Summary of Strategies for
Events Leading Up to American Revolution
The literature that I will use to implement my topic, American Revolution, is Katie’s
Trunk. Katie’s Trunk has been published as a picture book in a noted basal reader and is a novel.
Either source could be used to highlight the events leading up to the American Revolution.
Katie, whose family is not sympathetic to the rebel soldiers during the American
Revolution, hides under the clothes in her mother's wedding trunk when they invade
her home. Katie's Trunk gives an exciting look into the beginnings of the American
Revolution, made even more real because it is based on a true incident that happened
to one of the authors' ancestors. This book would fit in easily with a unit on the
beginnings of the American Revolution and the study of the Boston Tea Party. It
could also tie in the courage we all must have sometimes in life by ourselves or with
our families. It could be a tool for finding out what life was like back then and what
the people had to deal with during the American Revolution.
Pre-Assessment
To begin the unit, I would incorporate an anticipation guide. The guide asks
students to complete a check list of things they may already know about the American
Revolution. By using the anticipation guide, I will be able to assess the background
knowledge that the students may already possess. The anticipation guide is in
True/False format, which gives the student’s a sense of achievement. Discussion
questions or fill in the blank may be overwhelming at this point.
Vocabulary Strategies
The vocabulary embedded in the Revolutionary War could be a little overwhelming.
Students may not have a lot of experience with the vocabulary. Students will become familiar
with the words in Kate’s Trunk with an interactive on-line game. The game progresses through
several levels which allows for repetition of words. It also will pronounce the words if the
students scrolls over to help with fluency. Students can be successful after several attempts and
exposure to the words several times.
The second strategy is a Quizlet that will expose students to more challenging words.
This Quizlet allows students to choose the testing format. The students will be given a more
challenging word selection in this on-line activity. Students will be working with words from the
novel along with words that will be in the history text. The quiz format will allow students to be
able to practice many times individually or with a partner. Many accommodations and
modifications can be used for this vocabulary strategy.
Comprehension Strategy
The first comprehension strategy will be used as a predict-o-matic. In this strategy,
students will see words prior to the reading of Katie’s Trunk. The students will work to
categorize the words according to story elements. Students will be making decisions concerning
setting, characters, events, problems, and solutions. This strategy can be used prior to allow the
students to formulate prediction. It can also be used during and post reading. Story elements are
extremely important to reinforce. The teacher can make it more challenging post reading by
adding climax, mood, or foreshadowing to the graph.
The second strategy to be used when teaching events leading up to the American
Revolution is a character trait graphic organizer with a word bank. The main character, Katie,
has some very strong traits that students may relate to. Topics that can be discussed prior to the
graph may be: how are you like Katie? or What famous leader may have similar traits to Katie?
The word bank is important just to help students use more descriptive words.
Post Assessment
The post assessment allows students to respond to what learning has occurred. The
questions allow students to respond to the literature, make connections, and also incorporate
some of the vocabulary and comprehension strategies during the reading. Students will also
need to respond beyond the text and think about if the story continued.
Bibliographic Citation
Himler, R. (1992) Katie’s Trunk, Macmillia Publishing Company
Revolutionary War -- Katie’s Trunk
Pre-Assessment
Anticipation Guide
Revolution Statement
Dumping Tea into the New York Harbor was one
cause of the American Revolution.
Soldiers could sleep, eat, and search your house
without permission during colonial times.
British taxes were used fairly and colonist saw the
importance of each tax.
Some colonist believed that they should remain
loyal to Britain.
The colonist had plenty of weapons, men, and
money to win the Revolutionary War.
An event that led to the Revolutionary War started
with a snowball fight.
The Declaration of Independence was enough to
convince King George to give the colonies freedom.
True
Post Assessment
Book Club
Name__________
Title: _______________
Author: ________________
Genre:__________________
False
1. While reading this book, I connected to _______________ because
___________________________________________.
2. The person in the book that is most like me is ________________ because
______________________________________.
3. If the story could continue I think _______________________________
________________________________________.
4. What kind of mood did the main character show?
5. What personality traits does your character show? Use the graph.
Vocabulary Strategy 1
http://quizlet.com/1271526/causes-of-the-american-revolution-flash-cards/
Vocabulary Strategy 2
http://www.eduplace.com/kids/hmr/ewordgame/index.html?grade=5&theme=3&selection=2
Comprehension Strategy 1
Can You Predict the Story?
arming drilling
fierce just
loyalist
patriot
kin
peered
amendment
taxes
rebels
skirmish
skittish
Boston tea massacre
Place the story words from the board where you think they fit
into the story. Use word bank.
Setting
Character
Events
Problem
Solution
Your Story Predications
Create your own short story predicting what you think the upcoming
story will be about. You must have 7-10 sentences written.
Definitions:
Write definitions for the words in the upcoming story. Words will be on
the board.
Comprehension Strategy 2
http://www.educationoasis.com/curriculum/GO/GO_pdf/character_traits_wordbank.pdf