AUTHOR CONNECTIONS:http://www.scils.rutgers.edu/~kvander/rinaldi.html
CURRICULAR CONNECTIONS:
 Research
Indentured Servitude:
Fourteen-year-old Rachel Marsh comes to the household
of Abigail and John Adams as an indentured servant. Have students research
the topic of European American indentured servitude during the 1700s. Define
both "indentured" and servants; some students may want to compare and
contrast European American indentured servitude to that of African American servitude.
Conduct
an Ann Rinaldi Author Study:
As an award-winning author of historical
fiction for older readers, Ann Rinaldi has few rivals. Conduct a class-wide
author study on Rinaldi: attempt to read her entire body of work by assigning
various titles to small groups of students. Sundry titles include: AN
ACQUAINTANCE WITH DARKNESS, A BREAK WITH CHARITY, CAST TWO SHADOWS, THE COFFIN
QUILT, FINISHING BECCA, HANG A THOUSAND TREES WITH RIBBONS, GIVE ME DEATH, and
the SECRET OF SARAH REVERE, to name a few. Students will then prepare overviews
of their respective titles for plenary group sharing, as well as two to three
activities for their peers to engage in, in an attempt to get to know the book
and the author. The end project could be a classroom-created book, complete
with a GBC binding, ready for display and eventual sharing in the school library.
Investigate
Notable Women of the American Revolution:
Abigail Smith Adams once said: "If attention is not paid to the ladies, we are determined to forment
our own rebellion." Considered her husband's equal in intelligence,
drive, and diplomacy, Adams was active in Samuel Adams career; she advocated equal
education for women, and spoke out frequently against slavery. Have a small
group of students investigate the life and contribution of Adams. Arrange
for two other small groups to research the lives of two other notable women of
the American Revolution: Molly Pitcher, and Deborah Sampson. All
three groups will share their findings in a PowerPoint® presentation; invite
other classes to see.
Boston,
Massachusetts - Then and Now:
What was Boston, Massachusetts, like in
1770? Some students may want to create a Venn diagram to compare and contrast
today‚s Boston with the 1770 Boston. Other students may live close
enough to arrange for a field trip to visit the Massacre-related sites around
Boston, such as the Old State House and the burial place on Boston Massacre Victims
at Granary Burying Ground. For further information, please write to the Boston Massacre Historical Society
at: mail@bostonmassacre.net and connect with their website under Web Connections,
below.
Study
Colonial American Art:
Although known as a silversmith, Paul Revere was
also an accomplished artist-engraver, whose "The Bloody Massacre Perpetrated
in King Street" print is arguably one the most famous pieces of art of the
American Revolutionary War. Research what art was like during the 1700s
in the Colonies. Utilize the Internet to download facsimiles of art during
the period. Invite the school Art teacher or a local Art Historian to your
class to lecture on the topic.
INTERNET CONNECTIONS:
 For
the definite site on The Boston Massacre, click
here.
Learn
more about the role of African Americans in The Boston Massacre.
Click
here to see Paul Revere's infamous engraving of the The Boston Massacre.
FOR FURTHER LISTENING
AND READING:
  MY
BROTHER SAM IS DEAD by James Lincoln Collier and Christopher Collier; a Newbery
Honor Award-winning piece of historical fiction about the American Revolutionary
War. UNABRIDGED AUDIO and CD and book available from Audio Bookshelf.
Sarah Bishop (Houghton, 1999) by Scott O'Dell
Second Daughter: The Story Of A Slave Girl (Scholastic, 1996) by Mildred
Pitts Walter
A Voice Of Her Own: The Story Of Phillis Wheatly, Slave Poet (Candlewick
Press, 2003) by Kathryn Lasky; illustrated by Paul Lee
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