King George, What Was HIS Problem?

King George, What Was HIS Problem?
The Whole Hilarious Story of the American Revolution
by Steve Sheinkin

Before beginning this book with a homeschooling client who is studying the American Revolution, we

recalled the location of the original 13 states (Hello Wood makes a beautiful wooden map of this, which is on my curriculum materials wishlist)

USKids History: Book of the American Revolution
by Howard Egger-Bovet and Marlene Smith-Baranzini

p.14 - "The Colonies, 1775" map
p.15 - "Revolutionary Body Parts" Twister-style game to learn the location of the colonies (map drawn with chalk on a surface outdoors)

read William's House by Ginger Howard

read George Washington by Ingri and Edgar Parin d'Aulaire

One book that I highly recommend for bonus hands-on activities is USKids History: Book of the American Revolution (Brown Paper School) by Howard Egger-Bovet and Marlene Smith-Baranzini. The whole series is wonderful!

Okay, time to hear the story the way Steve Sheinkin tells it! As always, I'll update my notes with other supplementary resource ideas as we go along.

chapter 1: How to Start a Revolution

Step 1: Kick Out the French
French & Indian War: May 28, 1754 – Feb 10, 1763

Step 2: Tax the Colonists

Step 3: Hang the Taxman
Stamp Act: Mar 22, 1765 - Mar 18, 1766

USKids History

• p.13 - "I Have Rights" activity
• p.24 - "Tax and Be Taxed" game
• p.26 - "The Sons of Liberty"
  story about Samuel Adams
• p.27 - "The Stamp Act Congress"
• p.25 - "A Strange Parade"
  story about burning the tax man in effigy

SHEG lesson Stamp Act

Step 4: Try, Try Again
Townshend Acts: Jun 29, 1767 - Apr 12, 1770

Step 5: Refuse to Pay

USKids History
• pp.16-17 - "Casting Cannons in the Shadows"
  story about boycotting English iron
• p.18 - "The Pattern of Independence"
  story & activity about boycotting English fabric
• pp.19-20 - "The Moonlight Shepherd"
  story about smuggling molasses
• p.21 - "The Story of John Robinson and the 'Polly'"
  story about smuggling molasses
• p.22 - "Catch a Tea Smuggler" game
• p.23 - "Mean Captain John Malcolm"

consider making homemade ink such as Fermented Pokeberry Ink

Step 6: Send in the Warships
Boston Garrison: Oct 1, 1768 - Mar 17, 1776

USKids History

• pp.9-12 - "Anger in Boston"
  story about the hard life of the British soldier

Step 7: Fire into a Crowd
Boston Massacre: Mar 5, 1770

USKids History

• pp.28-31 - "The Boston Massacre: A Play" activity

  SHEG lesson Boston Massacre

Step 8: Keep the Tea Tax

Step 9: Throw a Tea Party
Boston Tea Party: Dec 16, 1773

USKids History

• pp.32-33 "Grandfather Peck's Tea Party"
  story about the Boston Tea Party

Step 10: Pay the Fiddler

The Chester Town Tea Party
by Brenda Seabrooke
May 23, 1774

Liberty Teas of Colonial Boston

"American Ballad" song
from Taxation Without Representation - American Revolution, Primary Sources and Songs (FREE on TpT)

"Revolutionary Tea" song
from Trouble Brews in Boston - American Revolution, Primary Sources and Songs (FREE on TpT)

Step 11: Stand Firm

USKids History

• p.34 - "The King Punishes Boston"
• pp.34-35 - "Adams's New Clothes"

Step 12: Make Speeches
First Continental Congress: Sep 5 - Oct 26, 1774

USKids History

• p.35 - "Telling It Like It Is"
• p.35 - "A Tireless Messenger for the Sons of Liberty"
• p.34 - "The First Continental Congress"

analyze < congress > with Structured Word Inquiry
walk + together

Step 13: Let Blows Decide

USKids History

• p.36 - "Paul Revere's Thieves"

The Midday Ride of Paul Revere
Raid on Fort William and Mary: Dec 13, 1774

"Give Me Liberty or Give Me Death!" speech
Patrick Henry: Mar 23, 1775

chapter 2: A Sleepless Night Before Revolution

Orders Are Orders

Don't Open That Envelope
General Thomas Gage: Apr 18, 1775

Everyone's a Spy

USKids History

• pp.36-37 - "Spy Stories"
  story about John Howe
• p.39 - "Doctor Spy"
  story about Benjamin Church
• pp.40-41 - "British Spy: A Board Game"
• p.38 - "A Secret Message"
• p.42 - "Secret Messages" activity & map

Traitor! Decoding Benjamin Church activity

Trapped in Boston

"Two if by Sea"

Across the River

Revere and That Other Guy

The Midnight Intruder

Where Are the British?

On to Concord

Captured!

They Haven't Left Yet?

Beat That Drum, Billy

chapter 3: Who Fired the Shot Heard 'Round the World?

A Glorious Morning?

Gathering Evidence

The First Shot

Three Cheers

Salmon Update

"Grand Music"

Breakfast Time

The Bridge Fight

The Nightmare Begins

Battling Brothers

What Next?

chapter 4: George Washington, Meet Your Army

chapter 5: Declare Independence, Already!

chapter 6: Losing and Retreating in '76

chapter 7: Showdown at Saratoga

chapter 8: Will We Ever Win This War?

chapter 9: The Great Race to Yorktown

chapter 10: What Ever Happened To...?

If you're looking for even more teaching ideas for this book, here are all of my notes from teaching it back in 2020!

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