Colonial Voices: Hear them Speak

Virginia Readers Choice List 2011-2012
Children's Book Award List 2010-2011  
Children's Crown Award 2010-2011
The Charlotte Award 2010
Keystone to Reading Book Award List 2009-2010
Delaware Diamond Book Award List 2009-2010
Nominated for the Cybils Award (2008)

Author: Kay Winters

Illustrator: Larry Day

Publisher: Dutton Children's Books, copy write 2008
Page Count: 40

Lexile Level: 640L

Overview: 

"It's December 16, 1773, and Boston is about to explode! King George has decided to tax the colonists? tea. The Patriots have had enough. Ethan, the printer's errand boy, is running through town to deliver a message about an important meeting. As he stops along his route? at the bakery, the schoolhouse, the tavern, and more-readers learn about the occupations of colonial workers and their differing opinions about living under Britain's rule. This fascinating book is like a field trip to a living history village."--Barnes and Noble 

Suggested Delivery: Individual Reading

Words or Phrases to Describe the Book:

1. Historical

2. Alternate Viewpoints

3. Challenges 

4. Finding One's Place

5. Making a Difference 

Electronic Resources:

1. Picture Gallery 

http://www.boston-tea-party.org/pictures/picture1.html
This website has links to slideshows of various pictures of the Boston Tea Party, as well as timelines and other resources to help explain the events of the Tea Party.

2. Interactive Activity

http://havefunwithhistory.com/activities/btp.html

Students can follow the instructions on this interactive site and explore the events leading up to the Boston Tea Party, and the feelings of those living in the area at the time. 

Key Vocabulary: 

1. Servants

2. Parliament

3. Liberty

4. Apprentice 

5. Patriots

6. Ancestors 

7. Loyalist

Reading Strategies:

Before:  In order to understand this book, students will need to know some of the history and vocabulary of the Boston Tea Party.  The interactive site above can help students learn the difference between the Loyalists and the Patriots, as well as the some of the common terminology.  

During: Each page of this book is a new character.  After each page, students should write down the character, their occupation, and their stance on the tea tax issue in order to assist in remembering all the differing viewpoints.  

After: Using the book as a reference, students should wrote their own definitions for each of the vocab words listed.  They will be able to use the knowledge and understanding they have gained through reading the book and exploring the interactive activity from above.    

Writing Activity:  On the last few pages of the book, there are historical notes which further explain the occupation of each character in the book.  Students should choose one Loyalist character, and one Patriot character, and write a paragraph about each of their views and how they act on these views.  

Resources:

Barnes and Noble, . (n.d.). In Colonial voices: hear them speak. Retrieved September 6, 2012, from http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/colonial-voices-kay-winters/1111303862

Scholastic, . (n.d.). In Colonial voices: hear them speak. Retrieved September 6, 2012, from http://www.scholastic.com/teachers/book/colonial-voices

Winters, K. (n.d.). In The magic of story. Retrieved September 6, 2012, from http://www.kaywinters.com/Colonial%20Voices.htm

Winters, K., & Day, L. (2008). Colonial voices: hear them speak. New York: Dutton Children's Books.