Karen Gershowitz: INT 925 Project 2
Library Lesson - American Revolution through Literature
Grade Level - fourth grade
Lesson One:
Objectives:
Students will understand that historical fiction depicts characters, events and issues from real time periods
Students will be able to distinguish fact from fiction in the novel
Students will be able to identify real characters in the novel
Students will be able to use a map and identify towns and cities mentioned in the novel
Students will understand the characters of the time period and the issues facing them during the war
Students will relate the reading to their classroom curriculum on the revolution
Standards:
Social Studies 1: Students will use a variety of intellectual skills to demonstrate their understanding of major ideas, eras, themes, developments and turning points in the history of the United States and New York
ELA 2: Students will read write listen and speak for literary response and expression
Materials:
Treason Stops at Oyster Bay by Anna Leah Sweetzer
Long Island Map
Paper and Pencils
Internet websites:
Revolutionary War - research ideas
Pre reading activity:
As a class we will discuss that historical fiction is a mixture of fact and fiction. As a class we will brainstorm names of people we know were important during the revolution. As we read the story we will add names to the list.
Make a chart of possible reasons that long island was an important area during the revolution.
Reading Activity: As a class we will read Treason Stops at Oyster Bay.
I will ask children if they knew that the war took place on Long Island and how it was an important place during the revolution. I will show students a map of Long Island. Students will locate the towns mentioned in the story. We will locate the town where they live. Students will trace routes from their town to the towns mentioned in the story.
Post reading activity: Explain that we will research the true characters and events of the American Revolution using many resources in the library.
Lesson Two: Using Library Resources
Objectives:
Students will understand how to select a topic for research
Students will know how to create a pathfinder to information
Students will make a list of things they would like to learn
Students will be able to list keywords to assist them in their research process
Students will find information using a variety of sources
Standards:
Social Studies 1: Students will use a variety of intellectual skills to demonstrate their understanding of major ideas, eras, themes, developments and turning points in the history of the United States and New York
ELA 2: Students will read write listen and speak for literary response and expression
Materials:
Encyclopedia
Nonfiction Books
Computer with Internet and Printer
Internet Websites
Events leading to the Revolution
Pathfinder Worksheet
Using the list of real people and events generated by the class in lesson one, and other information about the American Revolution, students may select a topic for research
Projects may be presented as follows:
Biography of a major figure during the revolution
Story map of the book ÒTreason Stops at Oyster BayÓ
Newspaper account of an important event
Create a song or story based true facts of the Revolution
Using the pathfinder worksheet, they will present their main ideas and provide supporting details. They will research main idea using various resources. They will fill in the table with keywords and synonyms to help them find information using OPAC, encyclopedia and internet searching.
Based on project choice, students will use the information they have found in their research to complete one of the project choices.
Lesson 3 -
Timeline of American Revolution – Culminating Activity
Objectives:
Students will be able to construct a timeline of the Revolutionary War using facts that were discovered during research
Students will recognize the important dates and events of the Revolution
Standards:
Social Studies 1: Students will use a variety of intellectual skills to demonstrate their understanding of major ideas, eras, themes, developments and turning points in the history of the United States and New York
Students will work in small groups and discuss the findings of classmates. Students will take notes on projects to help them recognize the important dates of the revolution. Students will organize their notes in chronological order. Using project notes and websites, the class will construct a timeline of the American Revolution.
Education World - revolutionary war timeline
Library of Congress - timeline