Activity 1:
Student groups made up of four members will organize themselves into three roles.
1. War Correspondents: This role will be filled by two students because of the amount of material represented. They will be responsible for gathering information related to the battles of the American Revolution. Some key clues are as follows: George Washington, Benedict Arnold, Lexington and Concord, Battle of Saratoga, Valley Forge, Battle of Trenton, Battle of Yorktown, Bunker Hill, Ethan Allen, Lord Cornwallis, Lafayette, and Francis Marion.
2. The Economist: This person will be responsible for explaining events related to business, trade, and money making during the Revolutionary era. Key clues are: Embargo, The Boston Tea Party, The Stamp Act, No Taxation Without Representation, The Sugar Act, and the Intolerable Acts.
3. The Politician: This person will report on the important events and decisions being made by government officials. Key clues are: Thomas Jefferson, Ben Franklin, The Declaration of Independence, Thomas Paine, Common Sense, Sam Adams, The Olive Branch Petition, The Treaty of Paris, Patrick Henry, King George III, and John Hancock.
After each individual role has been established, students will research and gather data from relevant links. Remember to take notes as you go. Go to Revolutionary people database for an example of a way you could categorize your data.
From these resources, students will then design and publish a newsletter highlighting major features of the the American Revolution. Remember to include visual images to go along with any information you write down.
Activity 2:
Organized in groups of 4 students will square off in I Spy. But to do that students will switch from newspaper reporters to trial lawyers and secret agents. Then teachers will assign a secret revolutionary character to each student. Students in turn will not reveal their new identities to anyone outside their own group. Click Here for details on how to play.
Next, go to the Research Links for resources.