Lesson Plan #: CC-0021

First Grade Lesson 2: The Beginnings of the Revolutionary War



Objectives: The student will be able to:

1. understand literature about the Revolutionary War era.

2. list some of the reasons why our country wanted its independence from Great Britain.

3. discuss the reasons for rules and laws and why we need them.

Description of lesson/activity:

1. Refer back to the books read about Washington and read the chapter entitled "The Troubles with England Begin" in A New True Book: The Declaration of Independence , by Dennis Fradin. This book gives some of the reasons why Great Britain was treating the American colonies the way it was. Emphasize the concept of taxes and the idea that the colonies had little power in their government. Talk about how citizens today in the United States have a say in government. Encourage discussion of why and how we elect government leaders. What if we don't like a law or rule (for example, too fast a speed limit in a neighborhood with children)? What can people do to change or improve laws? Children should understand that laws are types of rules. Why do we have class rules, school rules, and family rules?

2. Refer back to the chapter read earlier about some of the reasons why the colonists were unhappy with the way Great Britain treated them. Show Great Britain on a map in relationship to where we are. Have the children talk about how the colonists got their ideas back to Great Britain and how long communication took, since there were no phones and travel by boat was very slow.

3. Explain to the children that they are going to read a story about a boy involved in the Battle of Lexington. Read Sam the Minuteman , by Nathaniel Benchley. Encourage the children to think about Sam's feelings as he is involved in this battle. Why were the British marching to Sam's town? Have the children discuss some of the unpleasant things that Sam saw in this battle. What do they think Sam's mother was feeling about this battle? How do they think his father felt?

Talk about the concept of a minuteman. Why were Sam and his father called minutemen? Being ready in a minute's notice can have positive and negative effects. Have the children discuss the good and bad points of doing something on a minute's notice. Chart their ideas.

4. Refer back to the book Sam the Minuteman . Have the children summarize the story. Make sure they understand who Sam was representing. Tell them they are going to hear a story about a boy involved on the other side of the conflict. Read the story of George the Drummer Boy , by Nathaniel Benchley. George wanted to be friends with the people of Boston but was thwarted in his attempts.

After reading the story discuss George's feelings in this story. Are they similar to Sam's? The class could make a chart comparing the two boys involved in the Battle of Lexington. They can also role play the events of these stories.

5. As a writing exercise have the children complete this sentence, "If I were . . ." They should fill in Sam or George's name before they complete the sentence. In their writing, encourage them to include what they would do and why. Also, they should try to explain how they felt at the time of the event. As an alternative activity, students could draw pictures of the Battle of Lexington as seen through Sam's eyes and George's eyes.

Enrichment and Extension:

1. Have the children independently or in groups read the following stories that take place during Revolutionary War times:

Buttons for General Washington , by Peter and Connie Roop

Six Silver Spoons , by Janette Lowrey

The Boston Coffee Party , by Doreen Rappaport

2. Discuss with the children that July 4th honors the day that our leaders signed the Declaration of Independence which was a document declaring the colonies independent from Great Britain and its King. The committee that wrote this document declared that America would no longer be under British control. Have the children tell ways they celebrate July 4th. How do towns and cities celebrate? Why do we have parades and fireworks?

3. In Washington's time men wore three cornered hats called tricorns. Show the children pictures of tricorns. Have the children make one cut out 3 paper rectangles about 8" x 5". Draw a curve line across the top of one. Cut it out. Using that as a pattern cut out the other 2 rectangles. Color them dark blue or brown with a yellow strip along the curve. Tape the ends together to form a triangle.

Resources:

Adler, David A. A Picture Book of George Washington . (New York: Trumpet, 1989) (ISBN 0440848024).

Benchley, Nathaniel. George the Drummer Boy . (New York: Harper & Row, 1977) (ISBN 0060205008).

Benchley, Nathaniel. Sam the Minuteman . (New York: Harper & Row, 1969).

Dalgliesh, Alice. The 4th of July Story . (New York: Charles Scribners Sons, 1956).

Fradin, Dennis B. The Declaration of Independence . (Chicago, IL: Chicago Press, 1988) (ISBN 0516011537).

Greene, Carol. George Washington, First President of the United States . (Chicago, IL: Children's Press, 1991) (ISBN 0516042181).

Lowery, Janet. Six Silver Spoons . (New York: Harper & Row, 1971).

Rappaport, Doreen. The Boston Coffee Party . (New York: Harper & Row, 1988) (ISBN 0060248246).

Roop, Peter and Connie Roop. Buttons for General Washington . (Minneapolis, MN: Carolrhoda Books, 1986) (ISBN 0876142943).

Spies, Karen. Our National Holidays . (CT: Millbrook Press, 1992) (ISBN 1562941097).