Overview with details for guest presentations
This unit's curriculum emphasizes the historical research process utilizing primary documents related to Westchester County, particularly North Salem.
Lesson Plans By Unit
Think Like an Historian: Westchester in the American Revolution
How Do We Know What Happened in the Past?, Lesson 1
Students learn about ways historians gather information about the past and discuss examples of primary and secondary sources. This lesson is the first in a series of lessons designed to lay the groundwork for studying the role of Westchester County in the American Revolution.
Identifying Primary and Secondary Sources, Lesson 2
Students learn how to distinguish between primary and secondary sources in the context of understanding how historians gather information about the past. This lesson is the second in a series of five lessons which lay the groundwork for studying the role of Westchester County in the American Revolution.
Interpreting Clues to Create a Timeline, Lesson 4
Students learn about ordering events chronologically in the context of understanding how historians gather information about the past. This lesson helps lay the foundation for understanding the role of Westchester County in the American Revolution.
Artifact Interpretation, Lesson 3
Laying the foundation for studying the role of Westchester County in the American Revolution, students learn how to glean information from artifacts and about the important role that artifacts can play in conveying information about our lives.
Document Analysis, Lesson 5
A primary document is interpreted and analyzed by students to understand how such documentation is used by historians. This is the final lesson in a unit designed to lay the groundwork for studying the role of Westchester County in the American Revolution.
Visit to St. Paul
A visit to St. Paul's Church in Mount Vernon, New York is used to study the American Revolution. Students prepare for this trip by studying the causes and geography of the Revolutionary War. They follow up with letters to site staff summarizing what they learned and sharing their experiences.