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by curiositycat
Nov 29, 2010
I would love to have my eighth graders do a SOAPSTone analysis (pre-AP) of an exerpt from Common Sense, but I don't know exactly what portion I should use. Any suggestions? Thanks!
Hello, does anyone have tips on studying for 5-9 Social Science in Florida. I have a study guide and flash cards. Has anyone on this board taken it?
Thanks
by 8th Grade U.S. History Teacher
Dec 1, 2010
I may need to be out for a few days here and there and I won't have advance notice.
Does anyone have a good plan that they use for a substitute in an emergency?
by John Longfellow
Dec 2, 2010
My fifth grade teacher forced me to memorize and recite Henry W. Longfellow's poem, "The Midnight Ride Of Paul Revere". It was a painful experience. Later, I learned that old H. W.'s poem was not only boring but historically inaccuate so, I've written my own version. It may not be great poetry but it is a factual account of those events. So, perhap...See MoreMy fifth grade teacher forced me to memorize and recite Henry W. Longfellow's poem, "The Midnight Ride Of Paul Revere". It was a painful experience. Later, I learned that old H. W.'s poem was not only boring but historically inaccuate so, I've written my own version. It may not be great poetry but it is a factual account of those events. So, perhaps share with your students. To wit:
The REAL Midnight Ride of Paul Revere
In Seventeen Hundred and Seventy Five There lived brave men who sought to strive For freedom from the British hand That had its grasp about their land. Who suffered under George's rule, His acts against them often cruel, With duties placed on stamps and tea, Restricted shipping on the sea, Closed markets for goods they made So, none enjoyed free open trade For benefit of taxes paid.
They lost desire to reconcile With rulers on that distant isle ‘Till, at last, they all agreed The colonies must all be freed. So groups were formed to organize, To spy, pass news and propagandize. Pamphlets and orators emotions stirred, ‘Weren’t the guiltless of Boston massacred?’ Events were recalled that might incite Those less inclined to join their fight Against the evil British might.
In Concord they hid their guns and powder ‘Neath taverns where Redcoats ate their chowder, And militia formed and trained at night To make them fit for the coming fight, And if Gage moved to steal their stores They planned to drive him from their shores. Dr. Warren kept his spies on guard, For if soldiers marched from the Common yard With baggage and field artillery; Congress had resolved in full committee To oppose their march, to the last extremity.
In Lexington Adams and Hancock were hidden For their presence in Boston had been forbidden. At the Rev. Jonas Clark’s house they stayed And watched and waited and planned and prayed. Through spring, Warren kept in touch with them there With messages carried by Paul Revere Who, on April 16th, delivered the report That at midnight prior the ships at port Had launched their boats for troops to ferry To the shore, then to their sanctuary? ‘Warren warns you. Be wary!’
That night Revere was homeward bound But first the Charlestown underground Should be informed of Warren’s notion That Gage would soon put his troops in motion. And there, with Col. Conant, he then devised A system for signal lights, comprised Of lanterns from Christ church tower, hung To sound alarm with silent tongue. ‘Should they march the neck’, one light will glow, But, if the Charles the soldiers row A second lantern light will show.
Next dawn, at home, Revere arose From too few hours of restless repose And soon was out to complete the chore; Enlightenment for the Charlestown shore. He walked the wharf and sought his friend And begged of him at night to tend The steeple of the Old North Church, To place there in its lofty perch, Lanterns, wicks, oil and flint Required to make the signal glint And perform that most important stint.
Two weeks before, Gage had sent about his own two spies, Colonel Smith and Private Howe, made up in low disguise. Dressed as Yankee gunsmiths, looking to be hired, At Watertown, ‘fore breakfast of a serving girl inquired. The girl, who knew Smith, having worked in a Boston inn, Said, ‘Smith, you’ll find work soon enough for you and all your men!’ So, roly-poly Colonel Smith gave the mission up for not But, had young Howe continue on to carry out the plot. He worked his way from town to town ending in Concord And even saw munitions the Rebels there had stored. This and more he later told to Gage to earn a rich reward.
The day became then tense and taught As British officers and their aids were brought To Provence House where plans where laid For an overdue presumptive raid. For the Ministry, at home, without opting faction, Had grown weary of Gage’s inaction. So, Lieutenant Colonel Francis Smith And eight hundred men would move forthwith To seize the stores the Rebels kept And find those Whigs who overstepped While darkness hung and Boston slept.
Next day, a Tuesday, orders were sent throughout Boston town to each regiment For regulars to report at eight that night Prepared to march and equipped to fight. Troops were ordered to block the Concord route, To detain any Rebel who might be about, Were sent from town by late midday To lay in hiding for their Rebel prey. And at the Charles River mouth, allaying, The battleship Somerset sat there, swaying, As if to some war god praying.
By dusk, Rebel spies were everywhere Who watched the British troops prepare To embark upon the transports moored At the Common docks, fully oared, And ready to move into the stream. The whole town knew the British scheme. By then it had become quite clear, To Joseph Warren and Paul Revere, That time had come to spread the alarm And warn their friends of pending harm.
William Dawes had called on Warren That night to speak of armies foreign And their movements on the river. They then agreed Dawes would deliver The news to Clark’s at Lexington That the British transport had begun. He would attempt to ride the neck And soon began his lonely trek. Waiting only for darkness to fall He took his good horse from its stall And headed for the south town wall.
At the town gate guards stood sentry, Posted to restrict exit and entry. Unafraid, Dawes planned to get from town By playing the part of a rural clown. So, bobbing on his horse, as though he were drunken, He approached the guard like a country bumpkin. But, soon he was stopped and then surrounded Yet continued his act as though confounded. He was closely examined, until recognized, By and old acquaintance who apologized Then passed him through un-chastised.
Dawes was soon out and riding with passion While Warren, at home, continued to fashion His plans with friends who, coming and going, Had seen soldiers on the river rowing. At ten he sent for Revere in haste And told him of the trust he’d placed In Dawes to carry forth the warning, That British could reach Lexington by morning. But, Dawes’ progress was unknown and, out of fear That the tanner would be caught, he begged Revere To set off at once as the movement was near.
To what extent should their fellows plan on Armed conflict since the British carried no cannon? The Provincial Congress had refused to approve The raising of an army and agreed they would move Against the King’s soldiers with armed aggression As their last recourse to end their oppression. But, to these men, both radical in resolve, The time had come for force to dissolve The connection with King and their occupiers So, the lights would be shown from steeple spires And the country alarmed by their signal fires.
Without doubt of purpose in his task assigned Revere left Warren’s and went quick to find The Christ Church Sexton and pray that he might Enter the church and make the signal light. But, now streets were blocked with soldiers patrolling. So, Revere called on his neighbor, John Pulling, And desired him to have the signals displayed Then he headed for home through the British blockade. While in the dark street awaiting orders, Young Sexton Neuman had escaped his own quarters Where slept billeted nonpaying British borders.
With Summons to perform as Pulling consigned, Neuman entered Christ Church leaving Pulling behind To stand guard in the street while he took a pair Of hidden lanterns and ascended the stair. In the darkness he climbed higher and higher Past eight great bells in the belfry spire ‘Till, at last, he reached the top tower window Then, looking north, made two lanterns glow. For only moments the signal lights shone Then Neuman descended into the black unknown Of the stairwell, each step making tread boards groan.
Outside the church John Pulling was spied By patrolling troops and fled to hide. For a time in his Grandma’s wine cassette, And later escaped town, in disguise, to Nantucket. The lamplighter, too, was forced to grapple Through a small rear window to escape the chapel. Then he circled about and changed direction, Climbing to rooftops to avoid detection. He ran his route up and down being acrobatic And found his mother’s house and got in the attic While British below looked for the Rebel fanatic.
While Neuman was evading the British snare, Revere made for his house in North Square Past red-coated soldiers in full battle gear Still moving to the Commons and boats at the pier. At home Revere donned his boots and overcoat Then went north of town where he kept a small boat. He picked up Tom Richardson and the boat builder, Bentley, Who launched his boat in the river for him gently. With his friends at the oars they moved into the bay, Heading eastward of where the Somerset lay, As the young flooding tide put the great ship a’ sway.
The moon was rising and the hour neared eleven As Revere reached land and found Richard Devens Who had strayed the watch near the old armament, On the Ferry, and had seen the signal Neuman sent. As they rushed to town, they spoke of British moves And pondered methods to send forth the news. Devens, to Lexington, had sent a rider off As soon as he saw the lanterns shown aloft But, worried for his safety, for early that day, On the road from Menontomy, near the neck of the bay, He had seen British horsemen, patrolling the way.
A Conant’s, in town, Revere told ‘what was doing’ To a group that had gathered and spent the night stewing For want of reports. Revere then laid out a course And went out with Devens to find him a horse. The best mount in town was in John Larkin’s stable, An alert, sure-footed colt the color of sable. And the Deacon had promised use of the steed To the committee if there came the great need. So, in Larkin’s barn, the nervous colt was saddled, By Revere, who tested the girth then up and straddled His ride as Devens opened the stall and the two skedaddled.
Revere rode fast pace on the Cambridge road, By moonlight, over the neck the good horse strode Past muddy, mucky marsh lands made foul by the rains And got by the gibbet ‘where Mark was in chains’ When he ‘saw two officers under the shade of a tree’ One rode quickly toward him so he turned short to flee ‘And rid upon a full gallop’ pushing toward the Mystic, Splashing headlong cross-country, through the thick of it. His light footed horse soon got three hundred yards beyond While his pursuer’s clumsy mount ‘got into a clay pond’ And strayed stuck there long after Revere was gone.
With the main road blocked, Revere rode the Mystic River ridge And crossed into Medford over an old plank bridge. There, he ‘awaked the Captain of the minute men’, And at other houses raised the folk sleeping within. Soon men seized their muskets and the town bells rung While women fled town to hide their young. Revere re-crossed the Mystic to resume his planned route And shouted his warning ‘the regulars are out!’ In every village, at almost every farm Revere gave the warning and cried the alarm, “The British are coming! To arm! To arm!’
In Lexington, Parson Clarks’ guests had retired Unaware of what in Boston that night had transpired And Sergeant Monroe had formed up a guard To prevent disturbance about the parsonage yard. Then, at midnight, Revere rode up, causing confusion, And Monroe protested the late night intrusion Saying he had orders there’d be no noise about. And Revere replied, ‘You’ll have noise enough soon. The regulars are out!’ Then he pounded on the door for an interview So Hancock was aroused by the voice he knew And called, “Come in Revere. We’re not afraid of you.’
Paul shoved past Monroe and went through the door To greet folks asleep just minutes before. He asked about Dawes, who had not yet arrived, And wondered if his friend had survived. He gave his report, as Warren had ordered, To the ladies and men still messed and disordered. He told of the boats seen land near Phipp’s place, Of the British near Medford and the ensuing chase, That the treat of invasion was bonafide And that from Cambridge to Lexington, along his ride, He had alarmed most the whole countryside.
How convinced by Revere that the danger was real, John Hancock sent orders for the Tocsin to peal And the town was aroused and militia formed While Hancock prepared to get uniformed. He got out his guns and polished his sword To be ready to lead when the British warred. Sam Adams, Aunt Lydia and Judge Quincy’s daughter, Dolly, All tried to dissuade him against such folly, For Miss Dolly Quincy wanted her fiancé intact And Adams begged Hancock not to overact But leave town before the British attacked.
The house was filled with tears and turmoil With Hancock, unyielding and standing firm soil, Exhorting the virtue of righteous warfare And Adams protesting, ‘It’s not our affair!’ When, at half past twelve, in clattered Dawes Who, with Revere, took a short well earned pause To eat and drink and rest for a bit, Allowing themselves a brief respite, Then once again mounted to complete their mission Saving the stores of the Concord munitions, Leaving politics behind to the politicians.
As they moved out of town they were joined in their ride By a young gent named Prescott who offered his guide, For his home was in Concord and was there well know, A High Son of Liberty and one of their own Whose warning to townsfolk of pending dangers Might be given more credit than that of strangers. And they were well pleased to accept the aid Of one so eager to join their crusade And gladly enlisted the new volunteer. So, on rode Sam Prescott, Bill Dawes and Revere Toward Concord, and destiny, with resolve, without fear.
Near Harwell’s, in Lincoln, two stopped at the house Of a country man they hoped to arouse While Revere kept along getting some distance ahead. Before Prescott and Dawes raised the man from his bed, Four Brits appeared mid-road with pistols in hand And told Revere, ‘Damn you, Sir, stop or you’re a dead man!’ Then the others came up and tried to get through But the Brits kept before them and held them too And swore they’d be killed if they didn’t yield And pushed the three into pasture field Through a stone fence opening that brush concealed.
Forced like prisoners past fence bars put down The Rebels, on cue, reined their horses around. Bolting left, Prescott pushed through like a wedge Then jumped his horse over a low stone hedge Back onto the road and he galloped away. Dawes too made off in the fray, Riding toward a farmhouse, to pretend friends shouted, “Halloo boys, I’ve two of ‘em!’ and his pursuers turned tail, routed. Revere broke right and kicked in a fast spur, Running toward a thicket close by the pasture Then, nearing timber, found new disaster.
As Revere neared the wood, he found Redcoats again When six rushed out and seized his rein, Put pistols to his breast and, using undue force, Abused him much and had him off his horse. He was questioned by a soldier who asked his name Which he gave him then added, ‘You’ll miss your aim.’ I know what you’re after. The country is alarmed! And I’ll soon have five hundred here fully armed!’ Then a Major rode up, clap’d a pistol to Paul’s head And had him repeat all he had said Warning, ‘Tell the truth, Revere, or believe me, you’re dead!’
The answers Paul gave made the Major concerned And surprised to hear secrets the Rebel had learned. He ordered Paul to mount his horse then called into the bushes From where four others were brought with curses, kicks and pushes. The others, kept from going home, held captive, were released And also made to mount up as the Major seized Paul’s breast. He took from him his bridle reins and swore he could not use them. And had his soldiers lead them as they cursed and abused them. The captive band were made to march with officers all around Back toward Lexington but, after making half that ground, The Major brought the troop to halt upon hearing gunshots sound.
‘What was that?’ He asked Revere, ‘What does the gunfire mean?’ ‘That’s warning fire.’, said Revere, ‘The country is alarming.’ Major Mitchell must have known he had little time to waste For he ordered excess baggage be discarded in all haste. The four from the bushes were ordered to earth And a soldier dismounted to cut bridle and girth From their horses, then drove them into the night And the men were dismissed to get home as they might. Revere asked that he too be released Bur was retained as the Major pleased To keep the prize he had seized.
Now the group was put in motion again, A sergeant still leading Revere by the rein. They rode ‘til the town meeting house could be seen When they heard a volley of fire from the green. To avoid rowdy Rebels running in the street, The Major ordered a quiet, calm retreat To Cambridge where, near Leachmere’s Point, bivouacked, The main force shivered through an entr’acte After wading to shore in sea water waist deep, Preparing to march with boots soaked, left to steep ‘Till two in the morning without any sleep.
Again Revere was off his horse. The Sergeant let go its tether, Got off his own weary mount and stripped it of its leather, Rump slapped the animal, making it bolt, And watched it run off as he sat the Larkin colt. Revere was left behind as the British drifted east And wondered what would happen to Deacon Larkin’s beast. He made his way to Clark’s where Adams and Hancock Had argued about fighting ‘till reaching deadlock. It was then decided that the men would adjourn To the home of Widow Reverend Jones of Wolburn, Two miles cross-country, for a brief sojourn.
Aunt Lydia and Miss Dolly believed themselves secure And settled, against Hancock, to stay right where they were And though Hancock protested and fashioned false delays, The men soon left for Wolburn with Hancock in his chaise. At Wolburn, near exhaustion, Revere tried to rest But, John Lowell, Hancock’s clerk, remembered Hancock’s chest Full of papers at Buchman’s tavern, left behind them, Unguarded, just waiting for a British search to find them. So he and Paul went back to town and merged into the scene Of frantic folk and farmers moving to and ‘fro between Buchman’s and the meeting house and forming on the green.
Upstairs at Buchman’s Tavern, Hancock’s trunk was found As Gage’s weary soldiers approached the edge of town, And from an attic window, above the greening larch, Revere saw the British troops ‘very near a full march.’ Outside the night diminished and morning came anew As thirty-eight militiamen Revere and Lowell passed through, And Revere heard their Captain shout, ‘Do not molest them first!’ Then, getting just barely off the green, heard a weapon burst And turned to see a rising cloud, a black, gun smoky mist, While Adams, at Wolburn, hearing fire, cried with seeming bliss, ‘Oh! What a glorious morning is this!’
hey does anyone mind sharing a semester 1 world history test
I was wondering if there is any new, creative, fun interesting ways to introduce new ss content. For example, you are just starting a new topic/chapter in the book. Other than round robin reading, is there any other fun ways to read the material for the first time???? Thanks, kim
Happy Holidays to all from your Social Studies sponsors! LEAD USA
by Christina
Dec 20, 2010
Hello, I am a first year grade 8 teacher (I teach English, math, science, social studies, art) for the same group of kids.I really want my kids to have more fun with their learning but its hard to balance my time to plan great activities and to cover material. They are lower level --problems reading for example. Another issue is a lack of materials...See MoreHello, I am a first year grade 8 teacher (I teach English, math, science, social studies, art) for the same group of kids.I really want my kids to have more fun with their learning but its hard to balance my time to plan great activities and to cover material. They are lower level --problems reading for example. Another issue is a lack of materials. Also is a lack of technology.
Due to an illness we have been off for 4 weeks plus 2 weeks for Christmas vacation. Which kills me in terms of curriculum.
We had just started looking at migration and land bridge theory.
Any ideas how to jazz it up?
Next is First Nations groups (I have a lot of dry pages and not a lot of activities or questions yet), then we will do the Ancient Greeks and Ancient Egypt in which I just bought two good books at a teacher supply book which should be helpful. Then I think we have to do the Middle Ages- got some materials.
I was thinking of possibly doing a computer-based project or a webquest (which is a challenge due to a lack of technology) but I want to try it out.
I am also thinking of starting with a smaller project--like I might gather materials on some First Nations groups (photocopy and pass it to them) and getting them to do some sort of project on it (brings in English too) looking at how to do jot notes and a bibliography for example.
What about the idea of a pamphlet that talks about a First Nations group ??(if they drew pictures or maps- there is art too) or a graph (map)LOL! This wouldn't take a lot of materials (white paper, colored pencils, even construction paper) either.
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This may be WAY too late to be helpful, but if you're not locked into having to use Common Sense, another o...See More