When I was in middle school I visited Boston. We walked the Liberty Trail, and visited Paul Revere’s house, and I specifically remember buying a copy of the William Wadsworth Longfellow poem, The Midnight Ride of Paul Revere. I think that was when my fascination with him started. So, when I was challenged to create a mini unit study for a January birthday, and I saw Paul Revere, I knew that was my choice. He fits right into our history lessons, especially our US history and the giant American Revolution Unit.
Paul Revere Unit resources
{these are affiliate links to some of my favorite resources}
- And Then What Happened, Paul Revere? – If you ever get a chance to read a Jean Fritz novel (they’re written about on a 3/4 grade level), go for it. They’re an entertaining look into US history.
- Paul Revere’s Ride– This is a beautifully illustrated version of the Henry Wadsworth Longfellow poem. Well worth getting if you can find a copy.
- Paul Revere and the Bell Ringers– Short early reader about Paul Revere
- A Picture Book of Paul Revere– It’s a David Adler biography, need I say more? David Adler is awesome
- Liberty’s Kids – The Complete Series– I’ve raved about this TV series a lot. The episode covering Paul Revere does a good job of giving all sides of the story, including the other man who rode with him.
- Paul Revere wikipedia– I always think it’s a good idea for older kids to start looking at some of the encyclopedia like sources of our time, and work on using those to get more information. My kids aren’t quite to that time, but they’re getting close.
Paul Revere Unit: his personal life
Paul Revere was the third child out of 12. His father was a French Huguenot (basically French protestant) and fled France because of religious persecution. Paul left school at 13 to apprentice to his father, a silversmith. Paul Revere’s father died, and Paul was not of age to take the silver shop in his own name, so he joined the army to fight in the French and Indian War. A year later he came home, got married, and opened the shop in his own right. During that time he became close friends with several people who disagreed with the crown and started to work against England. His first wife died in 1773 and he remarried a short time later to Rachel Revere and had 8 children with her.
Fun activity: look at the Paul Revere House to see pictures of where he lived
Paul Revere Unit: the Boston Tea Party
Paul Revere was one of the Sons of Liberty who organized the Boston Tea Party rebellion.
Things to study:
- For early elementary- try brewing tea, if the tea was dumped into the cold Boston harbor would it become a giant cup of tea? What does tea taste like made in salt water? Is it good to drink?
- For elementary- Many participants in the Boston Tea Party disguised themselves as Native Americans to confuse what was going on. If you were to participate in something now, how might you disguise yourself?
- For older kids (late elementary and junior high)- Who were the Sons of Liberty? Could anyone join it?
- Watch the first Liberty Kids episode about the Boston Tea Party, talk about the different sides. What repercussions might happen because of these events?
- For older kids (junior high and high school)- What were the repercussions of the Boston Tea Party? What was the colonists response to the consequences?
- Look at the picture of Paul Revere, what can you notice about him? What is the picture trying to tell you about him?
Paul Revere Unit: Boston Massacre
On March 5, 1770 British troops fired on a group of protesters in Boston. There are two sides to every story, and Paul Revere was a revolutionary, and wanted America broken away from the mother country, so he produced an engraving that enraged the Americans.
Things to observe for elementary
- What colors does he use?
- Do the colonists have weapons?
- What are the expressions on the soldier’s faces? How do the colonists look?
- If you were a colonist how would this make you feel?
Things to observe for junior high and high school
- What are the colonists doing? Are they facing the soldiers or each other? Are they calm or angry?
- How are the soliders firing? Are they firing together or separately? What does it imply if they are firing separately versus together?
- Are all of the colonists the same race? Research Crispus Attucks, who is he, and why is he important?
- What time of day does this engraving imply the events took place? Read more about the events to see if this is accurate?
- What details does Paul Revere add that will help enrage the colonists?
Consider reading this article about the Paul Revere Boston Massacre engraving. Or try making your own engraving.
Paul Revere Unit: The Midnight Ride
Listen my children, and you shall hear of the midnight ride of Paul Revere…..
I LOVE this poem, which is saying a lot because I’m not a big fan of poetry.
Things to look for in this poem beyond just enjoying hearing it read aloud.
- What details does it focus on?
- What details does it leave out? (for more information in an entertaining fashion watch “The Midnight Ride” Liberty Kids episode)
- As you read it out loud what details stand out to you?
Other ideas for Paul Revere’s midnight ride
- He rode from Boston to Lexington, how far is that?
- If you live in the area, try recreating his ride. Or do like we did and recreate it in your house.
- Read Paul Revere’s own words about the ride.
For more great January birthday lessons and ideas head on over to iHomeschool Network.
I love that poem, also, but it has several factual inaccuracies – which could make a good exercise on their own 🙂
I think Paul Revere is one of the most fascinating figures from early US History.
Good point, I forgot to put that in there. Or, I should say, in my head I’d put it in there, and then apparently did not really do that.
Him and George Washington are currently on my list of most fascinating people in US history. Or at least that have stood the test of my learning more and more as an adult. Sad to say, there have been many who did not stand that test.
I knew very little about Paul Revere until I read through your blog post. I love your recommendations adjusted for different ages. I never thought about trying tea brewed in salt water!