The Road to Independence: Virginia 1763-1783 Part 15

How do wills reflect the status of humans in a household. e.g. How were males, females, indentured servants, and slaves treated in wills?

Photos and slides of restored rooms can be compared with selected inventories. e.g. Are restorations in agreement with the written records?

... Students could a.s.sume a role and write a seven-day diary describing a week in each season.

... Write lyrics portraying the spirit and events of the times and put the lyrics to music using a melody of the period.

... Using primary sources, have students research information on various accounts of what happened at Lexington. The research may include:

An account of a member of the British force

Report of the captain of the Lexington Minutemen

Letter(s) of the British expedition leaders

... Have student research information on Indian tribes, their location, and their impact of life in Virginia.

... Select a date between the period 1763-1783, and have students find out the following about their town, city, or county.

What was the town, city, or county like then?

Where did the first settlers of your town come from?

What are the most famous streets in town? Who are those named for?

What, if any, battles were fought in or near your town?

What is the town's most famous landmark?

... Prepare a cross word puzzle using such words as:

liberty justice freedom equality democracy representative independence unalienable

... Research styles of dress worn during the period 1763-1783. Contrast functions of dress, costumes, and the like with today's living and style of dress.

... Have the students prepare a research paper of changes in the culture of the country then and now and their impact on families and individuals.

... Have students develop a colonial Almanac to include such items as information about the tides, the weather, changes of the moon, anniversaries of historical events, recipes, folk tales, jokes, health hints, and advice in the form of proverbs. (A review of the most popular Almanac of this time, Poor Richard's Almanac, may a.s.sist students with this project.)

... Students may prepare a film depicting an historical event which occurred in or near the town, city, or county in which they live.

... Have students construct a painting depicting a famous scene or event of the Revolutionary period.

... Students may collect artifacts of the period for display and discussion of colonial life styles.

... Have students develop an architectural blueprint for restoring an 18th Century home, including grounds of the gentry, planter, or frontiersman.

... Research the role of black churches in Virginia between 1763-1783.

This should be followed by cla.s.sroom discussion.

... Research the role of contributions of the "common" man in the making of Colonial America.

Students may choose to review the roles and contributions of such groups as the farmer, shopkeeper, cabinet maker, and others.

Have students identify the contributions of other social groups in the making of Colonial America.

... Compare the customs and mores of blacks in Virginia from 1763 through 1783 and 1953 through 1973.

... Construct a bulletin board listing the colonies vertically and significant events under specific years horizontally.