Book Study: American Revolution
updated August 19, 2023
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This page has helpful links and LOADS of free resources to help you plan your eighth grade year. Enjoy!
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Book Study: American Revolution
for Class 8
Part of a year-long ONLINE COURSE:
Waldorf Main Lesson Block Planning: U.S. History
Join a community of fellow homeschool parents planning this exact same topic for plenty of help and support.
This course is aimed at homeschool families who are already familiar with the Waldorf method, but
would appreciate extra feedback and encouragement in planning this block.
Monthly story and activity suggestions, including primary source materials,
are included for each part of U.S. History as we travel from Colonial Times to the present day. Historical fiction, online resources,
essay questions and traditional assignments to help students prepare for high school, and more! Make friends and ask specfic questions of
an experienced Waldorf homeschool teacher and consultant as you work through this inspiring, do-able, step by step course.
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Pinterest - Renee Schwartz
My curated collection of visuals! Browse sample main lesson book pages, watercolor paintings, chalkboard drawings, etc. for
Age of Revolution.
FREE eBooks at the Online Waldorf Library
Excellent resource! Published Waldorf curriculum books provided here in PDF format for you to download, keep, and read... for free!
Sample Lessons and Free Curriculum
Other Helpful Resources
Rationale
Charles Kovacs' The Age of Revolution is traditionally
used for the Age of Revolution block. We decided to go deeper into the American Revolution,
as he only covers it briefly (one chapter: chap 24). For this, a book study of
Steve Sheinkin's King George, What Was His Problem? is great!
You could do this book study as a Summer project, or
add it in as its own MLB.
King George, What Was His Problem?
Here are my notes from teaching this as a relaxing
slow (school is out of session due to COVID-19)
Main Lesson block remotely with a tutoring client:
Chapter 1: How to Start a Revolution
Monday, April 20
Thursday, April 23
from Taxation Without Representation: Primary Sources and Songs
audio file: "The English Perspective" info & Soame Jenyns quote
audio file: "American Ballad" song
whose is the more logical argument, the English or the Colonists?
read/discuss
Step 5: Refuse to Pay
Step 6: Send in the Warships
Step 7: Fire into a Crowd [Boston Massacre; Mar 5, 1770]
Step 8: Keep the Tea Tax [Tea Act; 1773]
stop and predict
read/discuss
Step 9: Throw a Tea Party [Boston Tea Party; Dec 16, 1773]
Step 10: Pay the Fiddler
Thursday, April 30
Monday, May 4
read/discuss
Step 11: Stand Firm [Intolerable Acts]
Step 12: Make Speeches [First Continental Congress; Sep 1774]
Step 13: Let Blows Decide [Apr 1775]
analyze sentence with Montessori grammar symbols
p.18 "He wrote to London, asking for more soliders."
analyze < congress > with Structured Word Inquiry
walk + together
note: the first episode of John Adams begins on the day of the Boston Massacre and ends with the delegates
from Massachusetts departing Boston to head to Philadelphia for the First Continental Congress
Chapter 2: A Sleepless Night Before Revolution
Thursday, May 7
read/discuss
Orders Are Orders
Don't Open That Envelope
Everyone's a Spy
Trapped in Boston
"Two if by Sea"
Across the River
Revere and That Other Guy
analyze sentence with Montessori grammar symbols
p.30 "Luckily, one of Revere's friends had a girlfriend who lived on a nearby street."
Friday, May 8
read/discuss
The Midnight Intruder
Where Are the British?
On to Concord
Captured!
They Haven't Left Yet?
Beat That Drum, Billy
analyze sentence with Montessori grammar symbols
p.36 "Prescott jumped his horse over a stone wall and raced down the road."
analyze < politicians > with Structured Word Inquiry
(it's not related to polite)
< politic > is from Latin politicus "of citizens or the state," from Greek polis "city"
< polite > is related to < polish >, from Latin polire "to polish, make smooth"
Chapter 3: Who Fired the Shot Heard 'Round the World?
Monday, May 11
Thursday, May 14
analyze sentence with Montessori grammar symbols
p.48 "They charged down the hill at the soldiers, and the soldiers turned and fled."
Battle of Lexington lesson plans
from Stanford History Education Group
Battle of Lexington Lesson Plan
Central Historical Question:
What happened at the Battle of Lexington?
primary source documents:
quote from April 19, 1775, from the diary of Lieutenant John Barker, an officer in the British army
quote from April 25, 1775, from sworn testimony by 34 minutemen given before three justices of the peace in Lexington, Mass.
Battle of Lexington PPT with two contrasting images:
a) Canadian artist Henry Sandham made the first image in 1886. The Lexington Historical Society paid Sandham to commemorate the heroism of their forefathers.
b) Thomas Doolittle, a silversmith, made the second image in the fall of 1775. Doolittle was a member of a Connecticut militia that was called up to Cambridge, Mass. following the Battles of Lexington and Concord. He went to Lexington and spoke to individuals involved in the battle. Afterwards, he created the engraving.
Monday, May 18
Chapter 4: George Washington, Meet Your Army
Thursday, May 21
read/discuss entire chapter
examine four 1775 flags from Historical Flags of the US -- FREE on TpT
Fort Moultrie Flag, also known as the Liberty Flag
Navy Jack [late 1775]
Pine Tree Flag [Oct 20, 1775]
Grand Union Flag [Dec 3, 1775]
read The Button Box by Margaret S. Reid
 
Chapter 5: Declare Independence, Already!
Wednesday, June 3
Chapter 6: Losing and Retreating in '76
Friday, June 5
Chapter 7: Showdown at Saratoga
Wednesday, June 10
read/discuss
No Secrets Here
Benedict Arnold to the Rescue
Franklin's Secret Mission
We'll Think About It
The News from Home
analyze sentences with Montessori grammar symbols
p.108
"He presented the secret strategy to King George. The king loved it."
Friday, June 12
read/discuss
A Little Help from Poland
Pa-Pa Franklin
The Battle of Saratoga: Part One
The Battle of Saratoga: Part Two
Johnny Loses the Bet
Ben Seals the Deal
The Turning Point
analyze sentence with Montessori grammar symbols
p.121
"He jumped on his horse and rode toward the battle, shouting, 'Victory or death!'"
Preposition Circus Act -- FREE on TpT
Wednesday, June 17
Chapter 8: Will We Ever Win This War?
Friday, June 19
Wednesday, June 24
read/discuss
Benedict Arnold in Love
Arnold's Fiendish Plan [Sep 1780]
Andre is Captured
And Arnold Escapes
No End in Sight
analyze sentences with Montessori grammar symbols
p.140 "You might think Benedict Arnold would finally be happy."
p.141 "Arnold and Andre would agree on a time for the British to attack West Point."
examine two 1781 flags from Historical Flags of the US
Cowpens Flag [Battle of Cowpens; Jan 17, 1781]
Guilford Flag [Battle of Guilford Courthouse; Mar 15, 1781]
Revolutionary War Graves of Soldiers Buried in Jackson County IL ?
Daniel Barrow was in the Battle of Guildford Courthouse
Zachariah Lyrely was in the Battle of Guildford Courthouse
Revolutionary War Veterans historical marker - 37° 24.833' N, 88° 53.791' W
William Wiggs, mentioned on the marker, was in the Battle of Guildford Courthouse
Marker is in Vienna, IL. Memorial is on Poplar Street east of S 5th Street. Marker is located in front of the Vienna Public Library and across the street from Johnson County Courthouse.
Marker is at or near this postal address: 401 Poplar St, Vienna IL 62995
Chapter 9: The Great Race to Yorktown
Friday, June 26
read/discuss
Refreshments for the Enemy [Apr 1781]
Another Wasted Year?
Part 1: The King Tries the South
Part 2: Bad Peaches, Bad General
Part 3: British Behaving Badly
Part 4: The Swamp Fox
Part 5: Fight, Lose, Fight Again
Part 6: Cornwallis Gets Tired
Part 7: Spying on Cornwallis
Part 8: Pick a Port, Any Port
Part 9: The French Sail North
Now Back to Washington
analyze sentence with Montessori grammar symbols
p.157 "If Washington could quickly march his army south to Virginia, he could surround Yorktown by land."
Wednesday, July 1
read/discuss
The Trap Slams Shut
Huzzah for the Americans!
A Shell! A Shell!
The White Handkerchief
The World Turned Upside Down [surrender of Cornwallis; Oct 19, 1781]
It Is All Over!
One Last Story
This Is Goodbye
analyze sentence with Montessori grammar symbols
p.157 "And if the French warships took control of the Chesapeake Bay, they could surround Yorktown by water."
Chapter 10: What Ever Happened To...?
Friday, July 3
Friday, July 4
Celebrate the Fourth of July!
NOTE: We followed this book study with a look at Westward Expansion through
Caddie Woodlawn
by Carol Ryrie Brink.
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