As we approach the anniversary of Paul Revere’s famous ride of April 18, 1775, you and your students can make a journey of your own. Venture through that era via a series of podcasts in Program 4 commemorating colonial figures and events!
Famous Folks
From the celebrated silversmith himself (Paul Revere, of course!) to a number of his pre-eminent peers, The Walking Classroom provides podcasts a-plenty about notable figures from that time.
Introduce your students to Samuel Adams (4-#48, Combined-#70), one of the Founding Fathers of the United States. From helping to organize the Boston Tea Party to signing the Declaration of Independence, Adams played a pivotal part in mustering support for the colonies’ rebellion against Great Britain.
Known for his powerful “Give me Liberty, or Give me Death” speech in 1775, patriot and orator Patrick Henry (4-#49, Combined-#66) stirred the colonists to action. After they won their independence, he went on to hold the title of first governor of Virginia.
Other folks who were firsts? Killed in the Boston Massacre on March 5, 1770, Crispus Attucks (4-#55, Combined-#61), was the first American to die in the American Revolution. Another Revolutionary figure, Deborah Sampson (4-#56, Combined-#67), disguised herself as a man to fight in the Continental Army, and, as such, was the first woman to receive a military pension!
Paul Revere Himself
Not only a master craftsman, Paul Revere (4-#50, Combined-#65) was a significant figure on the road to revolution. He gathered intelligence, served as a courier, and was involved in planning the Boston Tea Party!
Walk, listen, and learn, and then follow up with an activity or two to engage your class. Recap by viewing a video or by look for a timeline of Revere’s life.
Compare the real story of Revere’s ride with Henry Wadsworth Longfellow’s 1860 poem “Paul Revere’s Ride” or read Revere’s own account! Even better, revisit the route of the ride itself!
Words and Actions
Program 4’s podcast possibilities go beyond people! Get a feel for the revolutionary spirit of the time as you take a deeper dive into the ideas and events that got folks all stirred up.
Begin with the Boston Massacre (4-#54, Combined-#60) of March 5, 1770. This skirmish between British soldiers and a crowd in Boston, Massachusetts, left five people dead. Check out a video about the event, then explore the perspectives of the different sides with an interactive activity.
Share the story of the Boston Tea Party (4-#53, Combined-#62), where 342 chests of tea were thrown into Boston harbor by colonists disguised as Mohawk Indians to protest the British tax on tea. Have fun with history with an online activity that provides an overview of this December 16, 1773 event. Follow up with an online group quiz!
The Intolerable Acts (4-#52, Combined-#63) were passed by British Parliament in 1774 as punishment for the Boston Tea Party. While they were meant to help the British to maintain control, they had quite the opposite effect. They actually united the colonists and encouraged them to rebel! Send your students back in time with this skit to help them connect with the content!
Thomas Paine’s pamphlet entitled “Common Sense” (4-#51, Combined-#64), published in January of 1776, encouraged the colonists to fight for independence. Learn more with a lesson plan focusing on this written work.
Chronicle the Events or Have an Event of Your Own!
Gather your resources and try a new idea or two. Have your students craft a timeline of the American revolution or make their own invisible ink to write a secret letter. Or, pick some primary sources and build a lesson around them.
Allow your students time to research some colonial characters and then bring history to life. Plan a real tea party, complete with historically accurate refreshments. Have students play different figures of the time, and interview each other as they mill around and sip their tea! Afterward, allow time for a debrief where they share some of the fun facts they have found out about each other.
Learn about other timely topics and be on the lookout for more ideas in future posts.
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