Free Resources for the Who Was Book Series – Part 2
Our nine-volume Who Was book set giveaway has ended, but you can continue to use the following resources for your studies with the books. Don’t worry if you missed this giveaway! Scroll to the end of this post to see our current giveaway! 🙂
Featured below are three more books that were featured in the original giveaway. Be sure to check out Part 1 and Part 3 for more freebies.
Who Was Betsy Ross?
Reading level and book specifics:
Age Range: 8 – 12 years
Grade Level: 3 – 7
Paperback: 112 pages
Betsy Ross was born Elizabeth Griscom in Philadelphia, PA. According to legend, as a young adult Ross was commisioned by George Washington to design the American flag.
Learn more about Betsy Ross:
Is Betsy Ross the creator of the American flag?
Take a virtual tour of the Betsy Ross House.
Watch a short video of an actress playing the role of Betsy Ross at the Betsy Ross House.
Make your own five-pointed star with one cut!
Learn more about the flag with this catchy History Channel video. A short biography about Betsy Ross is below the video.
The US Embassy has an informative download about the evolution of the flag. The packet also includes pictures of the flags in succession.
Download a free curriculum guide from The Betsy Ross House.
Who Was Paul Revere?
Reading level and book specifics:
Age Range: 8 – 12 years
Grade Level: 3 – 7
Paperback: 112 pages
Paul Revere was a silversmith who is best known for making a dramatic ride on horseback to warn the colonists of an imminent British attack.
Learn more about Paul Revere:
Watch a three-minute video about Paul Revere from The History Channel.
Paul Revere’s most famous engraving was the Bloody Massacre Perpetrated in Kings Street in Boston. It’s considered to be one of the most effective pieces of war propaganda in American history. Learn more about the engraving and how it was used to influence public opinion.
Henry Wadsworth Longfellow’s poem entitled Paul Revere’s Ride was published in the Boston Transcript on December 18, 1860. The Transcript published an incomplete version, and the six lines that were omitted were so important to Longfellow that he petitioned the Atlantic Monthly to publish the complete version. The poem took Revere from obscurity and made him into a national hero. Though Revere’s role in the poem is exaggerated, the premise is historically accurate. You can read the poem along with additional poems commemorating events in US history in the book Poems of American Patriotism, free to read online.
Younger learners can read an interactive version of Longfellow’s poem. Highlighted lines in the interactive poem offer vocabulary help and assistance with understanding historical context.
Read the real story of Paul Revere’s ride.
Compare and contrast two paintings featuring Paul Revere. Study Grant Wood’s The Midnight Ride of Paul Revere along with this fact and activity download from Picturing America. Contrast Wood’s artwork with John Singleton Copley’s oil on canvas of Paul Revere. Picturing America has an information sheet and activities based on Copley’s painting, too!
Who Was Ben Franklin?
Reading level and book specifics:
Age Range: 8 – 12 years
Grade Level: 3 – 7
Paperback: 112 pages
Ben Franklin was an author, publisher, scientist, inventor, diplomat, and a Founding Father of the United States. He founded numerous organizations and institutions, became the first Postmaster General, and helped draft and later signed the Declaration of Independence. In fact, according to history.com, “Franklin is the only founding father to have signed all four of the key documents establishing the U.S.: the Declaration of Independence (1776), the Treaty of Alliance with France (1778), the Treaty of Paris establishing peace with Great Britain (1783) and the U.S. Constitution (1787).”
Learn more about Ben Franklin:
Watch a Liberty’s Kids video about Benjamin Franklin as the first Postmaster General.
Download free lesson plans and activities from PBS.
Find interactive and hands-on activities about Benjamin Franklin here.
Learn more about Franklin’s life and inventions with an interactive timeline.
FREE AMERICAN HISTORY ACTIVITY BOOK: Check out Ben’s Guide to the US Government with Ben Franklin as your tour guide! You can also download their free American history activity guide! (After following the link, click the cover of the activity guide to get to the complete guide.)
Other Activities
Henry Wadsworth Longfellow immortalized Paul Revere with his poem Paul Revere’s Ride. Choose one of the featured historical figures and create your own poem. Use this free printable from Scholastic if you want a pre-made form.
If you missed Part 1 and Part 3 of this series, head over and check out the “Other Activities” section for more ideas to use with your studies!
GIVEAWAY
The “Who Was” book set giveaway has ended. If you missed it, don’t worry! Follow our Facebook page so you’ll know when we post our next giveaway. 🙂