In April 1775, British soldiers marched toward the towns of Lexington and Concord. A rider named Paul Revere galloped through the night to warn the colonists: "The British are coming!"
Shots rang out at Lexington, and the Revolutionary War began. Colonial farmers and shopkeepers picked up their muskets and became soldiers. They were called patriots.
The war was long and hard — it lasted eight years. The patriots' leader was General George Washington. His army was often cold, tired, and hungry, but they never gave up. In 1783, America finally won its independence. The colonies became a new, free country: the United States of America!
1. Who rode through the night to warn the colonists?
2. What were the colonial fighters called?
3. Who was the leader of the patriot army?
4. What happened in 1783?
You need: paper, a pencil, and a family member.
Paul Revere used signals and speed to warn the colonists. Now it is your turn to be a messenger!
1. Write a short secret message, like: "Meet me in the kitchen at 3 o'clock!"
2. Make up a simple code — for example, draw one star for YES, two stars for NO, or replace each letter with a number (A=1, B=2...).
3. Write your message in your code and deliver it fast to a family member.
4. Help them crack the code. Did your message get through?
Legend says lanterns in a church tower signaled the British army's path: one if by land, two if by sea. Circle or write how many lanterns for each.
| The British are coming by... | How many lanterns? |
|---|---|
| Marching on roads (land) | |
| Sailing on boats (sea) |
Draw Paul Revere on his horse, riding through the night. Add the moon, houses, and the church tower with lanterns.
1. rode to warn the colonists.
2. Colonial fighters were called .
3. General George led the patriot army.
4. The war lasted long years.
5. America won its independence in .
6. The new country was called the of America.
Write T for true or F for false in each circle.
| I learned... | Circle one |
|---|---|
| How the Revolutionary War began | YES / NOT YET |
| Who Paul Revere and George Washington were | YES / NOT YET |
| I sent a secret message like a messenger | YES / NOT YET |