Image courtesy of history.com
Children deserve authentic and engaging learning experiences that bring social studies concepts to life. The lesson ideas below motivate students to think more deeply about the American Revolution and encourage them to view the past as enjoyable and relatable. Tied to Indiana state standards, these lessons can be adapted to fit the needs of all learners in your classroom.
LESSON SEEDS
PERSPECTIVES
Most textbooks only present America's viewpoint on the Revolutionary War, but there are usually two sides to every historical event. To be thoughtful consumers of information, children need to be able to identify different perspectives and arguments presented in print and media. George vs. George presents the conflict of the American Revolution from the colonial perspective of George Washington and the British perspective of King George III. This book offers a perfect way to introduce perspectives in history. We all know George Washington's side of the story, but what was King George's view of events? Was he really the villain that American history has painted him to be? How has bias in other written accounts affected our view of King George? Through class discussion of the book, guide students to analyze the differing perspectives of the two leaders. Children can write letters, speeches, and newspaper articles expressing each man's point of view on the conflict.
READER'S THEATER AND MAPPING
By simply reading about important battles of the war, some students may experience difficulty visualizing the movements of troops and the timeline of events in the battle. As the class reads about battles in the textbook or a supplemental text such as Let It Begin Here!: Lexington & Concord, students can act out the events in a reader's theater. With identifying props such as red scarves or black hats, the children assume roles as American and British soldiers. As either teacher or child reads aloud the text, the students play out the troop movements. To track class progress through the war, follow along with the interactive battle map found at teachingamericanhistory.org. Children can also create their own maps and timelines of the major engagements of the war.
PRIMARY SOURCES
Primary sources allow students to engage with the exact thoughts and ideas of the Founding Fathers and other revolutionaries in an authentic way. Since we cannot talk to the heroes of the Revolution ourselves, we must rely on the writings they left behind in order to determine their opinions on the events and people of the war. Americans, however, often interpret these texts in different ways. The Declaration of Independence has been interpreted countless times since its birth, but are these interpretations biased or inaccurate in any way? Do people understand the true meaning of this document? Allow students to compare and contrast different interpretations of a primary source with the primary text itself. Which interpretation is the most accurate? Does each student view a document in his/her own way? Are certain documents biased against certain groups of people? To integrate writing content into the lesson, students can rewrite parts of the Declaration of Independence and Constitution in their own words and share their interpretations with classmates. For access to primary documents, check out the American Revolution database from the Library of Congress.
FACT OR FICTION?
Fiction texts are great resources to build up background knowledge and visual images of different time periods, but how much of the "historical" fiction is accurate? After students have spent some time on the American Revolution, revisit the picture books used during introductory whole-class read-alouds with a new purpose for reading. Based on their growing knowledge of people and events, students can focus on the "facts" in these fiction texts to determine if these accounts are historically accurate or embellished entertainment. In what ways have true facts been altered to make a better story? How do the descriptions in a fiction story compare to actual facts in primary sources? As an example, students can analyze the validity of the facts about the Founding Fathers in the picture book John, Paul, George & Ben. They can also explore the accuracy of information in chapter books and graphic novels.
WAX MUSEUM
The Revolutionary War abounds with noteworthy people who changed the course of history. To bring the biographical details of these people to life in the classroom, embark upon a "wax museum" project to transform each child into a different historical figure. Students receive the name of a Revolutionary figure to explore in depth. The children use their information literacy skills in an authentic context as they research biographical information through primary texts, secondary books, and credible websites to construct a complete picture of the life and achievements of their historical person. The children compose their findings into a speech and then create a costume to dress up as their Revolutionary hero or heroine. When the research and writing stages are complete, the classroom wax museum opens with several children performing each day. As wax figures, students stand perfectly still until it is their turn to present. At that point, they "come to life" as their historical figure and deliver their biographical speech to the audience. The wax museum provides a direct hands-on approach to learning history. The children will never forget becoming heroes and heroines of the American Revolution or the incredible knowledge they gain from these portrayals!
PHOTOJOURNALING
Do your students wish they could travel back in time to experience the American Revolution firsthand? As a social studies activity, photojournaling allows the children to step into some of the most well-known depictions of the era. Select paintings of Revolutionary events, such as Washington Crossing the Delaware or Declaration of Independence, July 4, 1776. As a class, analyze the artwork, identifying the historical figures in each painting and discussing their roles in the depicted event. Students can then step back into time and re-create the artwork in the classroom. Each child "becomes" a person in the painting, assuming the same position and facial expression as their historic counterpart. To record this historical moment, take a photograph of each re-creation and display the pictures in a classroom photo gallery. For captions to accompany each photograph, children write a brief description of their role in the painting.
Image courtesy of ushistory.org