Spies Like Us

Learning Resource Type

Learning Activity

Subject Area

Social Studies

Grade(s)

Overview

In this learning activity, students will visit a website to gather information about the contributions of ordinary citizens including Nathan Hale, Daniel Taylor, and James Armistead during the American Revolution. These ordinary citizens were part of a unique group called The Culper Spy Ring, who supported the American Revolution by sending secret messages to George Washington about the British Army's plans. After reading about these men and women who risked their lives during the American Revolution, the students will make "invisible ink" and send their own "revolutionary warnings" to each other.

This alignment is a result of the ALEX Resource Development Summit.

Phase

During/Explore/Explain

Social Studies (2010) Grade(s): 5

SS10.5.8
Identify major events of the American Revolution, including the battles of Lexington and Concord, Bunker Hill, Saratoga, and Yorktown.

Vocabulary

identify
evaluate
contributions
principles
mobilize
Committees of Correspondence
Liberty
boycott
Continental Congress
ordinary citizens
American Revolution
declaration
financier
popular sovereignty
limited government
bicameral
unicameral
Great Compromise
Annapolis Convention

Knowledge

Students know:

The major events of the American Revolution as it relates to the battles and other events.
The principles contained in the Declaration of Independence.
The contributions of significant people and supporters of the American Revolution.
The contributions of African Americans, women, merchants and farmers.
The efforts used to gain support for the American Revolution by the Minutemen, Committees of Correspondence, First Continental Congress, Sons of Liberty, boycotts, and the Second Continental Congress.
The location on a map of major battles during the American Revolution.
The reasons for colonial victory in the American Revolution.
The effect of the Treaty of Paris of 1783 on the development of the United States.

Skills

Students are able to:

Identify, describe, and evaluate events, individuals, and groups important in historic events.
Examine and interpret historic documents. Compare and contrast the contributions of significant people and events.
Identify the contribution ordinary people such as Haym Solomon.
Describe the contributions of Thomas Jefferson, Samuel Adams, Paul Revere, Patrick Henry, Thomas Paine, George Washington, and supporters from other countries to the American Revolution.

Understanding

Students understand that:

Through the events of the American Revolution and the contributions of many people, the United States gained independence from Great Britain.

Learning Objectives

Students will be able to explain the contributions of ordinary citizens, including African Americans and women, to the American Revolution.

Activity Details

The students will visit the American History for Kids website and read about The Culper Spy Ring. The Culper Spy Ring was a small group of men and women organized by Benjamin Tallmadge who gathered information about the British Army's plans and reported that information to George Washington's Army. This was an extremely dangerous job and the group reported their information using "secret messages". One of the most notable members of this group was Nathan Hale. The group used a codebook and wrote their messages in invisible ink, using a secret code cipher, or using a "masked" letter hiding a secret message within the letter. (A transcript of the codebook is attached here for students to use to create their "secret messages" or to observe as a primary source for this learning activity).

Tell the students that today they will make their own "invisible ink" and send "revolutionary warnings" to each other.

Ask the question, "Why would a spy want to use invisible ink?" (To keep the information secret to everyone except the person who is meant to know the information.)

Place students into groups with no more than three students in each group and make sure each group has a plain white piece of paper, a cup of white milk, and a Q-tip. Tell the students to dip one end of the Q-tip in the milk and then write a message on their paper (related to a revolutionary warning). Groups should be sure not to tell any other groups their "secret message". All groups should set their papers aside to dry. Pass out the Spies Like Us Exit Tickets (one per student). Students should complete these while waiting for their messages to dry.

While the milk messages are drying, the teacher can also explain to the students the science behind the invisible message. Explain to the students that a sympathetic ink uses a chemical reaction. A person would write with one chemical and the writing would disappear. By applying a second chemical to the first causes a chemical reaction and the writing would be made visible again. There were several sympathetic ink formulas available during the time of the American Revolution.

Tell the students the "invisible messages" we made today are a little different because instead of using a second chemical, we are going to use heat to cause a chemical reaction to make our writing visible. This is how it works: The acid in the milk weakens the fibers of the paper. When heat is applied to the paper, the weakened fibers turn brown faster than the fibers that are not weakened and the message is visible.

If the milk messages are dry, have each group exchange their milk message with another group. Using a hairdryer, make the message appear.

If time allows, students can share their messages with the class.

Assessment Strategies

The students will be assessed on completion of each group's "invisible message".

The students will also be assessed based on the answers to their exit ticket.

Background / Preparation

The teacher will need a computer with internet access and a projector.

Each group will need:

a small cup of milk

a Q-tip (one for each student)

plain white paper (one for each student)

a hairdryer

Spies Like Us Exit Ticket (one per student)

American History for Kids

https://www.americanhistoryforkids.com/tag/about-culper-spy-ring-facts-for-kids/

Approved Date

2019-06-26

Owner (Author)

mgsaboyd