Thematic unit for the American Revolution
There were so many things you could focus on for this unit. My major focus became the differences between the Regular and the Militia soldiers. During this unit, we conducted an online scavenger hunt with questions that focused on the events surrounding April 19, 1775. This allowed me to bring technology into the lessons. In addition, we watched 3 short videos in a series called Liberty Kids. The 3 videos were centered on the Boston Tea Party, Paul Revere’s Ride, and Who Shot first?. They were age appropriate and really a great source of information for my students. One big highlight of the unit was a visit from a Reenactor who was with the Charleston Militia group. Both him and his son came in dressed in period attire with all the extras such as weapons and cookware. The talk centered on Woburn’s role in the American Revolution but we learned so much more. They spent time explaining their attire and accessories which tied in nicely with my overall focus. In addition, they talked about the Regulars and their attire. Also, a discussion took place that focused on the differences in training habits of the two armies. At the end of the presentation, the students were all allowed to pick up the musket. (which of course was the highlight for the students.)
