American History

Now that we have come to the end of the American revolution, it is worthwhile to explore what is happening with the indigenous people between 1620 and the end of "Manifest Destiny." This is a little project to bridge that gap. Students will be looking at different indigenous groups in the Americas, and different colonizers, from the French to the English, the Dutch and Spanish. Students will research, analyze, synthesize, and finally make a presentation on google slides. They should be done in groups of two, but no more than groups of three.

You can launch this part by starting with some primary sources. When you examine primary sources, you click on the larger picutre and there is this whole treasure trove of resource! Great way to get introduce the topic!

Week One: During this time, we read some articles about different indigenous groups, such as provided by our textbook. If you want, use Readworks.org or Newsela to find some. At the end of the week, I have students pick one indigenous group and their colonizer. Once given their assignment, students scour textbooks, online resources, the library, in order to gather enough data to complete the oral presentation at the end of the third week.

Week Two: Start completing the Google Slides. This is the Google Slides template that I push out to each group leader on Google Classroom. (I only assign it to the leader in Google Classroom.) However, there are some parts where kids are required to make their own graph, compare and contrast, write paragraphs, do a bulleted list… It does get kind of complex. The whole point is to work and some technology lessons. However, some people need accommodations and modifications, don't they? Here is the simpler version of those slides for the students who need it: SIMPLE VERSION

Week Three: Student groups present! We can use this rubric for audience members to keep them focused!

Conclusion: Teacher connects these groups to the ideas of Manifest Destiny, the Trail of Tears, the multiple treaties signed, the Civil War and finally the modern day. My favorite is Wilma ManKiller. Just a good connection from the old world to the modern.

Extras:

Cherokee Nation Song It was real popular in them 1970s

Slavery and Plantations

Whitney Plantation Tours

Art Projects for the Revolution!

Let's make a whole scene! One one area of the room, every kid can build a ship and make an entire Navy sitting in the harbor! In another scene, students can make Valley Forge, complete with George Washington's tent, some paper cannons, and some paper soldiers. Don't forget Molly Pitcher!

Build a Boat with your class! First, print this page and this one and out them on card stock for your class. Probably white card stock, so your students can decorate the boat. Of course I vote making sails out of some materials for added coolness. Maybe a flag?

Practice Knots like the Sailors

Here is an activity to get in the mindset of the sailors who won the war.

Another great art project you can do is to build a large battlefield. You can make Washington's tent, some soldier paper dolls, a few Molly Pitchers, some paper cannons, and some trees and grass and ta-da! A full battle scene! Use the salt dough to make hills and valleys!

Washington's Tent
Female Paper Doll (Cardstock)
Paper Cannons (scroll to the bottom)
- - - Video: The Science behind a cannon
    - Video: How to Load a cannon in the American Revolution
Paper Soldiers (Print smaller if you want to match the Ratio of Washington's tent)
Color a soldier! (plain copy paper)
If you want to use salt dough to make better the scene... well, grab some flour, salt, water, food coloring and watch this video
Coloring Pages

This link is a great place to find some fun hands-on lessons. Trust me, great stuff here!

Theater for American History

Need an end of the year activity? Plays, or even the reader's theater version, is a great thing to do! Here are four places you can easily produce in your classroom! Copy the scripts, start planning and making and scenes and your ready to perform!

The Abolitionists

Child Labor: The Children of the Mills

Civil War Play: Brother versus Brother

Francis Scott Key Play

Boston Tea Party

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