Introduction

Let's travel back in time to the American Revolution. What was life like during this time? What happened at the sites of the major battles? What now-famous Americans would you meet? How would a newspaper report on the people and events of this ground-breaking time in America's past?

Your class's task is to travel back in time and create a newspaper reporting the events and people of the American Revolution. Each student will be given a specific task to complete on your time-travel journey. You will then take the information and knowledge you gain to create a portion of the class-created school newspaper.

The Quest

Create a colonial newspaper depicting the events and people of the American Revolution.

The Process and Resources

In this WebQuest you will be working together with a group of students in class. Each group will answer the Task or Quest(ion). As a member of the group you will explore Webpages from people all over the world who care about American Revolution. Because these are real Webpages we're tapping into, not things made just for schools, the reading level might challenge you. Feel free to use the online Webster dictionary or one in your classroom.

You'll begin with everyone in your group getting some background before dividing into roles where people on your team become experts on one part of the topic.

Phase 1 - Background: Something for Everyone

Each of you will be assigned one of four tasks. Your job is to research the answers on your task sheet. When we return to class, you will be sharing your information with your group.

• America's Story: The Revolutionary Period - Read this article for an overview of The American Revolution.
• America's Story: The Nation's First Daily Newspaper Began Publication - What was America's first daily newspaper? When and where did it begin? Read all about on this site.
• Art Gallery Foyer - Welcome to the only place on the internet dedicated to the art of the American Revolution. Here in our foyer you can peruse thumbnail images of the works in the gallery. The thumbnails, as well as the titles, are links that will lead you further into the galleries, where you'll learn about the artists, as well as see larger versions of the works themselves, in all their electronic glory.
• The Boston Gazette - Read the article that appeared in The Boston Gazette the day after The Boston Massacre.
• Picture of The Boston Massacre - This is a picture of The Boston Massacre

Phase 2 - Looking Deeper from Different Perspectives

INSTRUCTIONS:

1. Each student is assigned one of the tasks below.

2. Read through the files linked to your specific task.

3. As you read, think about what life was/is like for the people you are reading about. Answer the questions on your individual task sheets.

Events Leading to The American Revolution

Use the Internet information linked below to answer these questions specifically related to Events Leading to The American Revolution:

1. How and when did the Boston Massacre begin?

2. Who was the first person hit by the British and became known as the 'first hero of the American Revolution?'

3. How was the Boston Massacre a turning point in the American Revolution?

4. How were the colonists warned that danger was coming?

5. When and why did the Boston Tea Party occur?

6. Describe George Hewes's involvement in the Boston Tea Party.

7. What was the Stamp Act?

8. What were the Intolerable Acts?

• America's Story: Boston Massacre - How did the Boston Massacre begin? Visit this site to learn all about it.
• America's Story: The American Revolution Began - Read this article to find out about Paul Revere's famous ride.
• The History Place: The Boston Tea Party - Read this eyewitness account of The Boston Tea Party.
• KidPort Reference Library: The Boston Tea Party - Read this site to find out about The Boston Tea Party.
• History Central: The Stamp Act Passed, Colonies Protest - What was The Stamp Act, and why did it anger the colonists? Read the information on this site to find out.
• Kidport: The Quest for Independence - Information about The Stamp Act, The Townsend Act, and other events leading the The Revolution can be found on this site.
• Kidport: The Intolerable Acts - Visit this site to find out all about The Intolerable Acts.

Famous Americans: Revere, Washington, Hale, & Jefferson

Use the Internet information linked below to answer these questions specifically related to Famous Americans: Revere, Washington, Hale, & Jefferson:

1. Who said, 'I regret that I have but one life to lose for my county.'? When and why were these words said?

2. What can we learn about George Washington from the letters he wrote to the Continental Congress?

3. Find five facts about Thomas Jefferson.

4. What role did Paul Revere play in the American Revolution?

5. Write five interesting facts about Paul Revere's life.
6. Print out Paul Revere's biography. You may need this to write an article about him for our newspaper.

• America's Story: Patriot Nathan Hale was Hanged - 'I only regret that I have but one life to lose for my country.' Nathan Hale said these famous words. Find out more on this site.
• America's Story: Washington Wrote a Letter to the Continental Congress - You can learn a lot reading old letters. Read about the letter that our first President wrote to the Continental Congress.
• America's Story: Thomas Jefferson - Thomas Jefferson is probably best known for writing The Declaration of Independence. Find out more about this famous historical figure.
• The Midnight Ride - Visit this site and read about Paul Revere's historic ride.
• Paul Revere: A Brief Biography - Read this biography about Paul Revere.
• The Historic Paul Revere - This is another biography of Paul Revere.

Battles

Use the Internet information linked below to answer these questions specifically related to Battles:

1. What were fortifications?

2. Why was the building of fortifications important for the colonists?

3. What is the importance of the Battle of Lexington and Concord?

4. What happened at the Battle of Lexington and Concord? Who was involved? Who won?

5. Where did General George Washington and the Continental army spend the winter of 1777-1778? Describe the conditions they faced. What did they do there?

6. Why was the Battle of Saratoga a major victory for the American forces and a key turning point in the war?

• America's Story: Fortifications Built During the Siege of Boston - Read how Army Engineers protect Boston during the Siege of Boston.
• Battle of Lexington and Concord - Read about The Battle of Lexington and Concord on this site.
• The Battle of Lexington and Concord - This site has additional information about The Battle of Lexington and Concord.
• Valley Forge - In the winter of 1777 - 1778, George Washington and his army struggled to survive the cold weather and snow at Valley Forge. They did, and emerged a stronger army as a result. Visit this site to find out more
• Kidport: Battle of Saratoga - The Battle of Saratoga in September of 1777 was a major victory for the American forces and a turning point of the war.
• Battles of the American Revolution - There were many battles of The Revolution. What started as a fight for their rights, ended as a fight for independence.

The Revolution Ends

Use the Internet information linked below to answer these questions specifically related to The Revolution Ends:

1. Who wrote the Declaration of Independence? Why was he chosen for this task?

2. What does the Declaration of Independence explain?

3. Explain how the American Revolution officially came to an end. Explain the terms of the agreement that was reached between the British and the colonists.

4. What are the Articles of Confederation?

• America's Story: The Declaration of Independence - Visit this site to find out more about The Declaration of Independence.
• The Continental Congress Ratified the Treaty of Paris - Find out how The American Revolution ended by reading this site.
• Kidport: The Articles of Confederation - The Articles of Confederation were created to define a new central government for America. Visit this site to find out more
• Kidport: The Treaty of Paris - The Treaty of Paris would official end the revolution, and recognize the United States of America as an independent nation.
• Kidport: The Constitutional Convention - The Constitutional Convention held in 1787 approved the Constitution of the United States of America.

Phase 3 - Debating, Discussing, and Reaching Consensus

You have all learned about a different part of American Revolution. Now group members come back to the larger WebQuest team with expertise gained by searching from one perspective. Share the information you learned with your class.

Phase 4 - Real World Feedback

It is now time to work as a group to create an American Revolution newspaper. Each of you will write and illustrate an article depicting the information you researched. You will be using Microsoft Publisher and Microsoft Word to create the newspaper. Ms. Willner will give you further instructions in class about creating the newspaper.

Your Contact is: the designated contact

Conclusion

We hope you enjoyed you time-travel back to the American Revolution. You certainly learned a lot about this important time in our country's history. You should be proud of yourselves! How can you use what you've learned to see beyond the black and white of a topic and into the grayer areas? What other parts of American Revolution could still be explored? Remember, learning never stops.