The Revolutionary War: The Fortunes of War & Winter at Valley Forge: Teacher s Guide

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1 The Revolutionary War: The Fortunes of War & Winter at Valley Forge: Teacher s Guide Grade Level: 6-8 Curriculum Focus: U.S. History Lesson Duration: One class period Program Description Divide and conquer was the strategy of the British. Follow General Burgoyne s relentless march to split New England from Canada to Albany, and rejoin Washington during the brutal winter at Valley Forge, where a German impostor proved to be a godsend. (Video 3 of The Revolutionary War 5-pack.) Onscreen Questions and Activities Segment 1, The Revolutionary War: Fortunes of War Pre-viewing questions: o What do you know about the involvement of European nations in the American Revolution? What countries were involved in the conflict? o As you watch the documentary, take note of what these foreign nations contributed to the American war effort and how their participation altered the course of events. Post-viewing questions: During the American Revolution, the British had the strongest navy in the world. Compare the military strategy of the Americans and the British. How did having a navy create an advantage for the British? How did the Continental army rise to the challenge? Activity: Research the role of Hessian soldiers in the American Revolution. Who were they, where did they come from, and why did they fight on the side of the British? Then work together in groups to prepare a short report. Segment 2, The Revolutionary War: Winter at Valley Forge Pre-viewing questions: o What do you already know about the winter at Valley Forge? o While you watch the documentary, pay attention to the physical and mental condition of General Washington s soldiers before and after the arrival of Friedrich von Steuben. Do you think von Steuben should have been promoted? Post-viewing questions: According to the documentary, only one in ten men deserted at Valley Forge. Discuss the reasons why so many soldiers stayed through the harsh winter. What do you think about Washington s use of harsh punishment during the winter?

2 The Revolutionary War: The Fortunes of War & Winter at Valley Forge: Teacher s Guide 2 Activity: Imagine that you had a family member at Valley Forge during the winter of Assemble a care package to help your relative make it through the winter. Be sure to include only items that existed in Lesson Plan Student Objectives Students will understand: Those who direct and fight wars are real people who make observations and have feelings. The conditions under which the American Revolution was fought from 1777 to July 1778 were very harsh. Materials The Revolutionary War: The Fortunes of War & Winter at Valley Forge video and VCR, or DVD and DVD player Textbooks, trade books, and reference books detailing battles of 1777 and 1778 Computer with Internet access Procedures 1. Help students appreciate the difficulty enlisted men and generals, on either side, faced during the Revolutionary War in keeping track of their experiences. In those pre-electronic and preelectric days, even diaries and writing implements were hard to come by on the war front. Ask students to assume that they are at a battle site or in a camp and somehow have secured paper or parchment and a pen and ink. Their assignment is for each to write a diary entry that tells about the writer s experiences on a significant day of the war during 1777 and up until July To focus this assignment as much as possible, tell students that they must write from the point of view of one of the following men: On the American side: Washington Gates von Steuben On the British side: Howe

3 The Revolutionary War: The Fortunes of War & Winter at Valley Forge: Teacher s Guide 3 Clinton Burgoyne 3. In addition, the writer of each diary entry must begin the entry with a specific date (anytime in 1777 until July 1778) and the name of the place where he or she is composing it. Students should choose one of the following locations: Brooklyn Heights Fort Ticonderoga Germantown Harlem Heights Monmouth Courthouse Philadelphia Princeton Saratoga Trenton Valley Forge White Plains 4. Provide resources about the battles of 1777 and Have students combine what they learned in the video along with their own research to describe the conditions at the campsite they selected. Along with the date and place, each diary entry should clearly state the person s position and the significance of the battle. Explain that the diary entries should include both factual and invented information. Tell students that their entries should include three pieces of verifiable information and three pieces of invented information. Discussion Questions 1. Discuss whether fighting on American soil gave the Americans an advantage over the British. Use examples from the program. 2. Defend or criticize General Burgoyne for his persistence and unwillingness to surrender earlier in the war. 3. Discuss what France could gain or lose by joining forces with the Americans against the British. 4. Compare the physical and mental condition of General Washington's soldiers before and after the arrival of "Baron General" Friedrich Von Steuben. 5. Debate Von Steuben's promotion to Major General despite the fact that he lied about his background and credentials. 6. Analyze the strength of the Franco-American alliance after the battle for Rhode Island.

4 The Revolutionary War: The Fortunes of War & Winter at Valley Forge: Teacher s Guide 4 Assessment Use the following three-point rubric to evaluate students' work during this lesson. 3 points: Student s diary entry includes date and place; three pieces of verifiable information and three pieces of invented information; totally coherent and unified paragraphs; error-free grammar, usage, and mechanics. 2 points: Student s diary entry includes date and place; two pieces of verifiable information and two pieces of invented information; mostly coherent and unified paragraphs; some errors in grammar, usage, and mechanics. 1 point: Student s diary entry includes date and place; lacking at least two pieces of verifiable information and two pieces of invented information; paragraphs lacking coherence and unity; many errors in grammar, usage, and mechanics. Vocabulary alliance Definition: An association to further the common interests of the members. Context: The French government agreed to enter into an alliance with the Americans so long as the war took place against the British. consternation Definition: Amazement or dismay that hinders or throws into confusion. Context: The American army was weak in numbers, dispirited, and with little ammunition. The country was in the deepest consternation. entrenched Definition: Placed in a strong defensive position. Context: Washington entrenched his army at Brandywine Creek across Howe's path of advance to Philadelphia. integrated Definition: Characterized by racial desegregation. Context: By 1778, one in twenty of Washington's soldiers was black. This was the last integrated American army until the Korean War. Academic Standards Mid-continent Research for Education and Learning (McREL) McREL's Content Knowledge: A Compendium of Standards and Benchmarks for K-12 Education addresses 14 content areas. To view the standards and benchmarks, visit

5 The Revolutionary War: The Fortunes of War & Winter at Valley Forge: Teacher s Guide 5 This lesson plan addresses the following national standards: U.S. History Revolution and the New Nation: Understands the causes of the American Revolution, the ideas and interests involved in shaping the revolutionary movement, and reasons for the American victory. U.S. History Revolution and the New Nation: Understands the impact of the American Revolution on politics, economy, and society. Geography Environment and Society: Understands how geography is used to interpret the past. The National Council for the Social Studies (NCSS) The National Council for the Social Studies (NCSS) has developed national standards to provide guidelines for teaching social studies. To view the standards online, go to This lesson plan addresses the following thematic standards: Time, Continuity, and Change Support Materials Develop custom worksheets, educational puzzles, online quizzes, and more with the free teaching tools offered on the Discoveryschool.com Web site. Create and print support materials, or save them to a Custom Classroom account for future use. To learn more, visit