As we learn about the American Revolution, I want my students to connect with the American Patriots we are studying. My vision is that students will get to know and admire these Early American Heroes by reading a biography and representing their hero at a Day at the Museum event for the community.
Our school is in a rural area that is quickly becoming subdivisions.
Therefore, my students are a mixture of kids from farm families and those who think it is funny to have chickens in your yard. It is a fast growing area with many families moving in from other states. Like most 5th graders, my students are at an age when they are struggling to learn their role in the world outside of their family. They need role models to reinforce the teachings of their parents: work hard, be a good person, set goals, overcome adversity. Learning about the lives of our Founding Fathers will provide good examples. I want my students to recognize that the heroes they study were real people who overcame hardships to do great things.
My Project
An important part of our social studies this year will be to learn about the life of an Early American Patriot. Each student will make a selection from a list of prominent people who were influential during the colonial and Revolutionary War eras.
We hope to have a set of biographies so that students can begin their study by reading to get a better understanding of the life of their subject. Students will read to find out the contributions and character traits of their American Hero.
The culminating activity for this project will be a Day at the Museum. Students will write a script telling the story of their person. They will create a costume to help them adopt the persona of their subject. Our gym will become a historical museum and the community will be invited. Visitors will see students dressed as Colonials who come alive to tell their story.
Reading biographies is a crucial part of this year's social studies activities.
We do not currently have the resources we need. The biographies will be used for many years. Having a Day at the Museum as a culminating activity will give students a focus as they read their biographies and learn about American History.
The biographies and Day at the Museum will make social studies more meaningful. It will help students gain a greater appreciation of American History, and become better citizens.
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