The American Revolution for Kids: A History with 21 Activities

by Janis Herbert

Overview

Heroes, traitors, and great thinkers come to life in this activity book, and the concepts of freedom and democracy are celebrated in true accounts of the distinguished officers, wise delegates, rugged riflemen, and hardworking farm wives and children who created the new nation. This collection tells the story of the Revolution, from the hated Stamp Act and the Boston Tea Party to the British surrender at Yorktown and the creation of the United States Constitution. All American students are required to study the Revolution and the Constitution, and these 21 activities make it fun and memorable. Kids create a fringed hunting shirt and a tricorn hat and reenact the Battle of Cowpens. They will learn how to make their voices heard in “I Protest” and how Congress works in “There Ought to Be a Law.” A final selection including the Declaration of Independence, a glossary, biographies, and pertinent Web sites makes this book a valuable resource for both students and teachers.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781556524561
Publisher:	Chicago Review Press, Incorporated
Publication date:	09/01/2002
Series:	Chicago Review Press For Kids Series , #11
Edition description:	1ST
Pages:	160
Sales rank:	1,083,168
Product dimensions:	11.00(w) x 8.50(h) x 0.50(d)
Age Range:	9 - 12 Years

About the Author

Janis Herbert is the author of The Civil War for Kids, Leonardo da Vinci for Kids, Lewis and Clark for Kids, and Marco Polo for Kids.

Table of Contents

	Acknowledgments	ix
	Time Line	x
	Note to Readers	xii
	Preface: "War's Begun"	xiii
1	Sons and Daughters of Liberty	1
	Brew a Batch of Root Beer
	I Protest!
	Liberty Tea Punch
2	Who Were the Colonists?	15
	A Sampler
	Boston Brown Bread and Churned Butter
	Three Colonial Children's Games
	Papyrotamia
	Assemble an Almanac
3	"We Must All Hang Together"	31
	Get Ready in a Minute
	Dance a Minuet
	Make a Tricorn Hat
4	An Eventful Year	55
	Be a Betsy Ross
	Rebus!
5	"Johnny Has Gone for a Soldier"	69
	Make a Fringed Hunting Shirt
	Create a Powder Horn
	Sew a Pouch
6	"The World Turned Upside Down"	85
	Benedict Arnold's Secret Code
	Reenact the Battle of Cowpens
7	A Good Peace, a New Nation	101
	There Ought to Be a Law!
	Everyday Heroes
	Be a History Buff
	Glossary	119
	A Guide to Officers	121
	Biographies	123
	Declaration of Independence	127
	Web Sites to Explore	131
	Revolutionary War Sites to Visit	133
	Bibliography	135
	Index	137

Editorial Reviews

Fun reading for adults and kids.”  —Geri Nikolai, Rockford Register Star



“The dramatic events that lay behind the Founding Fathers' struggle for liberty are vividly recounted in Herbert's lively survey.”  —Smithsonian

“A valuable historical reference.”  —Today's Parent



“Another must-have from Chicago Review Press.”  —Lee Littlewood, Copley News Service


“Make[s] a great study unit when combined with the children's literature of Jean Fritz or the American Girl Felicity books.”  —The Home School Mom

“The strength of this book lies in the wealth of information it provides and unflinching historical accuracy.”  —Children's Literature


“An excellent introduction to the American Revolution.”  —John's Military History

From the Publisher

Succeeds in immersing the reader in colonial America.

Pennsylvania School Library Assoc

A valuable historical reference.

Today's Parent Staff

Fun reading for adults and kids.
— Rockford Register Star

Nikolai

The dramatic events that lay behind the Founding Fathers' struggle for liberty are vividly recounted in Herbert's lively survey.

Smithsonian

Gr 4-6-Joining the ranks of those books recently published that combine history with crafts and hands-on activities, Herbert's book is one of the best of its kind. Reading it and doing some of the activities, or even just reading the activity directions, brings the character of this period into focus. Achieving a good balance between textual material, illustration, and projects, the book immerses children in the milieu of these years. The text discusses in detail the causes of the Revolution, the personalities involved, the formation of the new national government, and life in 18th-century America. The activities cover every aspect of revolutionary life, from making clothing, brewing root beer, and coding messages to battle reenactment, games, and dancing the minuet. The directions are detailed enough and adequately illustrated with pencil drawings to make them exciting and easy to follow. Short biographical sketches and portraits bring to life the notable people of the period, both male and female, European and American, and black and white. Numerous sidebars, such as the one analyzing the song "Yankee Doodle," add to the interesting details. Full-page art, as well as smaller illustrations, depict the battle scenes, people, and clothing of the day. The appendix includes the full text of the Declaration of Independence, four pages of thumbnail biographies, Revolutionary War sites to visit, and major Web sites. Whether they are studying the Revolution and need a project idea or are personally curious about this country's origins, children will be fascinated by the scope and detail of this book.-Lynda Ritterman, Atco Elementary School, Waterford, NJ Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information.

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