M. Kaderli, M. Benk, J. Bender, M. Proefrock, R.

Kensinger

My Brother Sam is Dead

An Interdisciplinary Approach to the American Revolution & The Common Core

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American Revolution Causes: A Quick Review

Getting Inside Your Head: What is worth you fighting for? What is worth you dying for? What is worth your sister, brother, mother or father dying for? I. A. Relationship Mercantilism: Colonies supposed to trade only with England Salutary Neglect: England ignores Navigation Acts which allows the Colonists to trade and govern with little interference from England French and Indian War England wins the war England the war, England attempted to enforce the Mercantile relations ship with its colonies in America Enforcement of Mercantile Relationship In order to get money, England taxed the colonies without allowing them membership in Parliament (taxation without representation) a. Proclamation of 1763 b. Stamp Act (1765): Sons of Liberty organized Protests and Boycotts Committees of Correspondence Created c. Boston Massacre (1770) d. Tea Act of 1773 e. Boston Tea Party (1773) f. Intolerable (Coercive) Acts of 1774

B.

II. A. B.

III. A.

Table Talk: What is war? Is war good? What makes a war good? How old should you be before you kill or die for your country?

IV. Declaration of Independence and War A. Thomas Jefferson wrote the D.E.C., which included 3 parts 1. Described Beliefs 2. Listed Problems 3. See Ya! B. 1/3 of the colonists remained loyal, 1/3 were patriots and 1/3 were neutral

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American Revolution Timeline

Use the timeline below to match up with events in My Brother Sam is Dead:

April 19, 1775 Lexington &

Revolution Time Line My Brother Sam is Dead Timeline

June 17, 1775 Battle of Bunker Hill

January 9, 1776 Common Sense Published

Concord

April, 1775

November 1775

April, 1776

August, 1776 July 4, 1776 Declaration of

Revolution Time Line My Brother Sam is Dead Timeline

December 25, 1776 Washington Crosses Delaware in Battle of Trenton

Independence

Battle of Long Island: British Gain control of New York

November, 1776

November, 1776

April, 1777

September 3, 1783 October, 1777 Battle of

Revolution Time Line My Brother Sam is Dead Timeline

Winter, 1777 Valley Forge Treaty of Paris Officially end the War

Saratoga

June, 1777

December 1778

February 16, 1779

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American Revolution: Patriots

Take notes below: Getting Inside Your Head: If you were a Patriot during the American Revolution, what might be motivating you fight?

Definition of a Patriot:

Other names for a Patriot:

Advantages of the Patriots

Disadvantages of the Patriots

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American Revolution: Loyalists

Take notes below: Getting Inside Your Head: If you were a Loyalist during the American Revolution, what might be motivating you fight?

Definition of a Loyalist:

Other names for a Loyalist:

Advantages of the Loyalists

Disadvantages of the Loyalists

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My Brother Sam is Dead: Chapter One (Day One)
Inside Text Outside Text

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List four characters that were introduced in chapter one and describe them.

In chapter one, Sam explains to Tim that he is going to take Brown Bess, the familys gun. Explain how you would feel if you had a sibling (brother or sister) that came home and explained to you that they were going to run away with an important family possession.

Inside Text

Provide two quotes from the book that show how Sams Father feels about Sams cause.

Draw a picture depicting one of the scenes from chapter one and then title it.

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American Revolution: Common Core Connections

Inside Text

Use the text below to help you determine the meaning of the following words or phrases.
(p.21) --Sams Father (Life Meeker), speaking to Sam

Historical references in todays text. p.16 Describes Captain Arnold Who was Benedict Arnold?? A Brilliant general who won several battles against the British and then joined them. He won at Lake Champlain and helped Ethan Allen take Fort Ticonderoga. He played a major part in the American victory at Saratoga. Yet, he joined the British and tried to help them win the war. He had planned to deliver his own keys to West Point, site of the U.S. army, to Britain's Major John Andre. Andre was captured and hanged. Arnold escaped and actually commanded British troops later in the war. He died in Britain, unrecognized and alone.

I will not have subversion, I will not have treason in my house. We are Englishmen, we are subjects of the King, this rebellion is the talk of madmen.

Treason -

Subversion-

http://www.socialstudiesforkids.com/wwww/us/benedict arnolddef.htm What is a traitor? Why do you think Benedict Arnold is often remembered as the biggest traitor in U.S. History?

18th century (1700s) Culture

p. 9 Sam is only 16 and has already been away at college (Yale) for a year. Today, Yale is still a prestigious Ivy league University located in Connecticut.
Yale's roots can be traced back to the 1640s, when colonial clergymen led an effort to establish a college in New Haven to preserve the tradition of European liberal education in the New World. This vision was fulfilled in 1701, when the charter was granted for a school. In 1718 the school was renamed Yale College . Yale College survived the American Revolutionary War (17751783) intact and, by the end of its first hundred years, had grown rapidly. http://www.yale.edu/about/history.html

The First Political Cartoon

Benjamin Franklin published this print of a snake in his newspaper in 1754, during the French and Indian War. It is believed to be the first political cartoon published in America. In 1764, Franklins snake came to have a new meaning. American Patriots used the print as a symbol.

How would Tims dad have felt about this political cartoon? WHY

Q: Would you like to go to college? What career or job are you possibly interested in ?

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My Brother Sam is Dead: Chapter Two (Day Two)
Inside Text

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Provide information about the terms below.

Read each quote. Decide who is more like you, circle it and then explain why below it. A. Nobody wants to get killed, Sam said. But you should be willing to die for you principles. Sam

Tom Warrup

Betsy Read

Lobsterback
B. Whats the use of principles if you have to be dead to keep them? Life

Tory

Outside Text

Decide if Life is right or wrong and then explain why. Of course there are injustices. Thats the way of Gods world. But you never get rid of injustices by fighting.

Draw a picture depicting one of the scenes from chapter TWO and then title it.

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American Revolution: Common Core Connections

Quote Analysis Historical references in todays text.

P.25 Tim says To tell the truth, I didnt exactly

understand what the argument was all about. Ever since I could remember, all my life in fact, there had been these discussions and arguments and debates about whether we ought to obey His Majestys government or whether we should rebel. What kept confusing me about it was that the argument didnt have two sides the way an argument should, but about six sides.

Throughout United States History, inequality is unfortunately a big theme. We can trace the inequality of many groups throughout time. Look back at p.28, list some examples of inequalities from 1700s Connecticut:

What argument is Tim referring to?

What do you think were some of the six sides to this argument?

Draw a conclusion about American CULTURE during this period. Cite specific text to support your conclusion.

Summarize what you know so far about Redding Ridge Connecticut. Based on your knowledge from the text, design a flag that could correctly represent Redding Ridge.

Throughout this book, you will notice that religion was very important to 18th century culture. There are many, many religious references made throughout the book. For example.. p.19 In the morning wed all have to go to church it was the law to go to church on Sunday p.31 Father, I said, Jerry Sanford wants me to help him carry up a big log from the woodlot. Thats breaking the Sabbath he said. Q: What does Breaking the Sabbath mean? How is our culture and religious practices similar/different than in the 1700s?

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My Brother Sam is Dead: Chapters Three and Four (Day 3)
Inside Text Inside Text

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Summarize chapter THREE in three or fewer sentences.

Summarize chapter FOUR in four or fewer sentences.

Outside Text

Agree or disagree with the following statement and provide your rationale. Tim was right to try and bring Brown Bess back to Life. OR Agree or disagree with the following statement and provide your rationale. Father should have begged.

Draw a picture depicting one of the scenes from chapter FOUR and then title it.

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American Revolution: Common Core Connections Ch. 3 & 4

Inside Tezxt

Use the text below to help you determine the meaning of the following words or phrases.

Historical references in todays text.

p. 58 (Tim talking with Sam) I saw him, Sam, he was

going to stick his sword into Father. You have to go down Sam, you have to. I cant, Tim. They might hang me for a deserter if they found out. All right then, let me take the gun home and give it to them. I cant do that, Tim. If I go back to camp without my weapon, theyll surely hang me.

While you read chapters 3 & 4.Give 2 examples of references made to real History. Provide the page number and the example.

Deserter =

Inside Text

American Culture 1700s

On p. 41, Tim describes some of his hobbies/entertainment. If it was hot, wed go for a swim in the mill stream, or climb up the trees in his woodlot. We played mumblethe-peg or spin tops or play duck on the rock..if it rained wed go up to Tom Warrups and get him to tell us stories about the Indian wars..or if nobody was watching me, Id sneak up in the loft and look at old almanacs.
How does Tims culture compare to your own? What do you do for fun?

Summarize todays reading. Integrate a picture, graph or chart that you create with the text.

Do you/your family do any activities you consider old fashioned?

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My Brother Sam is Dead: Chapter Five and Six (Day Four)
Inside Text Outside Text

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Answer the following questions.

If you were Life, would you have let Tim help Mr. Heron? Explain why or why not.

1.

Who was Mr. Heron?

2.

What did he say he wanted Tim to do?

3.

What did he really want Tim to do?

4.

What did Tims dad, Life, have to say about it?

5.

What did Mr. Herons letter say?

In My Brother Sam is Dead, loyalty, obedience and honesty are described as virtues, whereas, disloyalty, disobedience, and dishonesty are described as sins. Sam is rebelling against his King and his father for his principles. Answer the questions below. Why was Tim lying and betraying his Father?

Draw a picture depicting one of the scenes from chapter SIX and then title it.

Who was the better son? Why?

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American Revolution: Common Core Connections

Inside Text

Use the text below to help you determine the meaning of the following words or phrases.

Historical references in todays text.

p. 62 Tim says.But none of them were people I really

knew and so the war had always seemed to me like a story something that happened in some faraway place or faraway time, and didnt have anything to do with me. But after the search for weapons, I had a different feeling about it: it was real and it could come home to me, too. IS War real to YOU???? Do you think war is real for most Americans today? Why/Why not?

p.78 Mr. Heron instructs Tim to go to Fairfield and deliver a letter to Mr.Burr

Who was Aaron Burr?

In 1775, with the outbreak of the American Revolution, Burr joined the Army to fight against the British. He accompanied Benedict Arnold's failed expedition to try to invade Quebec, and in 1776 he became a member of General George Washington's staff. He served in the Army until 1779, when ill health forced him to resign. After the war..Aaron Burr was Vice President to Jefferson, then Burr ran for governor of New York in the 1804 election. Alexander Hamilton, a Federalist, led the opposition to Burr's candidacy and spoke out against Burr and questioned his integrity in public. For these perceived slights, Burr challenged Hamilton to a duel, during which he shot and killed Hamilton on July 11, 1804. http://millercenter.org/president/jefferson/essays/vicepre sident/1823

What are some ways we try to honor and support out troops?

Inside Text

1700s CULTURE
Throughout this book, you learn a lot about Tims daily life, chores and expectations in his household. List some examples of Tims work around his house: (if you need help see p.12, 40, 47, 66 for ideas) Compare this with your own household chores and expectations. What do you have to do to help at home?

Summarize todays reading. Integrate a picture, graph or chart that you create with the text.

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My Brother Sam is Dead: Chapters Seven and Eight
Inside Text Inside Text Content Questions

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Mother vs. Father

At the start of chapter 7, Sams parents discuss Sam and his letters home. Compare/Contrast the opinions of Sams mom and dad.

Where is Tim going with his Dad? What is the purpose of their trip?

Mom

Dad List some difficulties they face while away from home:

What are the committees of public safety? Who do you agree with?

Inside Text

1700s CULTURE
In chapters 7 & 8 .there is a lot of description of 1700s travel, transportation, and technology. For example: p. 89-90 It would take us 3 days to drive the cattle over and 3 days to come back. On horseback you could ride it in a day, but wed have not only the cattle but the wagon drawn by oxen with us. Find one more example of the transportation/technology from this time period in chapter 7 or 8 and list it below:

Use the text below to help you determine the meaning of the following words or phrases. p.102 (Tim speaking with his cousin Ezekiel) Are you a loyalist? I asked. Of course, Arent you? I guess so, I said. Only sometimes Im not sure. Sams fighting for the Rebels, did you know that? We heard that, Ezekiel said. Father got into a rage. He said that Sam was too smart a boy to be fooled by sedition. Sedition:

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My Brother Sam is Dead Quiz

Inside Text

Match the quote to the person who said it:

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Inside Text

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Chapter 11: Write a thorough summary of todays reading in the space below.
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American Revolution: Common Core Connections Ch. 9 & 10

Inside Text

Use the text below to help you determine the meaning of the following words or phrases.

Historical references in todays text.

p. 116 Father to Tim

We might as well push on and get it over with, Tim, he said. Bear up, it wont last forever. What does the phrase Bear up mean?

p.129 George Washington George Washington (1732-99) was commander in chief of the Continental Army during the American Revolutionary War (1775-83). The son of a prosperous planter, Washington was raised in colonial Virginia. As a young man, he worked as a surveyor then fought in the French and Indian War (1754-63). During the American Revolution, he led the colonial forces to victory over the British and became a national hero. In 1787, he was elected president of the convention that wrote the U.S. Constitution. Two years later, Washington became America's first president. http://www.history.com/topics/george-washington

When else in this book have characters had to Bear up?

1700s CULTURE
Describe something you learned about the culture of kids (Tim is only 14) during the 1700s in chapters 9/10:

Outside text

Expand your vocab

IN ELA, youre often asked to use descriptive words to help improve your writing and vocabulary. THINK of 3 descriptive words that you would use to describe the condition of Redding Connecticut and its people at this point in the war: _______________________________

Did kids grow-up faster today or in the 1700s? WHY

_______________________________ _______________________________

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My Brother Sam is Dead: Chapter 12
Inside Text Outside Text

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List 10 things from this chapter.

If you were Sam, how would you be feeling?

Outside Text

Irony can be defined as an outcome of events contrary to what was, or might have been expected. With this definition, how was Fathers death ironic?

Draw a picture depicting one of the scenes from chapter Twelve and then title it.

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American Revolution: Common Core Connections ch.12

Inside Text

Use the text below to help you determine the meaning of the following words or phrases.

Historical references in todays text.

p. 174 Discussing Soldiers stealing beef

Sure, lots of them would steal from anybody, whether they were Tories or Patriots or anything else. Some are unscrupulous when theyre hungry and some are unscrupulous by nature and theyll take whatever they think they can get away with.

p. 168 Valley Forge Pennsylvania encampment occupied by the American army from December 1777 to June 1778. The winter was particularly harsh, and the army was short on food, clothing, and supplies. But they hung on. The leadership of Commander-in-Chief George Washington kept the soldiers occupied and made them better, tougher soldiers in the end. http://www.socialstudiesforkids.com/wwww/us/valleyforg edef.htm

Unscrupulous:

1700s Culture

Summarize the ECONOMICS (cost, $$) of war. Integrate a picture, graph or chart that you create with the text. If you need help or ideas look at p.169

p. 169 Education Keep in mind that Tim is 14 years old. What did you read/learn about Tim and his future goals?

How is education different today compared to what you have learned in this book?

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My Brother Sam is Dead: Chapters 13 & 14
Inside Text Outside Text

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Answer the following questions on the back of this page.

How do you think it would feel to be convicted of something that you didnt do?

1. What was Sam accused of? 2. Who took him in for it?

3. What did Tim and Mother do about it? 4. What was Sams fate?

5. How did Sam die?

6. By the end of the book, Tim was Fourteen years old. Explain some of the things he was responsible for at age fourteen.

Outside Text

Irony can be defined as an outcome of events contrary to what was, or might have been expected. With this definition, how was Sams death ironic?

Draw a picture depicting one of the scenes from chapter THIRTEEN or FOURTEEN and then title it.

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My Brother Sam is Dead: Common Core Connections

Inside Text

Use the text below to help you determine the meaning of the following words or phrases.
p. 194

Historical references in todays text.

p. 194 General Putnam At the outbreak of the Revolutionary War, Putnam received a commission as a general in the Continental Army under General George Washington. Putnam's leadership and battlefield experience served him and the Continental Army most admirably at the Battle of Bunker Hill in June 1775, where he helped develop strategy and distinguished himself on the battlefield. After retreating from the New York battles for Fort Montgomery and Fort Clinton in 1777, General Washington began to doubt Putnam's leadership. Considered one of Washington's most valuable military men at the beginning of the Revolutionary War, Putnam began to be seen as an ineffective leader. Still, he continued serving in the Continental Army until suffering a career-ending stroke in December 1779. After finishing this book..do you like the title: My Brother Sam is Dead? Argue whether you would keep this title or change it. If you change it, suggest a new title that you think is better.

Colonel Parsons speaking with Tim The one thing Putnam cannot do at this point is show clemency. If he is going to make his point with the troops, he cant start letting people off easily.
p. 199

On February 13th, Colonel Read came up from the encampment with the word that General Putnam had refused our plea for clemency.

Clemency =

Draw a conclusion about American culture during this period. Using pg.207 and 208

(Punishment, Court System, Executions)

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My Brother Sam is Dead: Epilogue

Chunking Epilogue pages 209-211

PARAGRAPH 1

I have written this story down on the year 1826, on the fiftieth anniversary of the founding of our nations, to commemorate the short life of my brother Samuel Meeker, who died forty-seven years ago in the service of his country. I am sixty for. Although I hope to go on living on health for some time yet, the major portion of my own life is spent. It has been a happy life, and successful, for the most part. I no longer live in Redding. After Sams death I was not able to do much more than my basic chores. But time heals wounds, and by the next fall I had become used to the ache in, year, and I began to think about what I should do with my life. I started to make a stud of calculating and surveying with Mr. Heron who was kind and didnt charge me for lessons. When the war finally ended Mother and I sold the tavern and moved out to Pennsylvania where new lands were opening up and surveyors were much in demand. After moving around a bit we finally settled in town of Wilkes-Barre. We built a tavern there, and I began buying and selling land. With the profit from this activity built a saw mill, and then a store to go along with the tavern, and then I joined with some other men to found a bank. I married and had children, and with work and Gods will I prospered, so that I am able today to enjoy my children, my grandchildren, my orchards and my gardens in peace and comfort. Mother never really got over Sams death. She kept to her vow, and so long as the war went on she refused to serve Continental officers. I had to do it myself. She lives to a ripe old age and even at the end she would frequently speak of him in conversation or tell stories about his headstrong ways to my children. But she was tough in spirit; she survived to enjoy her grandchildren and her new life. She left her mark on the history of our country. It will be, I am sure, a great history. Free of British domination, the nation has prospered and I along with it. Perhaps on some other anniversary of the United States somebody will read this and see what the cost has been. Father said, In war the dead pay the debts of the living, and they have paid well. But somehow, even fifty years later, I keep thinking that there might have been another way, besides war, to achieve the same end.

PARAGRAPH 2

PARAGRAPH 3

PARAGRAPH 4

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My Brother Sam is Dead: Epilogue Common Core Connection

Inside Text Outside Text

In the paragraph one Tim asserts It has been a happy life, and successful, for the most part Highlight or underline the evidence in paragraph two that supports this assertion. Choose the three best pieces of evidence you highlighted and write them below.

Which of the following best describes Tims feelings about his life after the war? Support your choice with a specific example from the reading.

Guilty
Close Read

Making Inferences

Content

Inside Text

In paragraph 3 Tim says that Mother never got over Sams death. What specific evidence is there in this paragraph that supports Tims assertion?

Based on the quote below what conclusion can you draw about the authors feelings towards war?

Justify

In war the dead pay the debts of the living, and they have paid well. But somehow, even fifty years later, I keep thinking that there might have been another way, besides war, to achieve the same end.

Making Inferences Drawing Conclusions

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My Brother Sam is Dead: How much of this book is true? Common Core Connections
Inside Text Outside Text

According to the list 10 things that were historically accurate in the book.

The Vietnam War was being fought as the author was writing this book. Do you think this influenced his perspective on war? Explain your thoughts. Authors point of view

Close Read

Outside Text

Outside text

Why do you think the author chose to make the Meekers fictional characters rather than using real peoples lives as the basis for the story?

Based what you have read, choose one of the quotes below that you think best describes the authors perspective.

Making inferences

In war the dead pay the debts of the living, and they have paid well. But somehow, even fifty years later, I keep thinking that there might have been another way, besides war, to achieve the same end.

Either you live up to your principles or you dont and maybe you have to take a chance on getting killed.

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Extended Written Response

Explain why the quote you picked best described the authors perspective or point of view. Support your position with examples from the book.

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