Writing Historical Fiction Journals

          
         During this writing unit the fourth grade students will create a character of their own and envision what life was like during the American Revolution. Students will think of the daily life of the people living back then and the problems that they experienced during the war. Within their journal entries students will also include dialect clues, along with setting clues, to show their reader what life was like back then. The students will also be taught to write with strong emotion and feelings about the problems that they are dealing with. Solutions and or resolutions will also be included in their historical fiction journals. Lastly, the students will show how their character has grown and or learned a life lesson by going through their problem.  

May & June Read Aloud

            During this time we will be connecting what we are learning in social studies about The American Revolution to Read Aloud. We will be focusing on the genre of historical fiction connected to this time period in American History. During Read Aloud the students will be engaged in conversation about these texts. Students will also be learning and applying the skills that are necessary in order to navigate through historical fiction texts. Students should understand:

•  Historical Fiction stories are made up stories that take place in a specific time period. Characters are based on real people from the time period. The character’s problem is connected to the struggles and issues that existed during that particular time period. Authors must do research in order to make sure the details about the time period are accurate. This means using real facts to explain what life was like during that time.

Students should remember to apply the following strategies modeled in read aloud at different points of reading:

• Before Reading:

          Preview: Read the blurb, author’s note, maps and chapter titles to make a prediction

·     

•              During Reading:

§                                Pay attention to:  Time Period Clues

1.                  Daily Life Clues
2.                   Dialect Clues
3.                  Big Life Topics- involving the time period

•             After Reading:

§                              Develop a theme or a generalization about this time in history

          We will read the following texts:

•                  Katie’s Trunk by Ann Turner
•                  The Scarlet Stocking Spy by Trinka Hakes Noble
•                  Phoebe the Spy by Judith Griffin
•                  My Brother Sam is Dead by Christopher Collier and James Lincoln Collier

Social Studies- May and June

As the school year begins to come to a close, we are going to be learning about the American Revolution. This is a very exciting unit for both the students and the teachers because it tells the story of our country and where it all begin! Students will learn how the United States transformed from colonies ruled by England to an independent nation. 

Social Studies lessons are very hands-on because students are responsible for their own learning. Each lesson requires students to take notes while reading Powerpoint presentations, watching videos, and reading from non-fiction texts. Students will also have many opportunities to put themselves in the shoes of the men and women who lived during the time period by writing journal entries and newspaper articles, performing plays, and playing interactive games on the computer. 

Students will also be using the knowledge gained during Social Studies lessons to support their learning across subject areas. In writing, students will develop a character who lives during the American Revolution and complete journal entries related to the time period. In reading, students will be discussing historical fiction texts taking place during the American Revolution. For read aloud, we will be reading the novel My Brother Sam is Dead, a story that focuses on the hardships that families had to deal with during this period in history.

Many of our field trips at the end of the school year also enhance the students' understanding of the American Revolution. When visiting the Old Stone House, the children will learn about the Battle of Brooklyn. Our trip to the Conference House will give students a chance to tour the building where a very important meeting was held. Historic Richmond Town is a real life depiction of a colonial town where students will have the opportunity to get a glimpse of what life was like during the American Revolution.