for the British

Crossing
Flag with thirteen stars
Samuel Adams
July 4, 1776 Declaration of
Independence
The Battle of Bunker Hill
Ben Franklin
Thomas Jefferson - mainly wrote the
DOI
John Adams
Thomas Payne: wrote the common
sense (it is common sense to be
independent from Britain)
James Madison
John Hancock
Used muskets, bayonets, cannons
The continental army was American
soldiers who fought against the
British
Rations were low and soldiers
sometimes went unpaid.
Patriots were people who wanted the
American colonies to gain
independence from the British and
wanted the United States.
Loyalists were people who wanted to
stay British citizens.
The Stamp Act put taxes on the
American colonies by British (1765)
on many printed things such as
newspapers, and magazines. - it was
called this because the British would
put a stamp on the paper America got
from them.
Daughters of Liberty- women who
collected money and made clothes
for soldiers

The battle of Yorktown was

when the British
surrendered.
The Continental Congress
was a group of delegates
from the 13 original colonies
who served as the
government During the
Revolutionary War.
Sent a letter to King George
III explaining the issues they
had with the way they were
being treated.
They demanded that the
Intolerable Acts stop or they
would boycott English goods
He ignored the letter and
English goods were
boycotted.
They met again but this time
acted more as a government
by printing money, raising an
army, getting loans
In 1776, the United Colonies
officially became the United
States of America
Most colonists already had
religious liberty before the
Revolutionary War
Men, women, and children
on both sides acted as spies

Objectives:
Students will compare and contrast patriot and loyalist views
Students will argue for or against American Independence
Students will discuss what caused the American Revolution
Students will explain the role France played in the American Revolution
Students will judge which battles were most significant to the outcome of the war
Guided questions (open ended):
What did the Americans want out of the American Revolution?
Why did they want Independence? What does it mean to be Independent?
Was the American victory influenced by French support?
What might your life be like if you were a civilian living in the colonies during the American
Revolution?
Were there any advantages to being a member of the British Empire?
Why was winning the French and Indian War the beginning of the conflict between America and
Britain?
Which battle do you think had the most significance on the outcome of the war?

Activities
1. Tug of war
Students will be separated into three teams; the blue team, the red team, and the
white team. Students will be told they will be playing tug-of-war, and the winning team
will be the team that pulls every member of the other team over the taped line on the
floor. The tallest student should be on the blue team. The remaining 7-10 tall students in
the class will be on the red student, the middle 3-4 students will be on the white team, and
6-8 shortest students in the class will be on the blue team.
There will be five rounds. For each new round, there will be a rule change. Each
new rule will have a connection to what happened during the American Revolutionary
War. For example, the first round will simply be red versus blue or the colonists versus
the redcoats. In round two, the blue team will be told they will win a prize if they win
while the red team will not win a prize no matter what, representing winning
independence. In round three, the blue team will be given a pep talk and the blue team
will be allowed to start pulling on the rope before the red team. This will represent the
support they get from the women back home and for being familiar with the land of the
colonies. For round four, the blue team will be told that they only need to prevent all of
their team members from being pulled to the other side in order to win. For round five,
the white team will join the blue team. This represents the allies helping the colonists.
After all five rounds, students will discuss the game and how it relates to the American
Revolution.

2. Readers Theatre

Students will be given parts for a play about the Boston Tea Party. They will
practice their lines, and then read their lines to the rest of the class. The play will describe
what happened during the Boston Tea Party, giving students an engaging way to learn
about this important event during the American Revolution. After the script has been
read, students will discuss what they learned about the Boston Tea Party and what they
found interesting. There will also be a second Readers Theatre on Paul Reveres Ride.
Much like the first one, students will be given parts and some time to look over their
lines. Then they will read it aloud to the class, and a class discussion will follow.
The purpose of this activity is to integrate literacy with social studies. Readers
Theatre is meant to help building oral fluency skills. They will not, therefore, be asked to
memorize lines but rather to read the lines as fluently as they can. In order to connect it
with history, they are also asked to read the lines the way the believe the characters would
have said it using what they know about the time period and the historical figures.
3. Writing Prompts
After we have finished learning about the major events and topics of the
American Revolution, students will be asked to choose one out of five different writing
prompts. They will be asked to answer whichever prompt they choose using what we
have learned in class, their textbooks, online resources, and other nonfiction resources
available in the classroom library.
Book reviews
If you were there in 1776 by Barbara Brenner (Chapter Book-Victoria)

Barbara Brenner takes her readers on a tour of what life was like for the colonists in 1776
when the American Revolution was brewing. She talks about how some colonists still believed
they could work out their differences with Britain and King George III, while other colonists
were ready for independence. She explores how the values featured in the Declaration of
Independence such as freedom and the pursuit of happiness, came from the American way of
life. On top of reflecting the American Revolution, Brenner describes what everyday life may

have looked like for colonists. This includes the clothes they wore, the food they ate, the
predominant religion, and what they did for fun. She also described the six major cities of the
thirteen colonies during 1776. She particularly focuses on how children lived on a New England
farm, a Southern plantation, and the frontier. This makes it much more relevant for students
learning about the American Revolution and reading this book. Likewise, she talks about other
individuals not included in the Declaration of Independence such as the Indians and slaves and
their relationship with the colonists and how they related to the American Revolution. Because
she talks about the everyday life of the colonists, she gives teachers the opportunity to talk to
their students about how the American Revolution affected the common people, and how the
common people impacted or influenced the development of the American Revolution. She goes
into detail about the culture of the time period, which can open a class discussion on how culture
impacts history and how the culture of America in 1776 helped lead to the American Revolution.
While students are working on their writing pieces about the American Revolution, this
book will be available for them to use as a resource to find additional information. It will be
especially helpful in comparing life today and life in 1776. It will allow them to include
information and perspectives in their writing outside of the war itself and about the culture and
daily life of the time period. It will also be a helpful resource for the students to use throughout
the unit to help them understand that this was a real event fought by real men with real families.
Students often forget that history is not just a story, and this book will help them understand that
it is more than just a story.

Let It Begin Here- Lexington & ConcordFirst Battles of the American Revolution by Dennis
Brindell Fradin (Picture Book-Victoria)

Dennis Brindell Fradin tells the story of Paul Revere, how he discovered the British were
coming, how he spread the news, and how the first two battles of the American Revolutionary

War followed. This nonfiction story about the Revolutionary War talks about how the war was a
reminder to the American colonists that independence was going to require a fight and how the
war was a reminder to Britain that the American colonists were serious about their independence.
Fradin outlines what happened right before and during those first two battles in Lexington and
Concord. The book also includes various maps and illustrations to further supplement and
enhance the reading for children or students.
Students can use this book throughout this unit to help them understand what happened
and the significance of the very first battles of the war. They will be responsible of knowing the
different battles, and this is an excellent resource to help them learn about where the war began.
On top of the actual content of the book, however, students will also use this book to look at the
maps and illustrations. They will have to discuss how troops either surprised or failed to surprise
the other side by using geography, and this book can be a helpful visual reference.

Katies Trunk by Ann Turner (Rosie)

Katie's Trunk is a fictional book which tells the story of a young girl, named Katie during
the Revolutionary War. Katie tells her story to the reader about her adventures. However,
Katies family are known as Tories, meaning they are loyal to the British. One day, Katie's
Papa learns that the rebels are coming and they must hide. Katie's family hides in the woods
while the brave Katie goes back to her home to defend it. She must hide alone in her house in
her mothers wedding trunk. Katie learns that some of the men in the war are good even when
they are supposed to be enemies.
This book can be use to supplements students when teaching them the different points of
view during the Revolution. Most of the time students only see one side of the story, the

American side. This book shows them something new and exciting. This book can be used to
show them the different sides people faced during this time and the challenges that came with
these decisions. Students can decide what side they would be on during this time and use this
book as a resource when writing their opinions.

When Washington Crossed the Delaware by Lynne Cheney (Picture book -Rosie)
When Washington Crossed the Delaware is a non-fiction book which tells the true story
of when Washington crossed the Delaware River into Trenton, New Jersey on Christmas night of
1776 and the Battle of Princeton. General Washington and his troops have lost battle after battle.
Feeling defied, Washington comes up with a bold plan; launch a surprise attack on the British
troops. These battles would forever change the course of history. Lynne Cheney captures the
bravery, and patriotism of Washington and his troops. With the help of beautiful oil paintings
students can put Cheneys words into pictures and truly understand what happened during these
historical events.
This book can be used to show students how important New Jersey had during this time.
Students will see after reading this book how New Jersey, one of the 13 original colonies played
an important role during this time. They will be able to make connections to geographical areas
that exist still today. Students can use this resourceful book as a way to show the struggles that
happened to the Patriots in order to finally be successful against the British. Students can also see
how George Washington was an average man fighting along side other men who wanted their
freedom from the British.
Dear America: The Winter of Red Snow by Kristiana Gregory (Chapter book: Lauren)

This story is a historical fiction account of Abigail Jane Stewart, a young girl living in the
midst of the Revolutionary War. It is told through the diary entries of Abigail about her life,
friends, family, and experiences living in Valley Forge during 1777-78. Abigail writes about
seeing the soldiers arrive, some of them young boys, and her perspective of George Washington
during the time. Abby spends lots of time with Martha Washington, helping ailing soldiers and
seeing the war from a very close perspective.
This book is an excellent resource for students to discuss the events of the Revolutionary
War. Although it is a fictional account, the fact-based plot allows for students to connect with
Abbys diary entries and experience some of the emotions a child may have felt during the time
of the War. It also introduces students to a different type of text and help make the events more
realistic, which could often be the most difficult part of introducing and engaging students in
Social Studies.

Redcoats and Petticoats by Katherine Kirkpatrick (Picture book: Lauren)

This book tells the story of young Thomas Strong who lives on the Long Island village of
Setauket during the British occupation of the American Revolution. When Thomas's father is
arrested by the Redcoats for treason, Thomas's mother starts acting strange, asking Thomas to go

on crazy errands, boat rides, and doing a lot of laundry. Set in Setauket, NY this picture book
recounts a true story of the Revolution. It's an interesting story of how average citizens helped
the cause, in this case spying on the British and conveying messages with the laundry on their
clothesline.
This book would benefit for students studying the Revolutionary War because it dives
into a secretive part of the War that is not often discussed. It gives students the perspective of
average citizens and how important and vital their roles in the war could have been in the success
of the Patriots. It is also a true account that students can connect with, since the main character is
a young boy close to their age.

Paul Reveres Ride by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow (Picture Book- Larissa)

Henry Wadsworth Longfellow is known for his poem, Paul Reveres Ride. That poem
makes up the text of this picture book. The poem tells the story of Reveres horseback ride from
Boston to Lexington on the night of April 18, 1775 in order to warn the locals that the British
were coming. The poem itself contains many sensory details- but the illustrations in this book
really make it come to life.
This book would be beneficial to use in a Social Studies unit on the Revolutionary War.
What makes this unique is that it is not written like a typical story-book, it is poetry. Students
need to be exposed to many different genres of writing, and this book facilitates that. Reading
this book to a class would be a great way to introduce Paul Revere into the unit. Once the book is
read, students can dissect parts of the poem and learn exactly what it is that Paul Revere did.
Also, this would be a great book to read in order to integrate history into language and word
study. Studying the text, students will be able to make inferences, discuss the power of rhyme,
and draw conclusions.

My Name is America: The Journal of William Thomas Emerson by Barry Denenberg (Chapter
Book- Larissa)

The My Name is America series is similar to the Dear America series in the way that
the historical fiction books are written as diary entries, but My Name is America is written from
boys points of view. This particular book does not focus on specific events of the revolution, but
rather the personal daily life of one boy- which makes this book unique. William Thomas
Emerson is a 12-year-old orphan boy who ran away from his foster parents and ended up in
Boston in 1774. His journal entries tell stories of how he worked for and was mentored by an
older man named Mr. Wilson. Mr. Wilson introduced William to the colonial cause and William
eventually became a spy for the Patriots.
This book would be a great option to include in literature circles too, once again,
integrate language arts and history. The format of this book may be unusual, but interesting to
students, as each chapter is actually a different diary entry. This book gives insight, through
fictional first-hand accounts, of what it may have been like for a child to live during the time of
the revolution. Rather than reading about major events from a textbook that may be difficult to
comprehend, students can better understand and relate to the diary entries in this book. After
reading this book, a potential activity for students would be to document their life for a week by
writing diary entries in a similar format to Williams entries.

Activities: Script/Prompts
The Boston Tea Party Readers Theatre

Paul
Reveres
Ride
Readers
Theatre

Writing prompts
1. We have read in school about the hard life of a British soldier in the American Colonies
during the 1770s. Pretend that you are a British soldier stationed in Boston during that time.
Write a letter to your family back in England. Tell them about your experiences. Use as many
factual details that you can as well as your reactions to the events that took place.
2. Today, as in the past, writers like Mercy Otis Warren often use their skills to comment
on current events. You are a poet living in colonial Boston. Write a poem in which you tell about
the Boston Tea Party, The Boston Massacre, or The Intolerable Acts.
3. You are an American in 1775. War between the rebels and the British seems certain!
Decide whether you will become a Loyalist or a Patriot. Explain the facts and ideas that led to
your decision.
4. It is 1776 and you are a member of the Continental Congress. Review the ideas
contained in the Declaration of Independence. Write a short speech explaining to the congress
(your classmates) why they should sign it.
5. You are a newspaper reporter during the American Revolution. Write a report on a
major event or battle that took place in the Middle States. You may need to do some additional
research to write an informative article.