Vocabulary
SLEDS OF BOSTON COMMON
VOCABULARY
navigation
instruct
swagger
Patriots
tyrant
stark
governor
spunk
THINK AND DECIDE
Look at the words and how they are used in the
selection “Letters from the Revolution”
Write the word and your definition for each word
in your reading spiral under the heading:
Sleds of Boston Common Vocabulary
Leave space between the words so we can add to
your definition if necessary.
NAVIGATION
“Planning the path of a ship-navigation”
What do you think this definition has to do
with the story?
“So my brothers, Colin and Ben, and I still
had to study our lessons each day: first
reading, then writing, then arithmetic and
navigation.”
PATRIOTS
The word ends in –s, so that may mean it is plural.
If I take off the –s, I have the word “patriot” left.
Since this is a word that can stand by itself,
“patriots” must be plural
“King George wanted to punish those in Boston who
spoke against his laws that were made across the
sea: patriots like Sam Adams and John Hancock and
other town leaders…patriots like my father and my
friend’s fathers…” who love our land more than
England.

GOVERNOR
We have a governor in Illinois. He is in charge of
the state government.
“Or with our new governor, General Thomas
Gage. General Gage was the top commander of
every British soldier in North America…Thomas
Gage was a powerful man indeed.”
SWAGGER

The rebel leader walks with a swagger and is
too proud for his own good.
“…the King’s soldiers are marching on Boston
Common. Or walking with a swagger in their
bright coats along the streets of our town.”
TYRANT
“Not like a tyrant who would close our harbor.
Not like a bully for King George.”

In this passage, tyrant and bully are used in the
same way. I know what a bully is. I will think of
the ways a king can be a bully to understand
what a tyrant is.
SPUNK
“…you have the courage of a good soldier as well as
the spunk of your local rebels.”
“I think it shows courage and spunk for our small
colonies to fight the mighty England.”

In both passages spunk is connected with courage
which means they are similar, but not the same.
“Spunk of the local rebels” may mean the fight or
the willingness to fight or do something about their
problems.
INSTRUCT
I know instructor and instruction are related
words. Both of these words have to do with
telling about or showing a new skill or
information.
 Instruct is a verb.
“Who would be bold enough to instruct the
colonists to act like this?”
“Instruct all troops that they are to allow the town
children to sled where they wish.”
