Materials

• Bulletin board and pushpins
• Chart paper/chalkboard
• Markers
• Teacher-selected books about George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Patrick Henry, and James
• Armistead Lafayette
• Copies of Patrick Henry’s “...give me liberty or give me death” speech
• Prop representing food and ammunition
• White flag
• Picture of Victory of Yorktown
• Teacher-prepared sequence or cause-and-effect activity
• Textbook, trade books, or other instructional materials

Instructional Activities

1. In this session, students will identify contributions of Virginians during the Revolutionary War era.
   
   
2. Define the terms patriot, loyalist, and neutral. Post the definitions on a bulletin board.
   
   
3. First, have the students pretend they are patriots and list reasons on a chart why they are fighting against England. Discuss.
   
   
4. Then, have the students pretend they are loyalists and list reasons on a chart why they are in support of England. Discuss.
   
   
5. Next, have the students pretend they are neutral and list reasons on a chart why they are not taking sides. Discuss.
   
   
6. Share the information from the Essential Understandings about the roles of patriots, loyalists, and neutrals. Refer back to the chart about the feelings each group expressed about slaves during the war. Explain that there was one slave from Virginia in particular who played an instrumental role by serving the Continental Army as a spy. His name was James Armistead Lafayette, and he was given his freedom after the war.
   
   
7. Ask the students to predict the role that women might have during the Revolutionary War. List the responses on a chart. Explain that they had more responsibility and have the students identify what those responsibilities may have been. (Lead students to realize that women had to take care of farms, families, and wounded soldiers; maintain the home, etc.)
   
   
8. Show the students pictures of Thomas Jefferson, George Washington, and Patrick Henry. Visit <http://chumby.dlib.vt.edu/melissa/posters/vastudiesposter.html>, and see if students can identify these patriots before you tell them their names. Divide the class into three groups and have them research these men, focusing on the roles they played during the Revolutionary War. Have each group share their information with other class members while they take notes. Refer to the Essential Understandings for necessary details.
   
   
9. Share excerpts from books about George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, and Patrick Henry.
   
   
10. Optional: Have students memorize and recite an excerpt from Patrick Henry’s “...give me liberty or give me death.” speech.
    
    
11. Set up simulations where some students portray George Washington, Continental soldiers, French soldiers, General Cornwallis, and the Redcoats. Share that Cornwallis and his men needed supplies such as food and ammunition. (Have a prop on a table away from this group of children protected by the children portraying the French and children portraying George Washington and his soldiers.) Cornwallis and his men attempt to get to the supplies they need, but are unsuccessful because they are surrounded by forces on all sides. Cornwallis must surrender (give child playing Cornwallis a white flag).
    
    
12. Share pictures of American victory at Yorktown. For posters, visit <http://chumby.dlib.vt.edu/melissa/posters/vastudiesposter.html>. Explain that we are now a free country that must form its own government.
    
    
13. Give the students a sequence activity to review events of the Revolutionary War, or have students complete a cause-and-effect activity similar to the one on Jamestown at Attachment A.