Additional Lessons
The Patriot (Movie Guide)
The Patriot is a 2000 American epic historical fiction war film. The film mainly takes place in rural Berkeley County, South Carolina, and depicts the story of an American swept into the American Revolutionary War when his family is threatened. Benjamin Martin is a composite figure the scriptwriter claims is based on four factual figures from the American Revolutionary War: Andrew Pickens, Francis Marion, Daniel Morgan, and Thomas Sumter.
- The movie opens in the fields of Benjamin Martin’s farm – In which region of the country is the movie set? How do you know this?
- Benjamin Martin argues against joining the militia with this quote, “Can American colonies govern themselves and should they?” What would your answer to this question be if you were a colonist during the Revolution?
- Is there a difference between war & murder?
- Benjamin Martin’s last quote, “my hope and prayer is that the sacrifices borne by so many…will spawn and fulfill the promise of our new nation.” What does that mean?
- What does it mean to be a Patriot? Why should we value those patriots/veterans who gave everything for us to have the life we have?
BONUS: Who were the real people Benjamin Martin was based on?
HINT: Try this website: The Patriot: Film Fact or Fiction
American Revolution (Top 5) Podcast
Unit Question: Why do people rebel?
Download the rubric here: American Revolution Top 5 Podcast Rubric (Unit Assessment).
Objective: Student groups will create and present a narrated photo documentary (podcast), which focuses on the American Revolution and rebellion. Consider the Unit question: “Why do people rebel?”. Students will understand the causes of the Revolutionary War or War of Independence. Students will understand how British taxation and lack of Colonial representation changed the minds of Americans. Students will understand the influence of the Enlightenment and Enlightened thinkers and the influence they had on the minds of our Founding Fathers. Students will learn how the colonists won their independence to become the United States and what it meant for the future of this young country. Students will make connections to other rebellions and revolutions and how all eras of people protest, want, and demand change.
Directions:
1) Select your group members wisely; meaning it is not always the best idea to work with your best friend(s). If someone in the group fails to participate, it is your responsibility as a group to solve the problem. If the problem continues simply leave that person’s name off of the group’s project, the irresponsible person will receive a ZERO. Groups will consist of 4-6 students.2) Take notes and pay attention to Mr. Streit in class, but draw your own conclusions.
3) Research your topic. Use the research (search) engines provided below. Decide what information is the most important before deciding your on Top 5. Make sure your information is historically accurate.
4) There are several ways to look at this subject separately or combined. Consider the following questions:
- Do you want to focus on the causes or ideas of the American Revolution or in the ways the Revolutionary War or War of Independence was won?
- What key events took place that changed the colonists’ view of control by Britain? In other words, what events made the war inevitable?
- What military battles or strategies did the colonists achieve that decided the war?
- Unit question: Why do people rebel? NOTE: Attempt to make connections to life and other rebellions or revolutions throughout history.
6) Decide who is responsible for what. You need an Introduction, the Top 5, and Why do people rebel? (conclusion)
7) Start working collecting images, music, and sounds.
8) Start working on your podcast in your groups; remember all students’ voices must be present.
10) Need help or want to see examples from the past? Check our Mr. Streit's YouTube Channel
Due Dates:
- “Mr. Streit check-in” due Wednesday/Thursday of December 13th/14th [Block Schedule] (5 points)
- Rough Draft of your script due Friday/Tuesday of January 12th/16th [Block Schedule] (10 points)
- Final Script is due on Wednesday/Thursday of January 24th/25th [Block Schedule] (15 points)
- Final Podcast due Wednesday/Thursday of February 14th/15th [Block Schedule] (49 points)
Suggested research (search) engines:
- History Channel
- American Heroes Channel
- Britannica School
- CPS Online Library: SOAR (Login with your CPS user ID and password)
- Library of Congress
- Library of Congress: American Memory
- History Matters (Primary Sources)
- Eye Witness History (Primary Sources)
- Khan Academy
- Google Scholar
Using your own computer? Try these program:
- Photo Story 3 (free download) or iMovie for Mac
- Audacity: Audio Edit (free download)
- Freesound (register using your CPS email)
- Pixlr or Microsoft Paint
- Royalty Free Music Downloads
Trouble Saving as a Video/Movie? Follow these steps:
- Click on Movie Maker button [top left]
- Drop down menu > Save Movie to Computer
- Then make sure you save as Windows Movie Video File (WMV)
Student Projects Section (including projects from the past)
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Podcast List of Suggestions
Unit 3 Exam - Meaning of Liberty & The American Revolution (Study Guide) :
- Magna Carta (1215)
- Mercantilism (1500s–1770s)
- Virginia House of Burgesses (established in 1619)
- Navigation Acts (1651 & 1653) Not enforced until 1763
- Bacon's Rebellion (1676)
- Glorious Revolution of England (1688-1689) Established English Bill of Rights
- Peter Zenger Trial (1733-1735)
- War of Jenkin's Ear (1739-1748)
- French & Indian War [7 Years War] (1754-1763)
- Proclamation of 1763 (1763)
- "No taxation without representation" common phrase of the Sons of Liberty (1760s-1770s)
- Sugar and Molasses Act (originally 1733 but largely ignored until 1764)
- Currency Act (1764)
- Stamp Act (1765)
- Quartering Act (1765 & 1774)
- Attack on Boston Royal Governor Hutchinson’s home in Boston (1765)
- Declaratory Act (1766)
- Townshend Revenue Acts (1767)
- Boston Massacre (1770)
- The Gaspee Incident (1772)
- Committees of Correspondence (1773)
- Tea Act (1773)
- Boston Tea Party (1773)
- Intolerable or Coercive Acts (1774)
- First and Second Continental Congress (1774-1775)
- Olive Branch Petition (1775)
- Battle of Lexington & Concord (1775)
- Battle of Bunker (Breed's) Hill (1775)
- Fort Ticonderoga: Ethan Allen & The Green Mountain Boys (1775) Start of Guerilla Warfare
- Thomas Paine's Common Sense and/or American Crisis (1776)
- Declaration of Independence (1776)
- Battle of Trenton (1776)
- Battle of Saratoga (1777)
- Valley Forge (1777-1778)
- French Assistance/Blockade (1778-1781) including General Marquis de Lafayette
- Battle of Yorktown (1781)
- Treaty of Paris of 1783 (1783)
- Enlightened Thinkers (leaders John Locke, Thomas Hobbes, and others)
- Sons of Liberty (leaders: Samuel Adams, Dr. Joseph Warren, John Hancock & Paul Revere)
- Espionage (Spies): Nathan Hale & Washington’s Culper Spy Ring
- Founding Fathers (leaders: Benjamin Franklin, George Washington, John Adams, Thomas Jefferson, Alexander Hamilton, and others)
- Friedrich Wilhelm von Steuben (1777) Prussian, Continental Army Officer/Inspector General and author Regulations for the Order and Discipline of the Troops of the United States
- King George III
- Failures of the British Generals (including General Thomas Gage and this replacements The Triumvirate of Reputation: Generals William Howe, John Burgoyne, & Henry Clinton)
- BONUS: The secret meaning of number 45
Who are the Freemasons?
- What is the mission or beliefs of the Freemasons?
- How many Freemasons signed the Declaration of Independence? Constitution?
- How many Freemasons have been President?
- Where did it start? NOTE: According to Freemason tradition.
- Should Freemasons be celebrated for their contributions to the United States or questioned for the secrecy?
- What are the meanings behind their different symbols? NOTE: Give at least 3 examples
- Which Freemason do you admire the most? Why?
