Let+It+Begin+Here!+HomeDI

=//__Let It Begin Here! __//= =//Lexington & Concord //= =//First Battles of the American Revolution //= =By Dennis Brindell Fradin = =Illustrations by Larry Day =

=Introduction=

We have been studying the start of the American Revolution in our reading and in social studies. The American colonisits were angry about being taxed by the British. The Americans decided to fight for their independence from the British. That meant that farmers and silversmiths and lawyers picked up guns and joined together to create an army or militia. Can you imagine what it would have been like to have your father, brothers, uncles and even grandpas leave to fight the world's toughest army?

Think about what you know about that time period already. Who do you think will be mentioned in this story? Think of one question you hope reading this book will answer for you. Tell a friend the question and ask them what their question is too. Write both questions down in your reading journal. As you read, think about your questions. If they are answered, go back to your journal and write down what you learned.

=Materials=
 * laptop with internet access
 * virtual reading journal
 * reading journal
 * pencils, pens and colored pencils
 * copy of __Let It Begin__!

=Before Reading= Begin by reading and listening to the page called //Who's Who.// This page will help you understand more about the people in this story that were a part of the first battle. This page is similar to your social studies book in that they are packed with names, dates and important events. Be sure to read it like you would read your text book.

media type="file" key="Who's Who.wma"

Click on the following link to take a look at a musical lesson. :-)

media type="youtube" key="p0LmYEjXNIg" width="425" height="350"

Click on the page called Let It Begin ~ Vocabulary and complete the work there.

media type="youtube" key="AhdmDDBjco0" width="425" height="350" =During Reading= Read and listen to the //Introduction.// This will help you to understand what happened just before the first battle. Then continue to read through to page 25.

media type="file" key="Let it Begin Here.wma" Pause to respond to the following questions on our classroom blog. Please title your response "Turning Point".
 * The American militia reach a turning point on pages 24 and 25, when they changed their minds and decided to fight back. What do you think caused them to fight back? What may have happened if they had continued to run away from battles?

Continue reading through to the end of the book. Read and listen to the page titled "What Happened to the People" to find out what happend to the people in the story after the battle.

media type="file" key="What happened to the people.wma"

=After Reading= Please click on the link to add a comment about Let It Begin Here! Remember that this comment will be seen by anyone accessing this site on the internet so make your work clear and correct.

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In your virtual reading journal answer one of the four questions. Be sure to use a minimum of 3 complete sentences for each answer. Print a copy of each answer to hand in to your teacher.
 * 1) How did the author come up with the title of this book? How do you know? Do you think it is a good title? Why or why not?
 * 2) Choose a picture and tell how it helped you to understand what was happening in the story. Be sure to write down the page number of the picture you chose.
 * 3) What is something new that you learned from reading this book?
 * 4) What time period did this story cover? How do you know? Why do you think the author chose to include that information?

=Beyond the Reading= Choose one of the following activities to complete after you have finished the After Reading question.

1. Recreate the map on the first pages placing names, places and events in the appropriate spots. Make it colorful so we can display it in our classroom.

2. Write a letter to the author telling him something you would like to know more about. Go to the site below to get help in how to set up a friendly letter: [] a Friendly Letter

3. Choose a "character" from those listed on page 4 and make up a dialogue between them. Make it interesting...choose a person from the American side and one from the British side.

Enjoy: []

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=Just for Teachers=

Nets for Teachers:
** 1. **** Design and Develop Digital-Age Learning Experiences and Assessments ** Teachers design, develop, and evaluate authentic learning experiences and assessment incorporating contemporary tools and resources to maximize content learning in context and to develop the knowledge, skills, and attitudes identified in the NETS•S. Teachers:


 * design or adapt relevant learning experiences that incorporate digital tools and resources to promote student learning and creativity. ||
 * develop technology-enriched learning environments that enable all students to pursue their individual curiosities and become active participants in setting their own educational goals, managing their own learning, and assessing their own progress. ||
 * customize and personalize learning activities to address students' diverse learning styles, working strategies, and abilities using digital tools and resources. ||
 * provide students with multiple and varied formative and summative assessments aligned with content and technology standards and use resulting data to inform learning and teaching. ||

Nets for Students:
** 6. Technology Operations and Concepts ** Students demonstrate a sound understanding of technology concepts, systems, and operations. Students: ** a. ** understand and use technology systems ** b. ** select and use applications effectively and productively ** c. ** troubleshoot systems and applications ** d. ** transfer current knowledge to learning of new technologies

GLEs:
Vocabulary:

 ** Students identify the meaning of unfamiliar vocabulary by… ** || R—5—2.1 Using strategies to unlock meaning (e.g., knowledge of word structure, including prefixes/suffixes and base words; or context clues; or other resources, such as dictionaries, glossaries; or prior knowledge) (State)
 * ** R–5–2 **

Literary work: R—5—4.3 Generating questions before, during, and after reading to enhance recall__,__ expand understanding and/or gain new informatio__n.__ (Local)

R–5–7.1b Obtaining information from text features (e.g., maps, diagrams, tables, captions, timelines, __citations__) (Local)

Websites:
[|www.youtube.com] [] [] [] a Friendly Letter [|http://www.the-best-childrens-books.org/-let-it-begin-here-lesson-plans-and-teacher-reviews-comment-form.htm]