MYSTERY
Historians make claims. In this lesson, students will explore primary and secondary sources to form a claim to the mystery question: "Did women fight in the American Revolutionary War?" Students will be introduced to women like Margaret Corbin and Deborah Sampson who contributed to the war. Students will also learn about Hanah Till, an enslaved pastry chef who traveled with General George Washington during the war and later purchased her freedom.
“As a second and third grade teacher for the entirety of my career I had long taught students history through inquiry. Seeing students explore history in this way has been SUCH a joy! Lightbulb moments galore! A teacher’s dream!...unlike lessons I had taught in the past, I didn’t have to find the primary sources. I didn’t have to research them. I didn’t have to write the lesson plan from scratch. I didn’t have to do anything but read the lesson plan… and teach the lesson!”
“I just used the first lesson in the Mapping Unit. It was so great to get students talking about what they noticed and also expand their thinking on how maps have a special purpose to the user.”
"I love that students got to look at REAL court cases! And it was so easy to use!"
"I liked the simplicity of the handouts. Not too much there to be overwhelming--just enough. Simple, clear directions. The photographs of the clues were great for the students to have."
This Mystery is included in the following Private i History Detectives Unit:
How Did Women Influence the American Revolutionary War?
Other Mysteries in this Unit: