Causes of Conflicts
Events Leading up to the Revolutionary War, 5th Grade
PRINT RESOURCES: NON-FICTION
American Revolution, Stuart Murray
http://tinyurl.com/ylx9uwo
These DK Eyewitness books universally have wonderful illustrations and photos along with a substanstive text that makes them a great resource and appealing to kids. This one covers the American Revolution from Colonial life through the end of the war. Designed for grades 4-12.
Can't You Make Them Behave, King George?, Jean Fritz
http://tinyurl.com/yj9n67r
Jean Fritz's book have reason to be classics for this genre and worth looking into further. The reading level might be a bit advanced.
Colonial America (How'd They Do That In...Series), Patrice Sherman
http://www.amazon.com/Colonial-America-Howd-They-That/dp/1584158174/ref=sr_1_10?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1261062254&sr=1-10#noop
Hot off the press for 2010, this book covers the social history of Colonial America. Topics such as how they played, what they ate, or how they made shoes, humanizes students' colonial counterparts.
Everybody's Revolution: a new look at the people who won America's freedom, Thomas Fleming.
http://tinyurl.com/ykseylg
The author, Thomas Fleming, was the historian behind the PBS documentary Liberty! In this book for children, he reminds us all that the Revolution was not just about Englishmen on opposite sides of the ocean who disagreed with each other. Women and many others from a variety of ethnic backgrounds played important roles in the American Revolution. This might help fill out your debate on who were the Patriots and Tories.
George vs. George: The Revolutionary War as Seen by Both Sides, by Rosalyn Schanzer
http://tinyurl.com/dkpnse
Presents both sides' views on reasons for war including taxation. The first half compares/contrasts the monarch and the man, and the second goes into more detail on the reasons for their views. It looks like it is at a good reading level for your students and a perfect supporting text for your topic.
How to Be a Revolutionary War Soldier, Thomas Ratliff & John James
http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_ss?url=search-alias%3Dstripbooks&field-keywords=How+to+Be+a+Revolutionary+War+Soldier+%28Library+Binding%29
From the National Geographic Society, this book looks really interesting and is supported by strong reviews. The book is a sort of "choose your adventure" that tests the reader on whether he or she has what it takes to become a Revolutionary War soldier.
If You Lived in Colonial Times, Ann McGovern
http://tinyurl.com/ygou3qy
This was the book you mentioned you were interested at our meeting. They focus on the dress and customs of the Colonial era and
King George: What was his problem? Everything your schoolbooks didn't tell you about the American Revolution, by Steve Sheinkin
http://tinyurl.com/ct5gkr
Presented in a fun way for kids and gives good information with more detail than most textbooks. Good reviews from academics and teachers alike.
Liberty!: How the Revolutionary War Began, Lucille Recht Penner
http://www.amazon.com/Liberty-Revolutionary-Began-Landmark-Books/dp/0375822003/ref=pd_sim_b_4#noop
Presents the events leading up to the Revolution in a fun and lively writing style. Originally published as The Liberty Tree: the Beginnings of the American Revolution. Gr 2-4.
Liberty or Death: The American Revolution: 1763-1783, Besty & Giulio Maestro
http://www.amazon.com/Liberty-Death-American-Revolution-1763-1783/dp/0688088023/ref=pd_sxp_grid_pt_2_2
A solid introductory overview of events leading up to the Revolution. Review from Booklist state that the authors "weav(e) a dramatic tale of ideals and hardship, heroism and betrayal, and illustrat(e) events with a series of detailed, dramatic, and informative pictures and a number of excellent maps."
Outrageous Women of Colonial America, Mary Rodd Furbee
http://www.amazon.com/Outrageous-Women-Colonial-America-Furbee/dp/047138299X/ref=sr_1_8?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1261405884&sr=1-8
Written for the 3-5th grade audience, this book provides biographies on some of the well known and many lesser known notable Colonial women.
The American Revolution, Steve Sheinkin
http://tinyurl.com/ct5rgq
If you liked King George, What Was His Problem check out this title written by the same author. Presented in a fun way for kids and gives good information with more detail than most textbooks. Good reviews from academics and teachers alike.
Tories and Patriots: Neighbors at War, Jeremy Thornton
http://www.amazon.com/Tories-Patriots-Neighbors-Thornton-Democracy/dp/0823962792/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1264010052&sr=8-1
Biographical sketches of main players and important leaders during the American Revolution.
Witness the Boston Tea Party With Elaine Landau, Elaine Landau
http://www.amazon.com/Witness-Boston-Explore-Colonial-America/dp/0766025535/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1262146681&sr=1-1
A prolific writer of kids history and science books, this one should be equally interesting. I found it on a number of booklists suggested by a variety of librarians for this age-group.
You Wouldn't Want to Be at the Boston Tea Party!: Wharf Water Tea You'd Rather Not Drink, Peter Cook
http://www.amazon.com/You-Wouldnt-Want-Boston-Party/dp/0531124479/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1262143917&sr=1-4
You Wouldn't Want to Be an American Colonist: A Settlement You'd Rather Not Start, Peter Cook
http://www.amazon.com/You-Wouldnt-Want-American-Colonist/dp/0531163989/ref=pd_sim_b_1
These titles from the popular series a great addition to your collection if you don't have them already. Whimsical, humorous and catchy first-person perspective pique the reader's interest.
Your Travel Guide to Colonial America, Nancy Day
http://www.amazon.com/Travel-Colonial-America-Passport-History/dp/0822599082/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1261405884&sr=1-4#noop
Refreshingly different layout and readable text that lays out history as if students were embarking on a journey. Fun and different, this should appeal to students. School Library Journal review states that the book presents "engaging trips through time and space." Contains information about schools, medicine, forms of punishment, and various group activities.
PRINT RESOURCES: FICTION
A Young Patriot: The American Revolution as Experienced by One Boy, Jim Murphy
http://www.amazon.com/Young-Patriot-American-Revolution-Experienced/dp/0395900190/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1263910719&sr=1-1
A first person narration about a 15 year old boy who joins the War only to realize the actual horrors.
Colonial Voices: Hear Them Speak, Kay Winters
http://www.amazon.com/Colonial-Voices-Hear-Them-Speak/dp/0525478728/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1259177312&sr=1-1#noop
Using free-verse vingnettes, the colonial-era characters express their opinions on current politics and daily life in a Boston that "is about to explode." A 2008 Newberry Medal winner.
George Washington's Teeth, Deborah Chandra & Madeleine Comora
http://tinyurl.com/yzwc7uy
A read-aloud rhyming book which sets the sad story of George's teeth, which in the end were not replaced by wooden denture but ivory and bone, against the backdrop of the American Revolution. A funny, fun read, this book is silly but with the worthy message to "take care of your teeth."
John's Story, 1775 , Joan Lowery Nixon
http://www.amazon.com/Johns-Story-1775-Lowery-Nixon/dp/0879352280/ref=pd_bxgy_b_text_c
Maria's Story, 1773, Joan Lowery Nixon
http://www.amazon.com/Marias-Story-1773-Lowery-Nixon/dp/0879352272/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1262148493&sr=1-1
Nancy's Story, 1765, Joan Lowery Nixon
http://www.amazon.com/Nancys-Story-1765-Lowery-Nixon/dp/0879352256/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1262147997&sr=1-1#noop
More history than story, these fictional book are based on the records of real families of the time. According to School Library Reivew, "the plot moves swiftly, and the characters are well developed. The story is much more realistic and personal than books in the "Dear America" series (Scholastic) since it is based on an actual person." For example, in Nancy's Story, the main character navigates life impacted by a new step-mother, helping her family's slave learn to read and the impending Stamp Act. Gr 4-6.
Johnny Tremain, Esther Forbes
http://tinyurl.com/ygwe45a
This 1944 Newberry Award classic mighta good choice for a read-aloud. Johnny Tremain, winner of the 1943 Newbery Medal is "as compelling today as it was fifty years ago, to read this riveting novel is to live through the defining events leading up to the American Revolutionary War seen through the eyes of a boy who turns in his smithing tools to take up a rifle and fight for the liberty of America."
Katie's Trunk, Ann Turner
http://tinyurl.com/yhtqr7q
Katie comes from a family who supports the Tories during the American Revolution. Very strong reviews and might help your students better understand the Tory perspective.
Love Thy Neighbor: The Tory Diary of Prudence Emerson, Ann Turner
http://tinyurl.com/yf6lg96
From the Dear America series, this book focus on the tensions between Patriots and Loyalists as told through the eyes of a young girl. School Library Review notes that "the author does an outstanding job of showing how Tories became embroiled with their neighbors in a sort of civil war... Details of Colonial life are intricately interwoven, from Prudence's difficulty in obtaining ink to write in her diary to her mother's use of herbs in her midwifery practice. The action and suspense build steadily and will keep readers hooked. A compelling portrait of a "dissenting" voice."
My Brother Sam is Dead, James Lincoln Collier and Christopher Collier.
http://tinyurl.com/ylyuxjm
One son joins the Rebel forces while his brother and family attempt to remain neutral while living in a town that sides with the Tories. A Newberry Award winner, My Brother Sam is Dead is a powerful book focus spot on the topic you are examining between Tories, Patirots and trying to find one's own opinion.
Phoebe the Spy, Judith Berry Griffin
http://tinyurl.com/ygl4wq6
School Library Journal says "this episode drawn from the Revolutionary War is related with historical accuracy and suspense and illustrated with finesse." More than that, it doesn't hit kids over the head with history, rather the story draws in readers by outlining historical truths of the era in less obtrusive ways.
Revolutionary War on Wednesday, Mary Pope Osborne
http://tinyurl.com/yzgxt7l
From the ever-poular Magic Treehouse series, this book has Annie and Jack travel back in time to help General George Washington.
The Winter of Red Snow: The Revolutionary War Diary of Abigail Jane Stewart, Kristiana Stewart
http://www.amazon.com/Winter-Red-Snow-Revolutionary-Pennsylvania/dp/0439555078/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1262146270&sr=1-2
Also from the Dear America series, this book is noted for it's historical accuracy along with a satisfying plot. It takes place during the Revolutionary war and through her diary, the narrator, Abby, recounts the horror of war along with her everyday realities of Colonial life.
DVD/CD-ROM RESOURCES
American History for Children Video Series
http://tinyurl.com/dms8bl
Short, 25 min. sections written in conjunction with teachers. Titles in this series that meshes with your topic include Early Settlers and American Independence. School Library Journal Review favorably reviews the series as its "technical quality is excellent, the young actors are ethnically diverse, and the narration is very clear and understandable."
American Colonies & American Revolution, Howard Egger-Bovat
http://tinyurl.com/ylecfhe
Teachers who have used this tell me they like it and it fits your topic and era. Has one section on the "Rebel and British Solider's Life". Made for the grade 3-7 audience.
Liberty's Kids, DIC Entertainment Corp. 2002
http://tinyurl.com/cwktcc
In the WCLS library, this video is one other teacher's have told me they really like. Cartoon characters help explain the causes and reactions to events leading up to the Revolutionary War.
CURRICULUM RESOURCES
10 EASY-TO-READ AMERICAN HISTORY PLAYS THAT REACH ALL KINDS OF READERS
http://tinyurl.com/cfef7s
Plays for 3rd grade reading level that look like a fun way to liven up a history lesson. Students might think about writing their own plays based on this style and play out the debate between Patriots and Loyalists.
American History for Kids: A History with 21 Activities, Janis Herbert
http://www.socialstudies.com/c/product.html?nocache@8+s@lJderSL5RfB5M+record@TF34289+s@lJderSL5RfB5M
Integrate hands-on activities into your classroom discussions. Activities in this book include one on the Stamp Act.
BRING HISTORY ALIVE! A Sourcebook for Teaching United States History
http://tinyurl.com/c4xxbc
I added this book because many History teachers use it and has a broad base of good reviews. It provides primary source documents and ideas to teaching using inquiry-based approach to 5th grade audience.
Colonial and Revolutionary Songs, Keith and Rusty McNeil
http://tinyurl.com/dlcskl
Has songs of the era on CD as well as lyrics and notes on the song's meaning as a reflection of people's sentiments of the times.
History Pockets: The American Revolution, Evan-Moor Educational Publishers
http://www.amazon.com/History-Pockets-Evan-Moor-Educational-Publishers/dp/1596732601/ref=pd_sim_b_10
Extension project ideas abound for a variety of topics from the American Revolution. Provides timelines, arts and craft projects and step by step explanations.
ONLINE RESOURCES
Premium Digital Resources (must have WCLS card to access)
World Book Online
http://www.worldbookonline.com/student/home
This is a solid supporting resource for you for basic information, historical maps or link to other resources. Here is one search I did for the American Revolution:
American Revolution:
http://www.worldbookonline.com/student/search?st1=american%20revolution&searchprop=WBS
History Resource Center
A good source for primary documents such as art, diaries and first-hand accounts of the era as well as articles. The reading level will be too high for your students, however, the primary source documents are wonderful and can be used to help deepen their study. Here are some examples of searches I did on your topic:
Account of the Boston Tea Party
http://tinyurl.com/ykxy5qg
A first-hand account of someone who witnessed the Boston Tea Party. He mentions how those "appointed to destroy the tea" were "disguised as Indians". It is also interesting to note how non-violent the whole episode was and how the writer is almost laughing at the comical nature of making so much tea for the fishes.
The Boston Tea Party, painting
http://tinyurl.com/ygz7d4a
Kids can see the "indians" and the crowd cheering them on.
Stamp Act Riot, image
http://tinyurl.com/yzyw458
Drawing depicting the kind of anger sparked by the British imposition of a tax on the American colonies.
Stamp Act
http://tinyurl.com/yz3lh45
A text of the Stamp Act which although is too wordy in its entirety for students, the idea of sharing bits and pieces of it with students might help them understand the anger which this document created.
Other Online Resources: do not need WCLS card to access
American History lesson plans
http://edsitement.neh.gov/tab_lesson.asp?subcategory=22&grade=3-5+&Display=Display
Edsitement is a fanastic resource for you to bookmark and use for researching a variety of topics in the Humanities. They have oodles of lesson plans and other links on topics as wide ranging as art history, world history, poetry and literature. You can focus the results by grade level. This link will take you to a variety of lesson plans on the American Revolution for the 3-5 grade levels.
Declaration of Independence, Social Studies for Kids
http://www.socialstudiesforkids.com/subjects/declaration.htm
A great website that you might want to explore further has this collection of Declaration of Independence documents and curriculum support materials. For example, the Declaration of Independence: Cry for Freedom link http://www.socialstudiesforkids.com/articles/ushistory/declaration.htm takes you to a basic overview of the historical events that gave rise to the Declaration.
Declaration of Independence, Rough Draft, Library of Congress
http://www.loc.gov/exhibits/treasures/trt001.html
So interesting for kids to see that the founders also had to work at their writing. You can click on the image to get an enlarged version of the Declaration of Independence in rough draft form.
Colonial and Early America
http://www.loc.gov/teachers/classroommaterials/themes/colonial-america/
Another worthy stop at this site on your topic is to look at the lesson plans and primary source documents they have on early America.
Spy Letters of the American Revolution, Clements Library, University of Michigan
http://www.si.umich.edu/spies/
This is such a fun website for your students! They show how both the British and Patriots used invisible ink and secret codes, explains what happened when a letter was captured and lots more intrigue. This is a great way to incorporate primary source materials and bring the era alive!
People of the Revolution
http://www.si.umich.edu/spies/index-people.html
These are great biographies of Tories and Patriots and their roles in the War. You might consider giving students the first portion of these biographies which explain their identity and roles. After researching and then defending their "views" on the war, you can give the latter half of the biographies which explain what happened to them.
Teacher's Lounge
http://www.si.umich.edu/spies/index-people.html
Great classroom activities that includes making invisible ink and ideas on how to teach interpreting a primary resource.
U.S. History - Colonial America and the New Nation: Lesson Plans
http://myloc.gov/Education/LessonPlans/Pages/lessonplans/declaration/index.aspx
A rough draft of the Declaration of Independence; who knew that even our founding fathers had to struggle with using the writing process. Great website from the Library of Congress that has lots of primary source materials collated by era or tagged to lesson plans by grade level.
The American Revolution and its Era: Maps and Charts of North America and the West Indies, 1750-1789
http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/gmdhtml/armhtml/armhome.html
A collection of maps and charts from the Library of Congress that allows you to look at historical maps from this time period. Also check out the Classroom Connections link http://memory.loc.gov/learn/ that has great teaching ideas for incorporating maps into your curriculum.
MUSEUM RESOURCES
Colonial Williamsburg
http://www.history.org/
This is a site rich with activities & information on colonial life. Check out the slideshows daily life as well as the kid zone for activities, tours and games.
Experience the Life
http://www.history.org/Almanack/life/
I love the link on "Manners." This is a fabulous resource that details the life of everyday colonists.
Smithsonian Museum of American History
http://historyexplorer.americanhistory.si.edu/
The whole site is wonderful, though check out the above link to get into the educator's portal. There is one whole lesson plan with video and activities on Causes of the American Revolution and war in our nation's history. I found it a bit difficult to navigate, but there are some real gems here.
The Choate Family: http://americanhistory.si.edu/house/families/choates.asp
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