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Wednesday, March 26, 2008

Revolutionary War and other reading

The kids and I are doing quite a bit of reading about the American Revolutionary War, per Samuel's request. He is particularly interested in the Boston Tea Party, because, as he told me last night, it makes the least sense. He has questions like, "How does throwing the tea in the harbor do anything about the taxes?" So we have been reading and talking quite a bit about the ideas behind the Revolution and about freedom and taxes. We had a fun conversation last night with Samuel comparing the Star Wars movies to the American Revolution- King George and the Emperor, General Cornwallis and Darth Vader, the Rebels and the Colonists/ Patriots. Because as you know, we study Star Wars quite a bit around here, particularly lately- again...

Here is our list so far-
Can't You Make Them Behave, King George by Jean Fritz (a particular favorite!)
Deborah Sampson Goes to War by Bryna Stevens
Aaron and the Green Mountain Boys by Patricia Lee Gauch
Katie's Trunk by Ann Turner
Paul Revere's Ride by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

Still to go-
This Time Tempe Wick by Patricia Lee Gauch
The Story of the Boston Tea Party by R. Conrad Stein

So we have read about Tories and King George and the Patriots and women enlisting and how others helped the fighting soldiers. Samuel is really looking forward to the book about the Boston Tea Party and it was fun to read Longfellow's poem, which is dramatic and beautifully written.

We are reading another book by Dick King-Smith and just finished up Little House in the Big Woods and are waiting for the next in that series from the library. Lots of other reading tidbits going on as well. Samuel is still enjoying his Mars Mission legos and the kids are playing with their Star Wars guys quite a bit and there is also a lot of play with Eva's new playmobil toys, most of which I have not written about yet but intend to soon...

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