The American Revolution: Experience the Battle for Independence (Build It Yourself) - Hardcover

Dodge Cummings, Judy

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 1619302551 ISBN 13: 9781619302556

Publisher: Nomad Press, 2015

Synopsis

Kids love stories about underdogs, and the American Revolution is among the most famous of these tales. Desperate to be an independent country free from Britain, the rebel colonists relied on their cunning wit and visionary leadership to win an impossible war. And then they faced the real hardship?creating a country out of a victorious but chaotic society.

Using engaging text, hands-on activities, and links to primary sources, The American Revolution: Experience the Battle for Independence shows readers how rebel soldiers fought in horrific conditions while their families faced their own hardships for the sake of freedom. Students examine wartime propaganda to discover the truth about events leading up to the war, and engage in vibrant debate, strategic planning, and literary deconstruction to understand the official documents upon which America is founded. Building a marshmallow cannon and creating real colonial food are some of the projects that engage readers’ design skills. Essential questions require readers to activate their critical thinking skills to discover the truth about the most important moment in American history.

The American Revolution meets Common Core State Standards for literacy in history and social studies; Guided Reading Levels and Lexile measurements indicate grade level and text complexity.

About this title

About the Author

Judy Dodge Cummings has taught American history for 25 years. She has a BA in Broadfield Social Studies and a MFA in Creative Writing for Children and Teens. She is the author of numerous articles as well asThe Civil War; Pope John Paul: Religious Leader and Humanitarian; and Exploring Polar Regions. Judy lives in Reedsburg, Wisconsin.

Tom Casteel is an illustrator and cartoonist with a master's degree from the Center for Cartoon Studies. Tom has illustrated several books for Nomad Press, includingNatural Disasters: Investigate Earth’s Most Destructive Forces with 25 Projects; Cities: Discover How They Work with 25 Projects; Explorers of the New World: Discover the Golden Age of Exploration with 22 Projects; andMaya: Amazing Inventions You Can Build Yourself with 25 Projects. Tom lives in South Bend, Indiana.

From the Back Cover

How―and why―did a passionate collection of under-equipped American rebels go to war and win against the powerful British army? Kids love stories about underdogs, and the American Revolution is among the most famous of these tales. Desperate to be considered an independent country free from the unfair tax laws of the monarchy across the ocean, the rebel colonists relied on their cunning wit, their enthusiastic volunteerism, and their visionary leadership to win an impossible war. And then they faced the real hardship―creating a country out of the victorious but chaotic society they were left with.

Using engaging text, hands-on activities, and links to primary sources, The American Revolution: Experience the Battle for Independence shows readers how rebel soldiers fought in horrific conditions while their families back home faced their own hardships for the sake of freedom. Students examine wartime propaganda to discover the truth about events leading up to the war, and engage in vibrant debate, strategic planning, and literary deconstruction to understand the official documents upon which America is founded. Building a marshmallow cannon, baking real colonial food, and sewing a ditty bag are some of the projects that engage readers’ design skills while essential questions require readers to activate their critical thinking skills to discover the truth about the most important moment in American history.

From the Inside Flap

How—and why—did a passionate collection of under-equipped American rebels go to war and win against the powerful British army? Kids love stories about underdogs, and the American Revolution is among the most famous of these tales. Desperate to be considered an independent country free from the unfair tax laws of the monarchy across the ocean, the rebel colonists relied on their cunning wit, their enthusiastic volunteerism, and their visionary leadership to win an impossible war. And then they faced the real hardship—creating a country out of the victorious but chaotic society they were left with.

Using engaging text, hands-on activities, and links to primary sources, The American Revolution: Experience the Battle for Independence shows readers how rebel soldiers fought in horrific conditions while their families back home faced their own hardships for the sake of freedom. Students examine wartime propaganda to discover the truth about events leading up to the war, and engage in vibrant debate, strategic planning, and literary deconstruction to understand the official documents upon which America is founded. Building a marshmallow cannon, baking real colonial food, and sewing a ditty bag are some of the projects that engage readers’ design skills while essential questions require readers to activate their critical thinking skills to discover the truth about the most important moment in American history.

Reviews

Gr 3–6—Featuring a lively page design, this volume asks readers a series of questions to prompt them to consider the American Revolution. After an introductory chapter that reviews the beginning of the war at Lexington and Concord, the remaining seven chapters offer information on the roots of the rebellion, including the issue of taxation, the writing of the Declaration of Independence, the war itself, and the ultimate victory of the Americans over the British. The book also covers the experiences of women, African Americans, and Native Americans, and there's a chapter describing the everyday life of the colonists. Each chapter begins with an essential question that urges students to think and then to examine the data presented in order to craft a thesis statement and response. Along with the standard textual information, pages are filled with sidebars, vocabulary words, and definitions, and QR codes that provide access to primary sources. VERDICT A useful resource; purchase as needed.—Patricia Ann Owens, formerly with Illinois Eastern Community Colls., Mount Carmel

Edition details

• Publisher: Nomad Press
• Publication date: 2015
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 1619302551
• ISBN 13: 9781619302556
• Binding: Hardcover
• Illustrator: Casteel Tom
• Number of pages: 128