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Exploring
The Topics in the Novel.
Activity:
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 the novel explores can be very
helpful to teachers who wish to present Revolutionary War
history in a unique way.
Each
chapter of the novel has a number of topics which can be used
to improve the students understanding of the novel and
the Revolution. That is what I really love about the novel....it
quietly touches on all the issues that occurred during the
early years of the Revolutionary War.
My
Brother Sam is Dead Chapter I:
The
story begins in April of 1775. Sam Meeker returns home from
college in uniform and full of excitement. "We've beaten the
British in Massachusetts" are the first words out of his mouth.
This comes as a surprise to his father, mother, brother, minister
and other locals in the taproom of the Meeker's tavern; they
are unaware of the rebellion brewing in Boston.
The
topics are vast in the opening of the first chapter:
- you
can discuss the events that lead to the skirmish at Lexington
and Concord
- you
can discuss the history of colleges in America and why they
would be pro-rebellion
- you
can discuss the uniform Sam is wearing, what a militia was,
why an American would be wearing a red uniform
- etc...
In
addition to the topics related to Sam's arrival in Redding.
You have a number of other topics in the first chapter:
- you
can discuss what a tavern was and the importance it had
in colonial times
- you
can discuss why Anglicans would be opposed to a split with
England
- why
Americans who weren't Anglicans would be opposed to a split
with Englands
- you
can discuss muskets...how they worked, how accurate they
were, how they made bullets for them, etc...
My
Brother Sam is Dead Chapter II:
Tim
provides background information about his town, neighborhood
and religion at the onset of chapter two.
Tim:
"Redding was divided into two-parts: Redding Center and Redding
Ridge"
- you
can discuss Redding, Connecticut - where is it and why it
was divided in two parts (Anglicans and Presbyterians).
Read my novel
setting page for ideas.
Tim:
"Church was practically the only time we ever saw some of
the farmers from farther out in the parish - places like Umpawaug.
They wanted to keep up with the news…"
- you
can discuss how information was shared in colonial times
and how these methods led to biased opinions on very important
issues.
- you
can also discuss Religion in colonial times.
Sam:
"This is Tory Country. Father, Mr. Beach, the Lyons, the Couches
- most of them in our church are Tories. And they think it's
the same everywhere, but it isn't."
- you
can discuss how a township could gain a reputation for being
"Tory Country".
- you
can also discuss who Tories or Loyalists were and why they
were opposed to the rebellion, what they endured, etc...
For
more ideas and topics for each chapter please read my Chapter
by Chapter Summary and Analysis of My Brother Sam is Dead.
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:
Resources Available
Online:
- Connecticut
Colonial Records
- Revolutionary
War Research mostly Connecticut information but an excellent
resource
- Connecticut
American Revolution Sites Connecticut Society of the
Sons of the American Revolution (SAR)
- Why
the Revolution Occurred- a very good timeline of events
that led to the colonist revolt, what happenned during it
and how our nation was formed.
- Battles
of the Revolutionary War- Awesome resource showing you
dates, locations and winners and losers.
- Uniforms
of the Revolutionary War
- Revolutionary
War Finances
- Paper
Money and Inflation
- Life
and Death Aboard British Prison Ships
- Names
of Prisoners who died on British Prison Ships
- Washington,
George, 1732-1799. The writings of George Washington
from the original manuscript sources: Volume 13 Electronic
Text Center, University of Virginia Library
- The
Complete General Orders of George Washington October
2, 1778 to 1780
- Religion
and the Revolution The Revolution split some denominations,
notably the Church of England, whose ministers were bound
by oath to support the King, and the Quakers, who were traditionally
pacifists.
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