How I Am Connected to the American Revolution

Lesson Plan - Get It!

Audio:

As you listen to the song in the video below, look at the how the children are dressed in the video.

• What do you notice about the clothing they are wearing?

Yankee Doodle-Cedarmont Kids:

• What time in history do you believe this song came from?
• When you listened to the song did you recognize any of the instruments being played?
• Did you hear the drum?

There was another instrument, called the fife, that you hear a lot in this song. It sounds like a high-pitched flute.

The fife and drums were very popular instruments when this song was written over 300 years ago!

It was made in a time that America was at war with another country, fighting for freedom.

There was a position in the army called Drummer Boy. Young men would learn different drum rolls to be used as communication.

^{Image by Archibald Willard, via Wikimedia Commons, is in the public domain.}

Over 400 years ago, there was a war between the people living in America and England.

Although many people living in the colonies had come from England and wanted to remain English citizens, they had many disagreements with King George III. They tried to settle these arguments, but the king would not compromise. He wanted things done his way.

So, finally, the colonists decided to fight for their independence. The war started in 1775 and ended in 1783.

• So how many years did it last?

If you answered 8 years, you are correct! When the war ended, the country we call the United States was born!

Another important date in the Revolutionary War was July 4, 1776.

• What is something special that happens on the 4th of July?
• Fireworks, right? Why do we set off fireworks on the 4th of July?

We do that because that is when the people from the 13 colonies signed an important paper called the Declaration of Independence, and we declared that we were free from England!

The fireworks help us celebrate the special day.

Review what you just read with Schoolhouse Rock - No More Kings, from MrRiggyRiggs:

Here are more great resources to learn more about the life people led during the Revolutionary War:

• In this article about Daily Life During the Revolutionary War from Ducksters.com, you can read about how colonists lived their day.

• Here is another article about Colonial Daily Life During the American Revolution from Mr. Donn's American History. You can read about food, clothing, transportation, and more from the lives of those who lived during this period.

• If You Lived at the Time of the American Revolution book by Kay Moore. If you can rent or buy this book it is highly recommended! If you are not able to get the book, you can read it at the above link. It is a long, but worth reading.

Now that you know what the Revolution was about, move on to the Got It? page, and learn more about early America, including how transportation, and the flag, changed over time!