Veronica's+Task

Introduction: The International Time Capsule Society's worse fear is that all written documents may vanish one day. What can be done to preserve history? Where can we place documents so that future generations will be able to see them? The answer lies within you! They have asked you to create a time capsule for documents. They want you to preserve the history of the American Revolution for future students. Task: Your task is to create a play that demonstrates the important events of the American Revolution to show what our forefathers went through to gain the freedoms we have now. Then write a letter to students in the year 2109 explaining how the American Revolution impacted America. Within the letter, you will explain the important historical event, its impact on you, and how you expect those rights to still be exercised in the future. Then present the letter and play to the International Time Capsule Society for approval. Once approved, the letter, along with pictures that display freedoms we enjoy today, and the script will be put into a time capsule for future students.

Process:

Everyone will be assigned to groups of three. Each one of you is to conduct research on the major events of the American Revolution. Each of you will be editors as well. Each team member will decide on a role presented below. After you have researched the major events, your team will decide on what event to create a play for. Next, your group will write a script. Then, your group will write a letter to future students. Afterward, your group will present the letter and play to the International Time Capsule Society. Finally, your group will create a time capsule and place the documents inside. The process includes six activities outlined below.

Roles:

Leader: This person makes sure everyone is on task. He or she keeps track of time and reminds everyone of due dates. This person makes sure everyone is doing their part and encourages everyone. He or she is to help all the others in their task if need be.

Recorder: This person writes the script. The person gathers ideas from the team and works with the team to create a play.

Reporter: This person writes the letter. The person gathers ideas from the team and works with the team to create the letter. Then he or she will read the letter to the International Time Capsule Society. Activity 1: Research Websites for the American Revolution History: Kid Info: [] A time line of major events: [] American Revolution: [] Battles: [] [] [] Taxes on Colonists: Acts [] [] [] [] [] [] [] [] Boston Massacre: [] [] [] [] Boston Tea Party: [] [] [] [] [] [] Sybil Ludington and Paul Revere: [] [|http://www.lindseywilliams.org/index.htm?LAL_Archives/Her_Midnight_Ride_-_Sybil_Ludington.htm~mainFrame] [] [] [] Declaration of Independence: [] [] [] [] Famous Americans and the Declaration of Independence: [] [] [] [] Overview by kids: [] Activity 2: Decisions
 * 1) You and your team will research information on the major events of the American Revolution.
 * 1) Decide on an event to create a play for.
 * 2) Ask yourself:
 * Does this represent a major event that helped the colonists gain freedom?
 * Is this event something that I can relate to?
 * Did the event lead to a freedom we have now?

Activity 3: Script for play · [] · []
 * 1) Review how to write a play using the following website:
 * 1) Create a play that accurately shows the historical event
 * 2) Edit play using group Wiki

Activity 4: Write a Letter and gather pictures · Introduction: describe who you are writing to and for what purpose · Body- three parts. The first section describes the historical event. The second section describes its impact on your group today. The third paragraph explains how your group expects those rights to still be exercised in the future · Conclusion: wrap up your thoughts. In a different way, retell the reader your important points.
 * 1) You and your team will write a letter that must have an introduction, body, and conclusion.
 * 1) Gather pictures to support your letter. Your pictures should show how the freedoms gained from the American Revolution are evident in our society. The pictures must be from non-fiction resources such as books, articles, or newspapers. You may include copies.
 * 2) Edit letter using group Wiki

Activity 5: Presentation
 * 1) You will present letter and play to the International Time Capsule Society

Activity 6: Time Capsule 1. Once approved, you will create a Time Capsule and put contents in it. 2. Information on Time Capsules: []

Hi Veronica

This is a great learner activity involving subject matter that is often hard for students to get as it happened so long ago. I have some questions:

Will students be writing these letters as a group or individually? Will examples of these freedoms be available to students?

I have a suggestion for the play. Instead of students creating a play that demonstrates what the forefathers went through to gain the freedoms we have now, how about incorporating the letter they are writing into the play. Maybe each student in the group can pick one important fact about the American Revolution to focus on. While that student is explaining the fact, the other group members can act it out for the class. For example, a student chooses the fact about the signing of the declaration of independence. While that student speaks about this, the other group members actually act out Ben Franklin signing the declaration. At the end of the exercise, students can submit reflections on how the facts given during the play had an impact on them (or what they learned) and what they imagine America to be like in future.

Just an idea. Great job!!

Veronica, I too think that your learning activity is very interesting for students, it is a great way to capture the attention of students towards history, which to many students may be boring or over looked. History is not a easy topic to get through students, so this activity becomes a motivating way to make them learn. A play seems like a interesting way to see what the students have learned based on their research gathered, but i too think that actually presenting "WHAT" happened in the American revolution is more benefical then the experiecnes. The letter will be very interesting to see what the students think will happen in the year 2019 and to see how they explain how it effect them now. I actually would be interested to see their responses in the letters!

I think that this acticity is very motivating, the results would be very rewarding to the students and a great eye opener to things that they would have over looked if just having to read it in a text book. Students learn better when they have an interesting task at hand!

Rachele