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Activity 4.1: Lexington and Concord
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Lesson #4: REVOLUTION!

Activity 4.1: Lexington and Concord

Battle of Lexington, 1775.png

19th Century depiction of the Battle of Lexington

“The shot heard ‘round the world” was fired at Lexington, Massachusetts in April 1775. It was know as “the shot heard ‘round the world” because one of colonies of the very strong British Empire was rebeling. In this activity, you discover what happened during the battles of Lexington and Concord, and you will learn about what really happened with Paul Revere’s famous midnight ride.

Benchmark:

5.4.4.17.3: Identify the major events of the American Revolution culminating in the creation of a new and independent nation.

Learning Target:

I can...describe major historical events in my own words.

I can...explain how certain historical events change the course of history.

Essential Question:

What were the major events of the American Revolution?

To complete Activity 4.1 please follow the steps below:

STEP 1:

To get a general sense of what the first battles of the revolution are, take a look at the video about the Battles of Lexington and Concord.

STEP 2:

Now there are a few common things people remember about Lexington and Concord. One of them is the story of Paul Revere. Paul Revere has become a famous patriot name many remember. Some of the history behind Paul Revere is a little confusing because of different stories being told of what happened. One of those versions was a poem written by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow.

Listen and enjoy. Here is a Dramatic reading of Henry Wadsworth Longfellow's classic poem, "The Midnight Ride of Paul Revere".

STEP 3:

First, read through the Myths and Facts of Paul Revere’s Ride.

Then, watch It Wasn't Just Paul Revere / America: Facts vs. Fiction and The Truth About Paul Revere / America: Facts vs. Fiction

STEP 4:

Upload your responses to the add submission box

To check your understanding answer these questions.

  1. First video “Battles of Lexington and Concord”: Why were the British troops marching to Concord?

  1. First video “Battles of Lexington and Concord”: How shot the first shot of the American Revolution?

  1. Why do you think Henry Wadsworth poem is known by so many people? What makes it memorable?

  1. List out 3 common misconceptions about Paul Revere, and then write down what the facts were.

  1. In the last part of the video “The Truth About Paul Revere”, one of the narrator states “In some senses, you can say Paul Revere was a failure. He does not get to Concord.” How could you disagree with this statement? How was Paul Revere successful? (Hint: Think Lexington.)

STEP 5:

Answer the discussion question in the discussion thread:

Do you think it is important to get the facts correct when you are writing about history, or is it okay to be creative with the story? Support your answer with a logical explanation.