Visit from Reenactors Video.

Below this post is the link to the video. It is a video using the pictures from the visit from the reenactors.

Visit from Reenactors

Visit from Reenactors

Animoto

I just created a short video of the reenactment pictures using this website. It was amazingly easy. (If I can do it, anyone can) However, this video is only 30 seconds since it was the free version of the website. You can locate the video on the link below this post.

April 19th, 1775 Reenactment

April 19th, 1775 Reenactment

Reenactment with Students

Today our class along with Kerri's and Bob's went outside to do a reenactment of  April 19th..  The fourth grade were the Regulars and the 5th were the Militia.  We lined up the students shoulder to shoulder and several 5th graders read documented testimony from both sides on who shot first.  We all discussed the importance of point of view and how both sides were convinced the other side shot first.   Bob and Kerri took several pictures and I think it was a worthwhile activity. 

Completing the Blog...(Technical side)

This weekend, I wrote the final 2 lesson plans and published them to my blog.  It was a learning process since I have never had a blog before.  It took me awhile to learn how to add pages and photographs but after several attempts, I was finally successful.  In addition, Bob Doherty is a great technical resource and really helped me a lot through the technical process.  Katie also sent me clear and simple instructions that I was able to follow.  The whole process of creating a blog has been a challenging but interesting one.  It has forced me to use and learn more technology which I really should be doing. 

Venn Diagram....Militia vs Redcoats

Today, we finally completed the venn diagrams comparing and contrasting the Militia vs. the Redcoats.  I had a handout I found from the Scholastic Book George vs. George and we read it together.  Then students worked with a partner and using the handout and all the notes and information they had from previous discussions created a venn diagram.  Students were able to locate several points on differences and less on similarities (of course).  They had to first make a detailed list for both sides and have me review before starting the venn diagram.  All groups create the diagram and we shared them as a class.  Many of the same information was in all the diagrams but there was some differences which opened up a great discussion.  The most interesting part was the students understanding that even though the Redcoats had many advantages, the Militia had one major one.  Many of the groups included that knowing the land was a major advantage for the Militia. Overall, I feel this lesson was a success and that the students really learned from it.

Reenactors' visit to school.

Today, the reenactors came to school and spent over an hour talking about the AR.  They were both from the Charleston Militia and had some great information to share with the 3 classes.  They focused on Woburn's involvement on the day of April 19, 1775 and how Woburn is sometimes forgotten as a major force in the events that occurred that day.
A lot of the focus of my lessons have been on the compare and contrast between the Regulars and the Militia and that was heavily covered during the discussion as well.  They were dressed in period attire and explained  everything associated with their clothing and what they were carrying.  In addition, they touched on what the Regulars wore and the differences between the two armies.  One of them did bring in a musket and he explained all about it.  Of course, the students' questions centered on the weapons part of the presentation.  The students were able to hold the musket and they really enjoyed that as well. 
It was a great addition to the lessons all three of us have been focusing on and just added to the overall experience.

Point of View lesson

Yesterday we had a great discussion about Point of View and how people can perceive the same thing differently.  I did read from the Scholastic book George vs George the part of the "shot heard around the world" and how both sides had very different accounts of what actually happened.  The students were able to understand since we spent so much time on the concept of point of view using different scenarios that they could relate to.

Today, we went to the computer lab and did a scavenger hunt  based on the information listed on History Place.com.  I created a list of 20 questions and the students had to find the information on the above listed website.  Many of the questions I used were already on a scavenger hunt website for the AR and I just added a few of my own.  Some of the students completed in school and others have to finish for homework.

Things are moving along nicely and on Monday a friend who does reenactments has generously offered to come in and talk to the students.  He will be meeting with myself, Bob and Kerri.  It should be interesting.

Compare Contrast Tories vs.Patriots

I am about half way done with the book My Brother Sam is Dead.  The book lends itself to a lot of discussion about the differences between the Regulars and the Militia which is the focus of my overall lesson.   Had a great discussion  last Thursday about the word underdog and how it correlates to the American Revolution.  We discussed how the Regulars were trained soldiers and that was their job as opposed to the Militia who had many other responsibilities along with being prepared to fight.  I used the correlation of sports and showed examples of how many teams on paper should have won but did not.  We also discussed the will of the Militia to win and also the conflicts sometimes between families.  When I first started reading the above book, I felt it was a little too long but am very glad that I did since it has provided a lot of great discussions in the classroom.  Next week, I plan to start to compare and contrast the Regulars and the Militia and have the students create their own Venn Diagram on what they know so far and what they will learn in the next couple of weeks.


 

October 14th, 2010

Today I did a KWL with my class to obtain what they know about the American Revolution.  They did know some things from 3rd grade and we had a general discussion about what we will be focusing on for this project.  The students were both engaged and interested.  I had planned on  reading more from My Brother Sam is Dead but we were spending a lot of time on the KWL and only had 10 minutes to read aloud.  I am feeling optimistic that these lessons will go well because the students are so interested. 


In addition, I did read the poem "Paul Revere's Ride" by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow to the class and had some discussion about it. Some already knew there was more than 1 rider that day to warn the countryside that the regulars were coming. We discussed how Paul Revere is so well known for his historic ride but the others are not. It also led to the discussion that the poem has made him such an important figure in the AR but others also contributed to the successful outcome of the battle on that day.

Historical Fiction

I have just starting reading the book "My Brother Sam is Dead" to the class.  It provides a lot of background to the American Revolution and I am incorporating into my read-aloud time with my class...

October 13th, 2010

Attended the seminar at Heritage Museum today and received a lot of useful information.  I think I have finally nailed down what I want to do in the classroom with my students.  It will consist of comparing and contrasting the militia vs the regulars.  Jim and Roger provided a lot of useful information about them and I wrote a lot down for future reference with my students.

October 13

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