American Revolution Literature-Based Study (Preschool through High School)

“Mom, why are there faces on our money?”

Children are eager to learn about people, the individuals they hear us talk about, people who made a difference— presidents, leaders, scientists. This is especially true when children begin to understand the choices and even the sacrifices and hard work others made for the sake of others.

One of our favorite periods of history to study is the American Revolution. Thankfully, there is an abundance of resources available and there are so many aspects of the era to be investigated. For a family like us with multiple levels of development and learning, we find this era offers a little bit of everything for everyone. Children can easily detour and dig into an area of independent study (which typically ignites interest in a sibling or becomes a topic of conversation at the dinner table). As we’ve studied this time in our nation’s history several times over our twenty-six year learning journey, we definitely discovered we have some favorite resources.

I am sure as you dig into the American Revolution, you will discover you have favorites, too.

George Washington

Adler, David A., A Picture Book of George Washington (K-early elementary)

Barton, David, Bulletproof George Washington (high school)

d'Aulaire, Ingri, George Washington (elementary)

Davidson, Margaret, The Adventures of George Washington (elementary-middle school)

Edwards, Roberta, Who Was George Washington (Who is series) (elementary-middle school)

Graff, Stewart, George Washington: Father of Freedom (Discovery biography) (K- early elementary)

Harness, Cheryl, George Washington (elementary)

Heilbroner, Joan, Meet George Washington (Step-Up Books series reprinted in paperback with similar text as a Landmark book) (K-early elementary)

Stevenson, Augusta, George Washington: Young Leader (Childhood of Famous Americans) (K- elementary)

Martha Washington

Anderson, LaVere, Martha Washington: First Lady of the Land (Discovery biography) (K- early elementary)

Wagoner, Jean Brown, Martha Washington: America’s First Lady (Childhood of Famous Americans) (K-elementary)

Betsy Ross

Buckley, James, Who Was Betsy Ross? (Who Is Series) (elementary-middle school)

Wallner, Alexandra, Betsy Ross (K- elementary)

Weil, Ann, Betsy Ross: Designer of our Flag (Childhood of Famous Americans) (K- elementary)

Thomas Jefferson

Colver, Anne and Polly Anne Graff, Thomas Jefferson: Author of Independence (Discovery biography) (K- elementary)

Monsell, Helen Albee, Thomas Jefferson: Third President of the United States (Childhood of Famous Americans) (K- elementary)

Paul Revere

Adler, David A., A Picture Book of Paul Revere (K- elementary)

Fritz, Jean, And Then What Happened, Paul Revere (elementary)

Longfellow, Henry Wadsworth, Paul Revere's Ride (illustrated by Ted Rand) (elementary-middle school)

Stevenson, Augusta, Paul Revere: Boston Patriot (Childhood of Famous Americans) (K- elementary)

Benjamin Franklin

Davidson, Margaret, The Story of Benjamin Franklin (elementary-middle school)

Franklin, Benjamin, The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin (high school)

Graves, Charles P., Ben Franklin: Man of Ideas (K- elementary)

Hareness, Cheryl, The Remarkable Benjamin Franklin (K- elementary)

Lawson, Robert, Ben and Me (great read aloud) (elementary-middle school)

Scarf, Maggi, Meet Benjamin Franklin Washington (Step-Up Books) (K- early elementary)

Stevenson, Augusta, Benjamin Franklin: Young Printer (Childhood of Famous Americans) (K- elementary)

John Adams

Adler, David A., The Picture Book of John and Abigail Adams (K- elementary)

McCullough, David, John Adams (high school)

Abigail Adams

Peterson, Helen Stone, Abigail Adams: Dear Partner (K- elementary)

Sam Adams

Adler, David A., The Picture Book of Sam Adams (K-elementary)

Fritz, Jean, Why Don't You Get a Horse, Sam Adams? (elementary-middle school)

The American Revolution

Dalgliesh, Alice, The 4th of July (K- elementary)

Edmunds, Walter, The Matchlock Gun (read aloud)

Forbes, Esther, Johnny Tremain (read aloud or middle school)

Gregory, Kristianna, Cannons at Dawn (Dear America series) (upper elementary-middle school)

Harris, Michael, What is the Declaration of Independence (Who Is series) (elementary-middle school)

Latham, Jean Lee, Carry On, Mr. Bowditch (family read-aloud or middle school independent read)

Lossing, Benson John, Lives of the Signers of the Declaration of the Independence (high school biographical compilation)

McCullough, David, 1776 (high school)

McGovern, Ann, If You Lived In Colonial Times (K- elementary)

Maestro, Betsy and Giulio, A More Perfect Union (K-elementary)

Moore, Kay, If You Lived At the Time of the American Revolution (K- early elementary)

Penner, Lucille, Liberty! How the Revolutionary War Began (elementary-middle school)

Rockliff, Mara, Gingerbread for Liberty: How a German Baker Helped Win the American Revolution (K- elementary)

Spier, Peter, The Star-Spangled Banner (K-elementary)

Activities

• We have used various activities from History Pockets: Colonial America and History Pockets: American Revolution by Evan-Moor.

• Dioramas make great culminating projects. Dioramas scenes created in a shoe box or cardboard box, perhaps Washington crossing the Delaware, Valley Forge, the signing of the Declaration of Independence.

• We locate and identify the thirteen colonies on our US map or print a printable map found online and label the thirteen colonies: Virginia, New York, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Maryland, Connecticut, Rhode Island, Delaware, North Carolina, South Carolina, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Georgia. Say the colonies while writing the names or pointing to the words. Notice the names of states are proper nouns and are capitalized.

• In addition to the thirteen colonies, consider locating significant bodies of water (rivers and lakes) or cities were events took place (Boston, Philadelphia, Trenton, and so on). Printable maps are great for this activity though this can also be done on a United States map orally together as a family.

• My children have loved making colonial crafts like quilting, candle making, weaving, and leather work.

• We read Henry Wadsworth Longfellow’s poem, The Midnight Ride of Paul Revere (Ted Rand’s version listed above). This poem has been recited for generations and is narrative fiction. Though based on a historic event, not all the details penned in the poem occurred as they actually happened. Compare the details in the poem with what was learned while researching. The Paul Revere House offers one account on its website https://www.paulreverehouse.org/the-real-story/. In addition, Old North Church is a National Park. Their website is https://tinyurl.com/y7havl6b.

• In Paul Revere’s Ride, lanterns lit the way for night travelers and warned the citizens of impending danger. Tin lanterns were crafted by tinsmiths. We’ve enjoyed making tin lanterns. To do so, we wash an empty tin can and fill with water and freeze. Once frozen solid, we place the can on a folded towel and lay atop a hard surface. This keeps the can from rolling while hammering. Then, we carefully, with supervision, use a hammer and nail to punch holes in the can, refreezing as needed. When the design is complete,we thaw the can and empty and water. Sometimes, we add a wire handle and a battery-operated votive to light the lantern.

• Field trips are always a favorite. For this period of history, consider history museum, horse stables, blacksmith or quilt shops.

• We’ve enjoyed making quill pens and writing with homemade berry ink.

• Create an American Revolutionary timeline.

• Our children have loved watching episodes of Liberty Kids.

• We read Gingerbread for Liberty: How a German Baker Helped Win the American Revolution by Mara Rockliff, read the back matter at the end, and made gingerbread. For our littles, we made gingerbread playdough. This recipe (minus the pumpkin spice) has been my favorite for over thirty years!

  Gather
  2 cups flour
  1 cup salt
  1 tablespoon vegetable oil
  2 1/2 teaspoons cream of tartar (cream of tartar acts as a preservative)
  2 cups cold water
  Food coloring

  1 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice or cinnamon

  Wooden cutting board

  Airtight plastic bag or container

  1. In a medium saucepan, mix together the flour, salt, vegetable oil, cream of tartar, and water. Stir well. Add 5 to 6 drops of food coloring and 1 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice or cinnamon.
  2. Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly until the dough is the consistency of mashed potatoes; about 5 minutes.

  3. Spoon onto a wooden cutting board or wax paper covered counter top.

  4. Knead until smooth.

  5. Store play dough in an airtight plastic zipper bag or container up to 6 months.

  Knead, roll and pat to build fine motor skills. Make a long rope and form into the letter G. Use a gingerbread man cookie cutter to make pretend gingerbread delights.

Wright Brothers Mini Unit Study (and an Intentional Mom)

Looking for a new read-aloud, we headed to our home library.

Majority vote determined The Wright Brothers (from the Landmark series) by Quentin Reynolds would be our next read.

From the very first page, we were captivated—science, geography, life application. My mom heart also received needed encouragement. BONUS.

Susan Wright encouraged her boys to ask questions, to remain curious, to love learning. This thread wove through the book. Pages four through six impacted me greatly; in fact, I often quote from this passage when I speak to parents on the topic of little learners.

Susan Wright inspired her children with her ability to encourage questions and cultivate wonder. She gave them time to explore and discover. Her efforts changed history.

Susan Wright changed history with her intentionally.

I want to be an intentional mom. I’ve learned doing so can be hard. It takes courage to be different, to do things in ways that meet the needs of my children and fosters their development—their bodies, minds, and hearts.

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“    What makes a bird fly, Mother?” Wilbur asked.

     “Their wings, Will,” she said. “You notice they move their wings and that makes them go faster.”

     “But Mother, “ Will said, not quite satisfied, “that bird that just swooped down didn’t even move his wings. He swooped down and grabbed a fish, and then went right up again. He never moved his wings at all.”

      “The wind doesn’t just blow toward you or away from you,” she said. “It blows up and down too. When a current of air blows up, it takes the bird up. This wings support him in the air.”

— The Wright Brothers, Quentin Reynolds

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The story continues as the brothers ask their mother questions about what they were observing. Wilbur insists he could fly if he had wings; if he could make wings. The narrator invites the reader into the conclusion of the chapter.

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“She knew that even an eleven-year-old boy can have ideas of his own, and just because they happened to come from an eleven-year-old head—well, that didn’t make them foolish. She never treated her children as if they were babies, and perhaps that’s why they liked to go fishing with her or on picnics with her. And that’s why they kept asking her questions.”

— The Wright Brothers, Quentin Reynolds

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We finished the book and our children wanted to learn more about the Wright Brothers and flight (thanks to the engaging plot). My children dug in and their interests led to asking the local butcher for Styrofoam meat trays from which we cut glider wings. Gliders led to creating a Science Fair project which hypothesized the effect of paper weight on the flight of paper airplanes. We folded, flew, measured, and compared. What a journey!

It all started with a trip to our home library.

I hadn’t planned on this mini unit study, it blossomed from a read-aloud. It was a welcomed treat, one fueled by the learner’s next question or idea. One thing led to another.

You may experience something similar, an interest that takes off. Ride the wave and embrace the moments. You will be surprised where the interests and questions lead.

It may be better than you could have imagined.

Let’s get started…

Books

Who Were the Wright Brothers, James Buckley, Jr.

Charles Lindbergh: Hero Pilot, David R. Collins

A is for Aviation: The ABCs of Airplanes, Spaceships, Rockets, and More!, J. H. Heitsch

The Wright Brothers by Elizabeth MacLeod

To Fly: The Story of the Wright Brothers by Wendie C. Old

The Airplane Alphabet Book, Jerry Pallotta

The Jet Alphabet Book, Jerry Pallotta

The Glorious Flight: Across the Channel with Louis Bleriot, Alice Provensen

The Story of Flight, Mary Lee Settle

First Flight: The Story of Tom Tate and the Wright Brothers by George Shea

The Story of the Wright Brothers: A Biography Book for New Readers, Annette Whipple

Learning Resources

Wright Brothers unit study (includes instructions for making gliders

Another tutorial for making gliders

Smithsonian: The Wright Brothers and the Aerial Age

Parts of a plane

National Park Service Wright Brothers curriculum

Scholastic teacher activity guide

Search for online video clips about the Wright Brothers, the history of flight, or men and women who changed flight

Keep in mind, this study may launch interests to birds, rockets, engineering and more!

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Have a high school learner interested in flight? Check out David McCullough’s excellent, The Wright Brothers, published in 2016.

60 Nature Study Resources to Foster Curiosity in Your Children

YOU can teach science!

When I began homeschooling twenty-six years ago, one of the topics I felt least prepared to teach was science. What if I couldn’t teach my children what they were supposed to learn? What if I missed something important? 

Then came a realization.

Children LOVE being outdoors and they LOVE to ask questions—two factors providing a great foundation from which to work.

Maybe I could teach science?

Years later, I know I can. It’s not about me coming up with great plans and fancy curriculum.

It’s about me fostering the curiosity and providing engaging resources; being available to listen to ideas and help process information.

The same is true today as I embark on another year with a handful of learners, preschool through high school.  

Perhaps you face the same doubts and similar questions.  

You are not alone.

Your learners may be at different ages and stages. You may live in the city.

Again, you are not alone.

YOU can teach science!

This post provides over 60 resources you can use today!

But FIRST, here are some important starting points.

Starting Points for Successful Study

• Find out what your children want to learn, what interests them. Start there.

• If there are no hints, start with animals. Most children love animals, of some type.

• Add real experiences.  Many can be found around your home or community.

• Provide a field guide or two for found treasures.

• Gather a pile of inviting non-fiction and picture books.

Now for the resources

Nature-Related Picture Books

A Nest is Noisy, Dianna Hutts Aston

Miss Rumphius, Barbara Cooney

One Morning in Maine, Robert McCloskey

Owl Moon, Jane Yolen

Roxaboxen, Alice McLerran

Snowflake Bentley, Jacqueline Briggs Martin

The Raft, Jim LaMarche

Nature-Related Non-Fiction Books

Blooms and Plants

From Seed to Plant, Gail Gibbons

How a Seed Grows, Helene J. Jordan

Planting a Rainbow, Lois Ehlert

Stems and Roots, David M. Schwartz

The Carrot Seed, Ruth Krauss

The Tiny Seed, Eric Carle

Tops and Bottoms, Janet Stevens

Insects and Crawlies

About Arachnids: A Guide for Children, Cathyrn Sill

About Insects: A Guide for Children, Cathryn Sill

Ant Cities, Arthur Dorros

Are You A Grasshopper? Judy Allen

Bugs Are Insects, Anne Rockwell

The Ant and the Grasshopper, Amy Lowry Poole

The Honey Makers, Gail Gibbons

Tadpoles and Frogs

About Amphibians: A Guide for Children, Cathryn Sill

Frogs, Gail Gibbons

Frogs and Polliwogs, Dorothy Childs Hogner

From Tadpole to Frog, Wendy Pfeffer

Beaches

About Crustaceans: A Guide for Children, Cathryn Sill

A House for Hermit Crab, Eric Carle

Gulls, Gulls, Gulls, Gail Gibbons

Sea Shells, Crabs, and Sea Stars, Christiane Kump Tibbitts

What Lives in A Shell?, Kathleen Weidner Zoehfeld

Fins

About Fish: A Guide for Children, Cathryn Sill

Feathered Friends

All About Birds, Cathryn Sill

About Hummingbirds: A Guide for Children, Cathryn Sill

Counting is for the Birds, Frank Mazzola, Jr.

Furry Critters

All About Mammals, Cathryn Sill

Field Guides and Resources

A Handbook of Nature Study, Anna Botsford Comstock

Florida’s Fabulous Series

                Florida’s Fabulous Waterbirds: Their Stories, Winston Williams

                Florida’s Fabulous Land Birds: Their Stories, Winston Williams

Florida’s Fabulous Reptiles and Amphibians: Snakes, Lizards, Alligators, Frogs and Turtles, Winston Williams

Take-Along Guides

                Caterpillars, Bugs, and Butterflies, Mel Boring

                Birds, Nests, and Eggs, Mel Boring

                Trees, Leaves, and Bark, Diane Burns

Peterson Field Guides  http://www.houghtonmifflinbooks.com/peterson/

Peterson Field Guide to Reptiles and Amphibians of Eastern and Central North America, Fourth Edition, Powell, Conant, and Collins

Nature-Related Drawing Books for Sketchers and Creatives

Draw 50 Birds: The Step-by-Step Way to Draw Chickadees, Peacocks, Toucans, Mallards, and Many More of Our Feathered Friends, Lee J. Ames

Draw 50 Flowers, Trees, and Other Plants: The Step-by-Step Way to Draw Orchids, Weeping Willows, Prickly Pears, Pineapples, and Many More..., Lee J. Ames

How to Draw Flowers (Dover How to Draw), Barbara Soloff Levy

Supplies and Materials

Brock Magiscope https://www.cherylbastian.com/blog/2016/4/22/owl-pellets-and-a-magiscope-simple-discovery-science

Carolina Biological Supply Company  https://www.carolina.com/ (owl pellets)

Educational Innovators https://www.teachersource.com/ (dolomite samples and owl pellets)

 Nature Gift Store https://www.nature-gifts.com/  (ant farms and live ants, butterflies)

Celebrate Simple Blog Posts

Blog post: Vintage Science Books for the WIN!

Use what is available in the backyard, at the park or beach front, on the porch or pond’s edge—wherever you happen to be.

Porch Science  https://www.cherylbastian.com/blog/2017/5/31/porch-science

Citizen Science https://www.cherylbastian.com/blog/2017/10/22/citizen-science-get-real-with-learning

Puddle Fun https://www.cherylbastian.com/blog/2016/10/4/children-learn-from-puddles

MORE…

We live in a suburban area. Though we have a backyard and a neighborhood to explore, we have to plan and be intentional about visiting state parks, ponds and streams, or the beach. When we travel we look for opportunities which are not typical or available in our area.

We’ve enjoyed

• Bird sanctuaries

• Rainforest exhibits

• Arboretums

• Nature preserves

• State and national parks

• Factories and manufacturing plants

• Museums and displays

• State and county fairs

YOU can teach science!

And, in doing so, you will not only keep your child’s natural curiosity alive, but you will open doors for other discipline areas like math and writing.

Maybe you are thinking. “There could have a WHOLE podcast on nature-related study.” In fact, there is! Check out this conversation I had with Jenni and Jody over at From Cradle to Calling.

When in doubt, remember to remind yourself to look for what interests your child. Start there!

YOU can teach science!

Elementary Art Appreciation: Collage Art

”I am an artist and I never looked at picture books as a means for children to study and appreciate art technique.”

I had just presented my workshop Picture Books, Paper and Paint Brushes to a room of parents eager to learn how picture books could foster curiosity and creativity in children. After sharing engaging titles and practical ideas for art application—the activities I’ve watched children love—attendees were motivated to give art a try.

Picture books are inviting literary tapestry of word and art.

Perhaps you are wondering whether you can take on art appreciation or instruction in your home. YOU can! Yes, it may be messy. If that’s what’s holding you back, give yourself permission to take art outside. There are some days we do just that, especially if I want to cut down on the chances of paint in the grout and glue on cabinet handles. Whether art takes place indoors or out, over time I’ve observed children gain an appreciation for the art they see everyday in the books they love.

And, along the way, they learn they can be an artist, creative and able.

It’s the illustrations in the books they love which inspire them to try art or use it in a new way.

So, what is collage?

Collage is the assemblance of materials—paper, nature, fabric, ribbon, photographs—arranged on a surface. It’s a creative array.

Children love to explore this art technique. In fact, as they find their creative sweet spot they will discover more items to collage.

To begin our collage study, I pull picture books from our home library shelves or plan a trip to the local library. The goal is to find as many different examples of collage art used in illustrations as possible. If you are gathering a collection of collage-illustrated picture books, look for

Blackstone, Stella, Ship Shapes (fabric)

Carle, Eric, A House for Hermit Crab (painted tissue paper)

Ehlert, Lois, Pie in the Sky (paper)

Ehlert, Lois, Snowballs (found objects)

Flemming, Denise, Barnyard Banter (found objects)

Lionni, Leo, Swimmy (prints and paint)

Once we collect picture books, we compare illustrations. I spend some time pointing out the different items these author-illustrators utilize to create their illustrations. We talk about the differences and consider what we have around the house which might be used to create collage. We gather those supplies. Generally, I allow my children to gather what they want to use. However, when working with little learners, I may simply supply different types of paper—tissue, news, construction, wallpaper—and some glue. For children practicing cutting skills, I keep blunt-end scissors on hand to encourage their fine motor skills. For the youngest artists, I show them how to create collage with torn paper or let them watercolor on paper which I cut in squares for them to happily glue while the older learners create their masterpieces.

Sometimes our study of an art technique lasts several days. Other times it’s a perfect rainy afternoon activity. Later at night, I read one or two of the books aloud (great for building language arts and reading skills).

Perhaps you are wanting to dig a bit deeper into the study of collage art. Here are some suggestions:

1. Study artists who use the collage method, especially children's book illustrators. Learn about Eric Carle, Leo Lionni, Lois Ehlert, and Denise Fleming. One of our favorite video lessons features Eric Carle in his studio and this trailer for Picture Writer: The Art of the Picture Book.

2. Compare the mediums used by these authors. Try using the artist's techniques with found objects from the around the house. Make a book of the collage pieces created.

3. Research the history of collage.

4. Visit an art museum. Look for examples of collage art.

If you are looking for a helpful collage art resource with ideas, check out I Love to Collage! by Jennifer Lipsey. It’s excellent; empowering (especially for kids and parents who think they were born without creativity), and written with just the right amount of encouragement needed to fuel inspiration. The author explores a multitude of mediums—tissue paper, newspaper, painted papers, torn paper, nature findings and more—detailing twenty activities with step-by-step instructions. My girls were particularly interested in the Tasty Treats project which involved painting papers and then cutting shapes to make a yummy treat. The results were an ice cream sundae and cone. Brilliant hues and impressive images (almost good enough to eat) were the end result.

Collage is not the only art technique which deserves attention. Find out more about painting, photography, digital art, clay, print making, and drawing. Your child’s curiosity and creativity might just be the guide you are looking for.