Teaching Village Life: Bibliography and Links

Teaching Village Life: Bibliography and Links

Bibliography

Background History Books

Jan Albers, Hands on the Land (2002)
Rebecca Brown, Editor, Where the Great River Rises (2009)

Richard Ewald, Proud to Live Here: In the Connecticut River Valley of Vermont and New Hampshire (2003)

David Foster, New England Forests through Time (2000) See also the online link

Children’s Books:

·       Charlie Needs a Cloak by Tomie dePaola

·       The Ox-Cart Man, by Donald Hall

·       Lyddie; Jip: His Story, by Katherine Paterson

Links

Background Information

Freedom and Unity
This exhibit provides good contextual information.

Landscape History of Central New England
This is the website for the book New England Forests Through Time

The Debit Economyof 1830s New England

Vermont History Explorer: Maps

Vermont History Explorer: Geography

New Hampshire History Slideshows

Maps

Old Maps
Here is where you can find copies of old maps such as the Beers Atlas maps

Village Quest

This standards-based unit is a series of eight lessons, whereby a class uses historical maps, field trips, primary and secondary resources, and interviews with community elders to create a Quest capturing "hidden stories" in their town. Suitable for 4th - 8th grade

Primary Sources

The Diaries of Sally and Pamela Brown1832-1838, ed. Blanche Bryant andGertrude Baker (Springfield, Vt.: The William L. Bryant Foundation, 1970).

Letters of Mary Paul, aVermont mill girl in Lowell

A Woman in the South

Brokenburn: The Journal of Kate Stone provides a fascinating picture of a wealthy young girl growing up on a large plantation in Louisiana and grappling with the coming of the Civil War and ensuing invasion.

Kate was nearly 20 years old when the Civil War began and lived on a plantation with 150 slaves. As the Yankees approached, Kate and her family escaped in a canoe and become refugees in Texas. Many themes come up in this journal-- slavery, plantation life, women's roles, civilian life during war, the deprivations of war, and southern attitudes toward the North.

The Civil War through the eyes of civilians, women, and southerners are critical perspectives when studying the conflict. Brokenburn provides all three.

We used Brokenburn in book group by pairing specific passages with relevant primary sources and then sharing the material through reader's theater. The resulting performances were poignant glimpses into the Civil War.

Phillis Wheatley

What would your students say if asked to list what they knew about slavery? Typical answers might include:

*Slavery was in the South.

*They were not paid.

*Black people were enslaved.

*People were sold.

*Slavery was the cause of the Civil War.

*There is no slavery today.

*The Middle Passage was horrific.

If you were to then hand them this image of Phillis Wheatley, what might they observe?

*She’s writing a letter.

*She’s well dressed.

*She’s black.

*There is a book and a quill pen on the table.

*She’s not working, she looks to be in repose.

*She has the same name as the person to whom she is a servant

*She lives in Boston/the North.

Born in West Africa and purchased by the Boston Wheatley family, Phillis Wheatley complicates our ideas of slavery and of the American Revolution. Her book of poetry, Poems on Various Subjects, Religious and Moral and published in 1773, was the first book of poetry published by an African-American. Phillis was eventually freed by her owner. She continued writing and even corresponded with George Washington. Read more about her life at the Massachusetts Historical Society.

Her story has been told in picture book format, A Voice of Her Own, and in a YA novel, Hang a Thousand Trees with Ribbons. The Old South Meeting House has published a teacher's guide as well.

Flow of History is reading Laurie Halse Anderson's YA novel Chains which tells the story of young Isabel, another enslaved girl at the time of the American Revolution. In Chains, the author begins each chapter with a quote from a primary source. One of the first quotes is from Phillis Wheatley's poem, "To the Right Honourable William, Earl of Dartmouth"

I, young in life, by seeming cruel fate

Was snatch'd from Afric's fancyied happy seat: ...

...That from a father seiz'd his babe belov'd:

Such, such my case. And can I then but pray

Others may neve feel tyrannic sway?

How might Isabel have identified with Phillis? Phillis's portrait gives some clues and offers an accessible primary source for readers of Chains.

“This Mighty Scourge”: Teaching the Civil War as a Focal Point in American History.

For 2011 - 2012, Flow of History will be examining issues central to our Nation's history, beginning with the American Revolution and continuing through to the end of the Civil War. We'll be featuring young adult historical fiction, memoirs, a stunning book of Civil War photographs, contextual articles, and a graphic novel. Reading strategy tools and primary source inquiry will also be shared as we continue to deepen our understandings of how to bring history to students in meaningful ways.

Here are the books we're reading:

Robert Penn Warren, The Legacy of the Civil War In this elegant book, the Pulitzer Prize-winning writer explores the manifold ways in which the Civil War changed the United States forever. He confronts its costs, not only human (six hundred thousand men killed) and economic (beyond reckoning) but social and psychological.

Laurie Halse Anderson, Chains

Set in New York City at the beginning of the American Revolution, Chains addresses the price of freedom both for a nation and for individuals. Isabel tells the story of her life as a slave caught between Loyalists and Patriots. YA Fiction Accompanying picture book: Emily McCully, The Escape of Oney Judge

Gettysburg: The Graphic Novel

Starting with Civil War battle scenes that showcase the fury of battle with a terrifying immediacy and moving through to Lincoln’s address itself, first-time author/illustrator Butzer brings home the sentiment behind the history-making cemetery dedication with a substance and reality that is both necessary and very timely. Combining words from actual letters of the time with accessible and expressive art, he introduces young readers to the idea that they may owe something to those who sacrificed all they had for democracy. YA

Brokenburn: The Journal of Kate Stone

Kate Stone was twenty years old when the Civil War began. At that time, she was living with her widowed mother, five brothers and younger sister in northeastern Louisiana at her family home Brokenburn, a large cotton plantation of 1,260 acres and 150 slaves. During the war Kate and her family lost everything, watched as their way of life was destroyed and left their home to become fugitives to escape the Union Army they feared would harm them. Kate kept a diary from 1861 through 1868, in which she recorded her daily experiences.

The Book Pass as a Reading Tool

The Book Pass is a structured way to look at a collection of books in a limited amount of time as a way to evaluate literature. Set up stations with four seats each. At each station, place one set of books related to a book group theme. Hand out the Book Pass Review sheet. Have everyone sit down and grab a book. Browse the book for 2 minutes. Then in the next 30 seconds fill out the review sheet so you remember which book(s) you liked and why. Then pass your book to the left and repeat. This can be used as a pre-reading activity to help students choose a book for literature circle or reading.

Adapted from: Harvey Daniels & Nancy Steineke, ed., Mini-Lessons for Literature Circles (2004)

Exploration & Discovery
Jean Fritz, The Lost Colony of Roanoke (2004)
Melody Herr, Exploring the New World: An Interactive History Adventure (2008)
Karen Lange, 1607: A New Look at Jamestown (2007)
Betsy and Giulio Maestro, Exploration and Conquest: The Americas after Columbus (1994)
Scott O’Dell, The King’s Fifth (1966)
Jane Yolen, Encounter (1992)
Jane Yolen and Heidi Elisabet Yolen Stemple, Roanoke: The Lost Colony (2003)

Changes in the Land
Virginia Lee Burton, The Little House (1942)
Lynne Cherry, A River Ran Wild
David Foster, New England Forests Through Time (2000)
Richard Michelson, Tuttle’s Red Barn: The Story of America’s Oldest Family Farm (2007)

Slavery in the North
Laurie Halse Anderson, Chains (2008)
Kathryn Lasky, A Voice of Her Own: The Story of Phillis Wheatley, Slave Poet
Ann Rinaldi, Hang a Thousand Trees with Ribbons, 1996
Patricia Wall, Child Out of Place: A Story of New England (2004)

Lewis & Clark
Joseph Bruchac, Sacajawea (2000)
Alvin Josephy, Jr., ed., Lewis and Clark through Indian Eyes (2006)
Rosalyn Schanzer, How we Crossed the West: The Adventures of Lewis & Clark (1997)
Virginia Driving Hawk Sneve, Bad River Boys: A Meeting of the Lakota Sioux with Lewis and Clark

Book Pass Review Sheet

Title:

Author:

Relates to: __Exploration ­__Changes in the Land __Slavery in the North __ Lewis and Clark __ General Historical Thinking

Genre _____ Fiction _____Non Fiction ____Biography

_____ Picture Book _____ Chapter Book with Pictures _____Unillustrated Chapter Book

Reading Level ____Above Grade Level ____At Grade Level ____Below Grade Level ____Good Read Aloud

Illustrations ____None ____Historically Accurate _____ Good for Visual Thinking Strategies

Historical Accuracy _____ Endnotes and Bibliography Provided ______Stereotypes Avoided

Comments:

Teaching Early Settlement Bibliography

Background History Books

Jan Albers, Hands on the Land (2002)

Rebecca Brown, Editor, Where the Great River Rises (2009)

Frank Bryan, Real Democracy: The New England Town Meeting and How it Works (2004)

Susan Clark & Frank Bryan, All Those in Favor: Rediscovering the Secrets of Town Meeting and Community (2005)

Colin Calloway, The Western Abenaki of Vermont, 1600 - 1800 (1994)

David Foster, New England Forests through Time (2000)

Benjamin Hall, History of Eastern Vermont (1857)

Jere Daniell, Colonial New Hampshire: A History (1981)

Michael Caduto, A Time Before New Hampshire (2003)

Picture Books

Diana Appelbaum, Giants in the Land (1993)

Jesse Bruchac, Mosbas and the Magic Flute

Marge Bruchac, Malian’s Song (1996)

Lynne Cherry, A River Ran Wild (1952)

Alice Dalgliesh, Courage of Sarah Noble (1954)

Michael Hahn, Ann Story (1996)

Natalie Kinsey-Warnock, The Bear that Heard Crying (1997)

Chapter Books

Joseph Bruchac, The Winter People (2004)

Susannah Speare, Calico Captive (2001)

Books on Historical Inquiry and Teaching with Primary Sources

Joan Brodsky Schur, Eyewitness to the Past (2007)

Perspectives ’76 (1976)

Bibliography on Abenaki History and Culture

Teacher Resources

Abenaki in Vermont: A History Kit for Students and Their Teachers, Sarah Rooker, ed, (Vermont Historical Society, 1988). Artifact kit and Teachers Guide, available through the Vermont Historical Society.

The Abenaki of Vermont: A Living Culture: Teacher’s Guide, Gregory Sharrow. ed. (Vermont Folklife Center, 2002). Designed to accompany the Vermont Folklife Center’s video of the same title, the book is a valuable tool for teachers. The Abenaki of Vermont: A Living Culture

1609: Quadricentennial Curriculum (Lake Champlain Maritime Museum). An up-to-date curriculum for Vermont schools, with a good focus on the Native American experience. Good for all grade levels.
Champlain: The Lake Between (Vermont Public Television, 2009). This video about the history of the lake region from Champlain’s visit through the French and Indian War features Abenakis and Iroquois. The accompanying curriculum guide has good content and lessons.

History

Calloway, Colin G., The Abenaki (Chelsea House, 1989). Calloway is the premier non-native scholar of the Abenaki. This is a good first book for grades 4-8, and a resource for 9-12 and teachers. For a more comprehensive history, read Calloway’s The Western Abenakis of Vermont, 1600-1800 (University of Oklahoma Press, 1990).

———, ed., North Country Captives (University Press of New England, 1992). These captivity narratives are interesting primary sources that reveal much about the Abenaki during the eras of contact and early European settlement.

Cherry, Lynne. A River Ran Wild (Harcourt, Brace, 1992). This excellent picture book portrays the historical evolution of the Nashua River from Native American use up to present-day clean-up; timeline included.

Gallagher, Nancy, Breeding Better Vermonters: The Eugenics Project in the Green Mountain State (University Press of New England, 1999). The stunning story of the eugenics movement in Vermont from the 1920s to 1940s reveals the ways that Abenaki people were targeted for persecution and sterilization. It’s critical to understanding recent Abenaki history.

Haviland, William, and Marjory Power, The Original Vermonters (University Press of New England, 1994). This is the standard anthropological/archaeological work on the Western Abenaki area; makes a strong case for the presence and persistence of the people. It’s a good resource for upper grade teachers and could be used with high school students.

Wiseman, Frederick M., The Voice of the Dawn, an Autohistory of the Abenaki Nation (University Press of New England, 2001). Designed as a resource book for teachers (middle school and up) and professionals, this book combines personal experience and philosophy with historical data, and discusses the important political events of the 1990s.

Stories and Tales

Bruchac, Jesse, Mosbas and the Magic Flute (Bowman Books, 2010). This wonderful book includes an Abenaki dictionary and pronunciation guide along with a great story.

Bruchac, Joseph, The Wind Eagle (Bowman Books, 1985); The Faithful Hunter (1988). Excellent collections of Abenaki stories.

Joseph Bruchac has written several young adult novels about Abenaki history and experience, covering various time periods. Ones especially recommended by teachers include The Winter People (Puffin, 2002), about Rogers’ Raid of 1759; The Arrow Over the Door (Puffin, 2002), which takes place during the American Revolution; and Hidden Roots (Scholastic, 2004), about a teenage boy who struggles with his Abenaki identity as his family copes with the aftermath of the eugenics project in Vermont.

Bruchac, Marge, Malian’s Song (Vermont Folklife Center, 2005). Based on oral history, this wonderful picture book tells the Abenaki side of the story of Rogers Raid, which destroyed the village of Odanak in 1759, during the French and Indian/Seven Years War.

Caduto, Michael, and Joseph Bruchac, Keepers of the Earth (1988). Native American stories with environmental lessons; contains Abenaki stories as well as those of other tribes. Excellent resource for teachers wishing to integrate science, literature, and social studies.

Speare, Elizabeth George, Calico Captive (Sandpiper, 2001). A well-regarded young adult novel inspired by Susannah Johnson’s famous narrative about her capture at Fort Number Four in 1754 and subsequent three years living with the Abenaki.

Online Resources

Flow of History: The Gathering and Interactions of Peoples, Cultures, and Ideas
This section of the website includes background essays and timelines focused on early settlement in the Connecticut River Valley.

Freedom and Unity
This exhibit provides good contextual information.

Native Americans of New Hampshire (New Hampshire Historical Society)
Information, lesson plans, and activities inform students about life among the Woodland Indians who lived in this area and prepare them for the museum traveling program On the Abenaki Trail.