English/Language Arts
Explore punctuation - comma use
This is a great minute for highlighting the grammatical uses of commas. There are lots of commas to analyze here. Introduce or review the common types of comma use (Grammerly has a nice review page), and ask students to pair up to decide which comma rule is being followed by each comma in the Minute.
Social Studies
Explore slavery during the colonial and Revolutionary War eras
What was the state of slavery as the colonies were forming and moving toward becoming the United States of America? Were slaves held in all states? Was there more than one point of view? Did the same types and degrees of slavery exist back in the Motherland, England? Who promised Africans release from slavery if they fought for their side in the American Revolution. What was promised by each side? Were the promises kept? Have your students take a closer look at the African American historical role in the American Revolution.
Explore european alliances during the American Revolution
Author Harness gives the reader a sense of where the French stood during the American Revolution. Have students explore the roots of this alliance. What was happening in France before this period that gave rise to the animosity between the French and the British? Explore how other european nations reacted. The Germans ended up on both sides. Why? What about the Dutch? Spain? Ultimately, can your students make an argument that any or all of the european nations provided enough weight to tip the scales?
Research Skills
Explore online resources - American history
For students who want to know more about the role of African Americans during the American Revolution, send them to this terrific site from Colonial Williamsburg, VA, or this site from the American Revolution Museum at Yorktown. Take a close look at Paul Revere’s engraving from the Boston Massacre depicting the death of African and Native American descendant Crispus Attucks, and ask students to do a “close read” of this engraving to discover its impact on people’s attitudes about the coming war.
Explore punctuation - comma use
This is a great minute for highlighting the grammatical uses of commas. There are lots of commas to analyze here. Introduce or review the common types of comma use (Grammerly has a nice review page), and ask students to pair up to decide which comma rule is being followed by each comma in the Minute.
Social Studies
Explore slavery during the colonial and Revolutionary War eras
What was the state of slavery as the colonies were forming and moving toward becoming the United States of America? Were slaves held in all states? Was there more than one point of view? Did the same types and degrees of slavery exist back in the Motherland, England? Who promised Africans release from slavery if they fought for their side in the American Revolution. What was promised by each side? Were the promises kept? Have your students take a closer look at the African American historical role in the American Revolution.
Explore european alliances during the American Revolution
Author Harness gives the reader a sense of where the French stood during the American Revolution. Have students explore the roots of this alliance. What was happening in France before this period that gave rise to the animosity between the French and the British? Explore how other european nations reacted. The Germans ended up on both sides. Why? What about the Dutch? Spain? Ultimately, can your students make an argument that any or all of the european nations provided enough weight to tip the scales?
Research Skills
Explore online resources - American history
For students who want to know more about the role of African Americans during the American Revolution, send them to this terrific site from Colonial Williamsburg, VA, or this site from the American Revolution Museum at Yorktown. Take a close look at Paul Revere’s engraving from the Boston Massacre depicting the death of African and Native American descendant Crispus Attucks, and ask students to do a “close read” of this engraving to discover its impact on people’s attitudes about the coming war.
© Karen Sterling, 2018 - May be used for educational purposes without written permission