This 8-week unit focuses on revolutionaries from America's past. Students will read historical fiction, poetry, speeches, and informational texts about the American Revolution. They will analyze first- and third-person narratives, compare and contrast points of view, and discuss works by authors like Emerson, Henry, Truth, and Fritz. After learning about revolutionary figures, students will write their own speeches taking a position on a current event. The unit aims to help students understand history and see different perspectives to learn lessons that can apply today.

1. Isaac School District No.5
ELAS Thematic Unit Overview Grade 4 – Unit 4
2012-2013
Unit 4: Revolutionaries from the Past
DURATION: Eight Weeks
Students read historical fiction and poetry from America’s past, including works from the time of the American Revolution.
While reading about America’s past, not only do students highlight key information and supporting details about people and events in
order to get a sense of chronology, but they spend time comparing and contrasting first- and third-person narratives. Students will read
and discuss poetry, such as “Concord Hymn” by Ralph Waldo Emerson, and read speeches by revolutionaries including Patrick Henry
and Sojourner Truth. Students read informational texts and study author Jean Fritz, who wrote books about the American Revolution,
such as Can’t You Make Them Behave, King George? After learning about revolutionary people of the past, students write their own
speeches outlining their opinion on a current event, possibly taking a “revolutionary” position. This unit ends with a class discussion and
essay responses to the essential questions.
Essential Questions: Vocabulary:
What life lessons can we learn from revolutionaries in fiction audience point of view
and nonfiction? autobiography primary source
biography secondary source
When might an author decide to use one point of view over first-person point of view third-person point of view
another? informational text structure writing style
major characters speech
Essential Learning: minor character
Learning history helps us understand present times.
Seeing history through different points of view assist us in
understanding at a deeper level.
Distributed Resources Aligned to Unit 4:
A Ride Into Morning: The Story of Tempe Wick (Rinaldi) Why Don’t You Get A Horse, Sam Adams? (Fritz & Hyman)
And Then What Happened, Paul Revere? (Fritz & Tomes) Paul Revere (Sullivan)
Can’t You Make Them Behave, King George? (Fritz & Tomes)
Underlined vocabulary indicates a Tier II word. 1

2. Underlined vocabulary indicates a Tier II word. 2