Unit Books:
George vs. George : the American Revolution as seen from both sides by Rosalyn Schanzer
The split history of the American Revolution by Michael Burgan
The Revolutionary War : an interactive history adventure by Elizabeth Raum
The Revolutionary War: Bringing History to Life by Josh Gregory
Liberty!: How the Revolutionary War Began by Lucille Recht Penner
Work with LMS to collect primary and secondary sources related to a topic of choice. It needs to be an event that the students will already know a lot about.
You will need at least 5 resources. Resources might include: an actual object used at the time, a document from the time, something written about the event, a news piece, audio/video.
Print Resources available through your school libraries.
Teacher Resources:
https://classroom.synonym.com/ways-geography-affected-american-revolution-8414372.html
Ways That Geography affected the American Revolution
Student Resources:
http://users.humboldt.edu/ogayle/hist110/ColonialGeographyClimate.png
Map showing landforms, soil, growing season
http://mrnussbaum.com/13-colonies/
13 Colonies regions map -info can be printed out
https://kids.britannica.com/kids/assembly/view/88067
Map of major battles in the American Revolution
http://classroom.synonym.com/ways-geography-affected-american-revolution-8414372.html
Ways that geography affected the American Revolution
Print Resources available through your school libraries.
Books:
If you lived at the time of the American Revolution by Kay Moore
Hannah of Fairfield by Jean Van Leeuwen
Teacher Resources:
http://www.patriotshistoryusa.com/teaching-materials/bonus-materials/everyday-life-in-america/
Background on everyday life in America: by the mid 1700s
Student Resources:
http://www.ducksters.com/history/american_revolution/daily_life_during_the_revolutionary_war.php
Daily Life during the Revolutionary War
http://revolution.mrdonn.org/dailylife.html Daily Life during the Revolutionary War
Print Resources available through your school libraries.
Books:
The Declaration of Independence by Michael Burgan
What is the Declaration of Independence? By Michael C. Harris
Teacher Resources:
https://www.brainpop.com/socialstudies/ushistory/declarationofindependence/ Declaration of Independence BrainPoP video.
Discovery Education - Animated video – Liberty Kids: The First Fourth of July. Experience the growing unity of the American colonies as their leaders sign the Declaration of Independence, calling for a separate nation.
Student Resources:
Print: Toolkit Texts: Short Nonfiction for American History: American Revolution and Constitution P. 51 Excerpt From the Declaration of Independence
Explanation of Declaration of Independence. Simple article. Requires permission to make copies.
http://school.eb.com/levels/elementary/article/Declaration-of-Independence/353042
Britannica School elementary article “Declaration of Independence” Brief Overview of the document.
Opportunities for ongoing inquiry:
https://www.archives.gov/founding-docs/declaration
The Declaration of Independence: Primary source image of document, and transcript
https://www.constitutionfacts.com/us-declaration-of-independence/women-behind-the-signers/ The Women Behind the Signers of the Declaration of Independence
Teacher Resources:
http://www.fairfieldct.org/content/10724/12146/12165.aspx
The Burning of Fairfield during the American Revolution. Article from the town website.
Background information.
Student Resources:
https://connecticuthistory.org/british-burn-fairfield/
British Burn Fairfield – Today in History: July 7. From the Connecticut Humanities website.
http://www.fairfieldhistory.org/library-collections/learn-more/burning-of-fairfield/
Fairfield Museum and History Center: The Burning of Fairfield. Click on link at site to download an article.
http://www.fairfieldct.org/historicdistricts
Fairfield Museum and History Center: Historic Districts. Click on link at site to download a map..
http://www.fairfieldct.org/content/10724/12142/default.aspx
Fairfield Connecticut Street Map. Click on link at site to download street map.
Opportunities for ongoing inquiry:
http://www.ctpost.com/news/article/Witness-to-history-The-burning-of-Fairfield-26055.php
Witness to History: The Burning of Fairfield. 2009 Connecticut Post Article. Secondary source newspaper article includes a primary source quote.
https://www.fairfieldhistory.org/education/teacher-resources-2/
Fairfield Museum
Print Resources available through your school libraries.
Books:
If you lived at the time of the American Revolution by Kay Moore
Student Resources:
Loyalists vs. Patriots The Argument
http://www.ducksters.com/history/american_revolution/patriots_and_loyalists.php
Ducksters: American Revolution: Patriots and Loyalists
Additional resources if needed:
http://www.ushistory.org/us/13c.asp When does the Revolution End? The Loyalists. United States perspective.
Opportunity for Ongoing Inquiry
http://www.redcoat.me.uk/loyalists.htm Loyalist (American Revolution) A British point of view.
Print Resources available through your school libraries.
Possible Books:
One dead spy : the life, times, and last words of Nathan Hale, America's most famous spy by Nathan Hale
Nathan Hale: A Patriot Spy by Shannon Zemlicka
Katie's trunk by Ann Turner
Student Resources:
Loyalists vs. Patriots The Argument
http://www.ducksters.com/history/american_revolution/patriots_and_loyalists.php
Ducksters: American Revolution: Patriots and Loyalists
Additional resources if needed:
http://school.eb.com/levels/elementary/article/Hale-Nathan/601103
Encyclopedia Britannica Article on Nathan Hale
http://school.eb.com/levels/elementary/article/Sons-of-Liberty/601129
Britannica School elementary article “Sons of Liberty” Brief Overview of the group.
Print Resources available through your school libraries.
Books:
Benedict Arnold : Battlefield hero or selfish traitor? By Jessica Gunderson
Benedict Arnold : American hero and traitor By Michael Burgen
Teacher Resources:
https://www.biography.com/people/benedict-arnold-9189320 Brief Biography
https://connecticuthistory.org/benedict-arnold-turns-and-burns-new-london/
Connecticut History.org article on Benedict Arnold’s Role in the burning of New London CT.
Student Resources:
http://school.eb.com/levels/elementary/article/Benedict-Arnold/489795
Britannica School elementary article “Benedict Arnold”
http://www.ducksters.com/history/american_revolution/benedict_arnold.php
Benedict Arnold. Simple biography/explanation of role during the American Revolution. Requires permission to make copies.
Additional Resources Identified in Grade 5 Reading Workshop: Reading History, American Revolution
Showing Arnold as hero at Battle of Saratoga: Discovery Streaming under Liberty Kids Episode 23: The Hessians Are Coming at 19:00 to 22:15
Showing Arnold as traitor meeting with British to share West Point Plans: Youtube under “Liberty Kids 132:Benedict Arnold” at 11:08 to 13:10)
Print Resources available through your school libraries.
Possible Books:
Attack of the Turtle by Drew Carlson. Former Nutmeg Nominee (many copies throughout district)
Teacher Resources:
http://www.teachushistory.org/files/u2/IsaiahThomas/short_bio_of_it_0.pdf
Biographical account of Isaiah Thomas. Background information
Student Resources:
http://www.teachushistory.org/files/u2/IsaiahThomas/historic_trans_and_comm_essay.pdf
Isaiah Thomas - Patriot Printer: Historic Transportation and Communication
Additional resources if needed:
http://www.history.org/history/teaching/enewsletter/april03/iotm.cfm#
Colonial Williamsburg: 18th-Century Modes of Travel. Scroll down to access a slide show
https://www.constitutionfacts.com/founders-library/colonial-travel/ Colonial Travel. Overview of travel by land and sea. Text and images.
Opportunities for Ongoing Inquiry
http://www.teachushistory.org/node/347 Hallifax Gazette article and tie in to Isaiah Thomas and the Stamp Act
http://www1.assumption.edu/ahc/1770s/pcomconvers.html Would There Have Been an American Revolution Without Newspapers and Mail? Scroll down to access additional communication articles at same site
http://www.mountvernon.org/george-washington/the-revolutionary-war/spying-and-espionage/spy-techniques-of-the-revolutionary-war/ Spy Techniques of the Revolutionary War.
Use resources from prior lessons if needed.