History of Redding > My Brother Sam is Dead > Teaching Aids  
 
   
 

Online, Self-Grading My Brother Sam is Dead Quizzes

Students can take these online quizzes to test their understanding of the topics woven into the novel. If they enter an email address at the beginning of the test, the test results will be sent directly to that address after the test is complete.

Online presentation about Redding Ridge and My Brother Sam is Dead.

Online presentation about Putnam Park and My Brother Sam is Dead

Online presentation about Keeler Tavern and My Brother Sam is Dead

All my presentations for Redding and My Brother Sam is Dead topics.

Download a My Brother Sam is Dead Parent Letter a 5th grade Teacher sends out to parents each year.

Using Historical Fiction in the Classroom. Most students like a good story, a story with excitement, adventure and challenge; if a historical novel is well written, it includes these elements and more. The “more” is historical accuracy in detail and theme, the necessary elements of a meaningful historical exploration through fiction. The conflicts of men and women in history become real to the student because these men and women can be presented in their human dimension. Includes links to online materials!

Places you can visit related to My Brother Sam is Dead. Students, especially Fairfield County students, can see many places in the novel. A driving tour/field trip can be a very educational and fun way to bring the novel to life for students. Read some testimonials from actual students.

Google Map of Redding with information about My Brother Sam is Dead added. This is a map I made to show Redding locations where events in the book take place. I'll be adding photos very soon.

Using Historical Fiction in the Classroom Teaching Programs. This Spring/Summer I will be hosting a number of My Brother Sam is Dead Teaching Programs in Southwestern Connecticut. In these programs I will be providing information about the topics and issues My Brother Sam is Dead explores and how both teachers and students can benefit from its usage in the classroom. CD's containing all my material, maps and photos will be available at these events.

Using Primary Source Materials. Use of primary source documents can enhance student understanding of a historical time period. Primary sources provide windows into the daily lives of individuals living in the past. An analysis of documents can reinforce the themes and content learned from the textbook or in class discussion.

Exploring The Topics in the Novel. This activity is more of a learning exercise with the teacher pointing out the topics in each chapter and then discussing these topics with the students as they are reading the book.

Taking a closer look at the topics My Brother Sam is Dead explores can be very helpful to teachers who wish to present Revolutionary War history in a unique way. (free)

Exploring What's True and What's False in the Novel. The novel My Brother Sam is Dead is historical fiction, the authors have woven a story using topics and situations that occurred during the war to give us a better understanding of the war and its impact on towns, churches, families and individuals. Some information in My Brother Sam is Dead is factual and some is fiction, this activity asks the students to take a closer look at the topics the novel explores and make an attempt to find facts associated with these topics. (free)

Exploring Your Town's Part in the Revolutionary War. This provides the students with a better understanding and appreciation of where they live while teaching them research skills they can use in the future. A complete explaination of this novel study example is found here. (free)

Who Were the Loyalists? Loyalists or Tories are portrayed as villians in many Revolutionary War novels but in reality they were not villians at all. This novel study example provides classrooms discussions and activities that will help students better understand Loyalists and their position in the war. (free)

Exploring Period Vocabulary & Slang. List of words and slang words in use during the Revolutionary War period. (free)

Exploring Conflicting Opinions. This was a key element in the novel My Brother Sam is Dead. By examining examples of conflicting opinions within their own school, social groups, families, etc... students are made aware of how people's opinions can complicate situations. (free)

I will continue to provide free content here at the History of Redding, but for those who wish to have access to all I know, I have created a Dropbox account that has everything I've found and created. All can be downloaded from the Dropbox. Access is $12.99 (see below for deep discount) and that is unlimited access. See the video below or read the Word document for details of what's included.

School Savings- Get All My Brother Sam is Dead Resources & E-books (all of them) use the code REDDINGRIDGE & save $3.00. Just $9.99

Are you a teacher or parent? Email me at bcolley@colleyweb.com subject "MBSD Dropbox" and I will send you a special code that will give you free access if you promote my Dropbox. And, if people use your special code, you will be paid a % of the sale. It's a great win/win.

Video of me showing you what is in the
My Brother Sam is Dead Dropbox Account
and a why I created this resource.

My Dropbook Sign up is hosted by FastSpring.com & linked to my company: Colley Web Services, LLC. Access is $9.99 when you use the code: REDDINGRIDGE

Word Document that explains what is at the Dropbox: My Brother Sam is Dead Dropbox

Photo Examples of the Dropbox:
My Brother Sam is Dead Dropbox

Please feel free to email me with any questions @ bcolley@colleyweb.com.

 

 

Resources Available at the History of Redding Website:

The Complete Guide to My Brother Sam is Dead is now available and in Word Document format to allow teachers to copy and paste the material into their own lesson plans if they wish to. Follow this link: The Complete Guide to My Brother Sam is Dead ($6.00 in Word Format)

Resources Available Online:

 

 

 

Putnam Memorial State Park- This is where Sam Meeker was encamped during the winter of 1778-79. This is the same camp Tim describes when he attempts to free Sam from the stockade.

Keeler Tavern Museum- Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the Keeler Tavern Museum has been a farmhouse, tavern, stagecoach stop, post office, hotel for travelers and a private residence. The Meeker Family Tavern was very similar and thus Keeler Tavern gives a glimpse at the way Tim, Sam, Life and Suzanne lived and worked.

Putnam's Cottage / Knapp's Tavern Museum- Putnam's Cottage is intimately connected to the Revolutionary war, having housed General Putnam and hosted General Washington for lunch. The house has long been associated with General Israel Putnam and his heroic escape from the British during the Revolutionary War. General Putnam was Sam Meeker's General in the novel.

Compo Beach- The British landed on this beach in 1777. From here they marched north through Redding where they halted for several hours before their attack on Danbury Connecticut's military depot. Tim describes their visit in the novel.

 

 

 

 
     
 

 

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Brent M. Colley will answer your questions at bcolley@snet.net.
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This information is provided by Brent M. Colley of the History of Redding web site.
All costs are out-of-pocket so donations and/or sponsorships are essential to continued research and updates.