Overview of the activities
Read the directions and make use of the resources this LaunchPad is linked to to gain a better understanding and appreciation of Wood's painting.
In order to complete the assignments, you will also need the following resources:
ALSO: Use this interactive image of the Grant Wood painting as an assessment tool
to reinforce your knowledge of both the painting and the Longfellow poem.
- What words came to mind when you first see it?
- What does it remind you of?
2. Read primary source accounts
Read primary source accounts from the April 1775 evening. You and your classmates should be in small groups to read an eyewitness account. Each student group will become "expert" in one eyewitness's testimony. Once all students have read one witness's account, you should "jigsaw" to hear other accounts. These jigsaw groups include an "expert" for each primary account.
The historical witnesses handouts (PDF files) from the NPS Minuteman resources:
- How do these accounts differ from each other?
- How are the accounts similar?
3. Write a synthesis
Synthesize what you have learned by creating first person accounts of the night in April 1775. You should complete all three journals on Worksheet 3 so that you have a rounded picture of the three perspectives presented.
Complete the "Historical Facts/Fiction" worksheet
