Introduce students to the Revolutionary War by assigning them to read a fictional book set during the Revolutionary Era. For instance, instruct students to read "The Sign Painter's Secret: The Story of a Revolutionary Girl," which narrates the story of a young girl that spies for the rebels during the war. See references for other Revolutionary War era fictional books for young readers. Discuss the book and the issues that relate to the Revolutionary conflict. Encourage students to consider what life was like for Americans during the War.
Create a visual chart or timeline of the war that includes the events that led to the Revolutionary War to help students understand the chronology of the war and the origins of tensions between the British and the colonists. Include significant pre-war actions and events, such as England's heavy taxation of the colonists to pay for the Seven Years War, the Boston Tea Party and the closing of the Boston Harbor. Also include important battles and events, such as the naming of George Washington as commander in chief, the battles of Lexington, Concord and Bunker Hill, the winter spent at Valley Forge and the British surrender at Yorktown. Discuss these events with the students.
Re-enact a famous Revolutionary War battle, such as the Battle of Lexington, the Battle of Concord or the Battles of Saratoga. Assign students speaking roles for these scenes to help narrate and explain the events. Afterwards, contextualize the event by placing it in the greater timeline of the Revolutionary War. Discuss how the battle impacted the war between the British and the colonists and how it changed the dynamics of the war. For instance, the battles fought at Saratoga signaled a turning point of the war, as the the American soldiers prevailed.
Introduce students to the famous faces of the Revolution. For instance, introduce them to Sam Adams, Thomas Paine, Patrick Henry, Paul Revere and others, who made history with a famous action, event or declaration. Also teach students about noteworthy British figures, such as King George III, and Loyalists, such as Thomas Hutchinson and Lord Dunmore.
Discuss the role that Native Americans and Canadians played during the war. Also, explain how Spain and France became involved. Emphasize the important role these two countries had in supporting the Revolutionary forces to defeat the British army.