The Three Branches of The United States Government

For the common core standards for fourth grade, I needed to learn about the three branches of the United States government and understand their major responsibilities.  To do this, my mom found some awesome websites that taught me what I needed to know through songs and games.  I love homeschool!  The links are listed below.

To wrap up what I learned, I created a government tree.  You can see that there are three branches on the tree, for each of the three branches of government.  And the leafy limbs attached to each branch describe the major responsibilities for that branch of government.  You can also see that the Constitution is the root system of the tree, because the Constitution is the root system of our government.

This was a fun project!  I like project learning better than test learning.



Flocabulary video on The 3 Branches of Government:

http://www.flocabulary.com/3-branches-of-government/?_hse=sandlerk%40tas.edu.tw&_hsh=1995c8646c5139f4ba397ca97b47c940&_hsmi=3036864



Games about the 3 Branches of Government and Checks and Balances:

http://www.sheppardsoftware.com/usa_game/government/branches_government.htm

http://www.sheppardsoftware.com/usa_game/government/checks_and_balances.htm

http://www.usmint.gov/Kids/games/branchesOfPower/

Signing Off,
Evalynn and Mom

Savannah, Georgia

My Grandma and Grandpa Woolf, and my Aunt Mallory, came to visit me at the beginning of April.  We took a trip to Disney World, and it was amazing!  Then we spent a couple of days in Savannah, Georgia.  We had a good time walking around, looking at the old buildings, learning about the city, eating at the Pirates' House, and playing at Tybee Island.  Here are some facts and pictures for your enjoyment:

Savannah's history began in 1733, the year General James and 120 passengers of the ship Anne landed at the Savannah shore.

During the American Revolution, the British took Savannah in 1778, and held it into 1782.

Savannah is known as America's first planned city.

Savannah was really worried about the Spanish, who lived in modern day Florida, attacking.

The city was planned and built around square parks. Everyone who lived in a house around the squares were assigned to protect their square in case of an attack.

Savannah's wealth came from cotton.  Many of the world's cotton prices were set on the steps of the Savannah Cotton Exchange.

According to USA Today, Savannah is the fifth most haunted city in the United States.

When I ate at the Pirates' House, this robotic pirate told me many ghost stories and said I should ask my server for more stories.

This was our server, Kim.  She told us a story about ghost children who haunted the restaurant she used to work at.  At Christmas, she put gifts out for them under the tree at night.  In the morning, the packages were open and the gifts strewn everywhere.

The Pirates' House is thought to be the oldest standing building in Savannah, and was built in 1753.

The Pirates' House today is a restaurant that is supposedly haunted by pirate ghosts.

We found this crazy looking pirate at the Pirates' House.

He photo-bombed the family picture.

My mom says the Pirate House has the best fried green tomatoes.

And the biscuits there are out of this world.

Girl Scout founder Juliette Gordon Low was born in Savannah.

In the last 10 years, more than 50 million people came to visit Savannah.

Tybee Island is the easternmost point of Georgia and is unofficially considered Savannah's beach.

My brother and I created our own little beach town at Tybee that we call, EvieOllie.

The Sugar Shack is a nice little ice cream restaurant that has been at Tybee Island for more than 30 years.

 They serve the BEST almond joy ice cream EVER!

I hope you enjoyed learning a little bit about Savannah and my awesome trip.

Signing Off,
Evalynn and Mom

The Old West Visual Dictionary

Yesterday I read this really cool book about the Old West.  I really, really, really liked it.  It had a lot of information and pictures.  My Mom gave me the awesome assignment to make my own Old West visual dictionary.  Here you go:

Native Americans

Native americans used buffalo hides to make their home, blankets, and clothing.

Cattle Ranch

Wild horses were brought to the corral to be broken or to be tamed.

Chuck Wagon

A chuck wagon was like a traveling kitchen which the cowboys used.

Covered Wagon

The pioneers traveled in covered wagons.

Wagon Trail

The treacherous trails the pioneers had to go on.

Prospectors vs. Miners

At first prospectors looked in rivers for gold, but soon many prospectors became miners.

Boomtowns

A boomtown is a community that grows very quickly.

Railroad

Railroads saved a lot of time and lives.  The trains carried goods and people, and there was a first class car, a second class car, and a third class car.

Steam Locomotive

The locomotive pulled the other rail cars. It was at the front of the train.  

Signing Off,

Evalynn and Mom

Caddie Woodlawn

My Mom is making me read all these books about pioneer girls!  Actually, it's sort of fun to learn about what it was like to live in the Wild West through stories.  I am learning that I really like historical fiction.

I just finished this book, Caddie Woodlawn.  It won the Newbery Medal in 1935.  It's about a pioneer girl named Caddie, and her amazing adventures on the Wisconsin frontier in the 1860s.  Caddie is a tom-boy and refuses to become a lady . . . until later in the book.  Her father allows her to be a tom-boy for her good health.  Caddie gets into trouble because she is a prankster.

I REALLY liked this book!  I highly recommend it.

My Mom gave me the assignment to compare Caddie and me.  She listed some character traits of Caddie, and I had to show examples of home Caddie exemplified the traits in the book.  Then I had to write an example of how I exhibit the traits too.  Then I had two bonus questions.  So - without further ado - here it is:

Jealousy

Caddie

Her best friend gave the most expensive Valentine in the store to a girl who never ever talked to him.

Me

Every year on my brothers' birthdays when they get presents that I want.

Generosity

Caddie

There were three little *half-breed boys who lost their mother because their dad was embarrassed of her Indian heritage.  To cheer them up Caddie spent her whole half – dollar on little things they wanted.

*This the word they used in the book to describe that the boys had an Anglo-American father and a Native-American mother.  My Mom has explained to me that we don't actually use this word anymore.

Me

I showed my little brother how to make cleaning fun, and helped him clean up the blocks by putting them on the train to happy-land in the playroom.

Anger

Caddie

She gets whipped by her mother for a trick she and her brothers played on their aunt, and her brothers don't get whipped.  In the morning her father thought it was unfair that she got whipped and had to stay in her room with no supper while the boys got home free, so he whipped them too.  

Me

When my brother Oliver is teasing and provoking me.  Also when Berrett will not leave me alone or be quiet when I am doing home school.  

Kindness

Caddie

Caddie watched Indian John's dog and scalp belt that his father made.  John's dog was hurt in a bear trap and John had to leave for a little bit, so Caddie nursed the dog back to health.  The scalp belt was really old and it could fall apart on the journey, so Caddie kept it safe until John returned.

Me

Babysitting my brothers while my mom gets stuff done or when she is not feeling good.

Daring

Caddie

The town thinks there is going to be an Indian attack.  After waiting for three days, Caddie hears men talking about killing the Indians.  Caddie rides to the Indian camp, where they are not planing an attack, to warn them.

Me

Moving around the world to represent America with my Dad.

Patience

Caddie 

When an Indian attack was rumored, they had to sit in a barn and help the adults until they could go home.

Me

I have to be patient for my birthday and Christmas every year . . . WILL YOU HURRY UP!

Patriotism

Caddie

Her father had a chance to become a lord in England, but he gave his family a chance to vote and Caddie voted to stay in America.

Me

 My Dad is in the Army and I have to move around a lot from America to Germany and then back to America.

Courage

Caddie

With some help from John's dog, Caddie gave everybody a waring about the forest fire that was heading to the school, but somebody else saved the school.

Me

I ran a 5k, and even though I thought I was going to come in last, I believed in myself and did it in 30 something minutes.

Dependability

Caddie

When her brothers and she played a trick on their aunt, she wanted to go back on her promise to the boys, but she did.

Me

My mom can always count on me to get my chores done on the weekends.


Bonus Questions: "How far I've come!" Caddie says at the end of the book.  "I'm the same girl and yet now the same."  What does Caddie mean?  How has she changed and how has she remained the same?  How have you changed and remained the same?

Caddie means that she still has her pros and cons, but she has gained more knowledge.

I changed and remained the same when I moved from Germany.  I learned some life long lessons, like it's hard to say goodbye to friends, but I am still the fun and loving Evalynn I was before.

Signing Off,
Evalynn and Mom

Happy Birthday Abraham Lincoln!

Today is Abraham Lincoln's birthday.  My mom thinks he is possibly the best president of the United States of America.  So today, in honor of his birthday, I read a book about him and watched two documentaries.  Here are ten interesting facts I learned about President Lincoln:

1. Abraham was very little when his mom died from milk fever.
2. Abraham was very close with his stepmom.
3. Abraham taught himself how to read, and most other things.
4. Abraham did not have much education as a kid since he had to work on the farm.
5. Abraham's father rented Abraham out to neighbors, but Abraham had to pay his father all the money until he was 21.  This is why some people say he sympathized with slaves.  In one of his speeches he said he thought it was unfair that a person had to toil all day in the hot sun while another person reaped the profits.
6. The reward for Abraham Lincoln's murderer was $100,000.
7. Abraham was a traveling lawyer before he became a politician.
8. Abraham's face is on both the penny and the five dollar bill.
9. Abraham died at age 56.
10. Abraham was the first president to have a beard.

As part of my assignment today, I was to find three quotes I like from President Lincoln.  Well, I found four:
1. All that I am, or hope to be, I owe to my angel mother.
2. Nearly all men can stand adversity, but if you want to test a man's character, give him power.
3. Better to remain silent and be thought a fool than to speak out and remove all doubt.
4. Most folks are as happy as they make up their mind to be.

Do you have a favorite quote or interesting fact about President Lincoln?

Signing Off,
Evalynn and Mom

100th DAY OF SCHOOL

Friday, January 25, was my 100th day of school!  I got to have a lazy day of reading.  In honor of the milestone, my Mom gave me the assignment to research and write about what life was like 100 years ago, and to use my imagination to write about what I think life will be like 100 years in the future.

Here's what I came up with:


What was it like 100 years ago in 1913?
One hundred years ago, the government only spent $6.9 billion; now it spends $3.8 trillion per year.  I'm sure most of you know about the “unsinkable” Titanic.  Well, in 1912 it hit the iceberg and sank.  In 1913, ragtime music was popular and women wore big hats and fancy dresses.  This was the year Thomas Edison invented the talking picture machine.  In January 1913, a doctor wrote an article for the New York Times instructing people to eat pie every day and steak as often as possible.  The Times also reported that a living baby was delivered to his grandmother by the post office for a fee of 15 cents.


What do you think it will be like 100 years from now in 2113?
One hundred years from now school will be shorter because teachers will not teach.   All you will do is have a hat on your head that inputs the knowledge you need to pass the final test.  You will not travel by land, but will teleport where you need to go.  In the future you will will no longer have to worry about checking your spelling, all you will do is say the words and they will show up on the paper spelled correctly.

One hundred years in the future, you will not have to worry about sleeping in because there will be a robot that will get you ready and will teleport you to school without waking you up. The same robot  will do all of your homework in one minute and will clean the house.  Houses will be in the air, suspended by a long pole.  They will have a nature room that can turn in to any type of landscape and climate.  For example, the room could turn from a shady, cool forest to a warm, sunny beach.

What do you think?

Signing Off,
Evalynn and Mom

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

To remember Dr. Martin Luther King, my Mom and I researched and read his most famous quotes.  We also watched his "I Have a Dream" speech, and a mini-biography about his life.  My Mom chose five of her favorites quotes from him, and I had to write 3-5 sentences about what they mean to me.  Here's what he had to say, and what I have to say about what he had to say:


The time is always right to do what is right.
What Dr. King is saying is that when you see something that needs to be fixed, do it - not tomorrow . . . NOW!   So, if you need to clean, go and get it over with. Speaking of which, have I cleaned my room yet?

Life's most persistent and urgent question is, “What are you doing for others?”
O.K., Dr. King, you got me here . . . but here it goes. You're saying that we always need to think about this to make the world a better place, where everyone is treated right.  That is a pretty good guess, if you ask me.  

Faith is taking the first step even when you don't see the whole staircase.
What Dr. King is saying is that when you do something that takes faith you do not know what is going to happen.  Faith is just a wild roller coaster built for only people who have the courage to use it.  I have a lot of faith, I just do not use it very often.  

Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that.  Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.
Dr. King is saying that if you fight hate with hate, nothing ever happens. So, we should not fight with our fists, but with our souls.  Sounds fun, but I do not think my brothers and I can do that.

In the End, we will remember not the word of our enemies, but the silence of our friends.  
In this quote Dr.King is saying that when someone sees something that they think is unfair but stay silent, it hurts a lot more than the words of our enemies.  So, if you think something is unfair DO NOT  be silent, stand up for what you believe in.  

Do you have a favorite quote from Dr. King?  If you do, will you please leave it in a comment to this post?  Thank you!

Signing Off,
Evalynn and Mom

Sacagawea

Please excuse the scribbles on my drawing above.  Berrett!  More on my hero, Sacagawea:

Facts on Sacagawea

• In 1999, the U.S. Treasury paid tribute to Sacagawea by putting her picture on the golden dollar coin.
• Clark drew plants, trees, and animals, but never once sketched Sacagawea.
• There are a river, two lakes, and four mountain peaks named after Sacagawea.
• Sacagawea means bird woman.
• Sacagawea was born in modern day Idaho.
• Lewis and Clark depended on Sacagawea because she spoke several native american languages and dialects.
• Sacagawea was kidnapped by Hidatsa raiders when she was 11.
• After she was kidnapped, she was sold to a fur trader Toussaint Charbonneau, who later became her husband.
• When Sacagawea went in to labor the baby did not come out for almost 2 and a half days, until an Indian woman gave her some dried rattlesnake to hasten the birth. Ten minutes later, out came her baby boy.
• Sacagawea got to vote at Fort Clatsop. This was important because women did not have voting rights at this time in the world.  
  
  
  Signing Off,
  Evalynn and Mom
  
  
  
  

Walt Disney

I spent January 11 - 14 at Disney World!  And it was SWEET!  My most favorite ride was Mission Everest at Disney's Animal Kingdom.  But more on favorite rides later . . .

Coming back from the most magical place on Earth and having to do a day of school was rough, to say the least.  So, my Momma gave me an assignment to ease the transition.  I had to research Walt Disney and write 10 interesting facts about him.  I also had to research his famous quotes and write down 5 of my favorites.  Here's what I came up with:

Facts About Walt Disney

• Walt was born on December 5, 1901 in Chicago, to Flora and Elias Disney, in a house his father built.
• Disney was too young to join the Army during WWI, so he lied to the Red Cross about his age and became an ambulance driver for them.
• In the early 1950s, Disney made plans for the amusement park, Disneyland. Plans were in place for Disney World in Orlando, Florida, but Walt died in 1966, before the park opened.
• Disney's Snow White was named the greatest American animated film of all time.
• Disney's first job was as a newspaper boy. When he was a young boy living in Kansas City, his neighbor paid him to draw pictures of the neighbor's horse, Rupert.
• During High School, Walt went to night school at the Chicago Art Institute.
• His first art job was for a company in Kansas City. When the company closed, he lost his job and decided to open his own animation studio.
• On a train trip, Mickey Mouse came to Walt Disney. He jumped out of Walt's mind and onto a piece of paper.
• Mickey Mouse was originally named Mortimer Mouse, but Walt's wife convinced him to change the name.
• Walt's mother was the one that inspired him to be creative.
• Disney got hitched on July 13, 1925, to Lillian. They had two daughters and a dog named Duchess.

5 of Walt Disney's Inspiring Quotes

• All our dreams can come true, if we have the courage to pursue them.
• The way to get started is to quit taking and begin doing.
• If you can dream it, you can do it.
• It's kind of fun to do the impossible.
• When you're curious, you find lots of interesting thing to do. 
  
  
  Signing-Off,
  Evalynn and Mom

Sacagawea Vocabulary

The week before my Grandma and Grandpa came, I had just finished learning about Lewis and Clark and their Corps of Discovery.  I watched two very long documentaries.  And I am currently reading some books on the subject.  That week, I also had 5 new vocabulary words.  My assignment was to write a report on something interesting I had learned from the documentaries that included all of my vocabulary words.

So . . . here it is!  Can you find my words: ominous, pristine, repugnant, adversary, and knoll.

This is a report on my hero, Sacagawea, a 16 year old girl who helped Lewis and Clark on their journey. After the French stopped being our adversary, Napoleon offered to sell the Louisiana Territory. President Thomas Jefferson sent Lewis and Clark to explore the new territory. In winter, they stopped at an Indian camp where they hired Sacagawea, who was pregnant.

Exploring the Louisiana Territory was not easy. It was not a pristine paradise, but an ominous wilderness with repugnant bugs. Sacagawea helped Lewis and Clark find edible plants and helped them navigate. She also helped communicate and translate with the Indians.

At an important part on the trail, Lewis and Clark and their Corps of Discovery needed horses to cross the Bitterroot Mountains. They met with the nearby Indian tribe and discovered that the Chief of the tribe was Sacagawea's brother. So because of her, they got the horses to cross the mountains. The Bitterroot Mountains are not small knolls, but giant peaks. Without the horses, the mission would have failed.

Signing-Off

Evalynn and Mom   

Sarah Bishop Timeline and Character Analysis

My Mom and I read this book together.  It is about a young girl, named Sarah Bishop, who lives in New England during the American Revolution.  It is a great book and I highly recommend it.  Sarah has a crazy life, filled with tragedy and adventure.  To capture this, my Mom gave me the assignment to create a timeline of the main events in the story.  Then I was suppose to identify three traits in Sarah that I admire and support them with details from the story.  Here is my assignment:

Sarah Bishop's Timeline

• Her brother Chad became a patriot soldier.
• Her father was killed by the Sons of Liberty because he was a loyalist.
• She was accused of starting a fire that she do not start.
• Her brother Chad died on a war ship.
• She escaped from the Redcoats and became a wanted woman.
• She escaped from Sam Goshen, a man who wanted to do her harm.
• She moved into a cave on Long Pond.
• She fought off an Indian that wanted her out of Long Pond.
• She was accused of witchcraft by witch hunters.
• She went to trial and was found not guilty of witchcraft.

I think Sarah Bishop is brave because... She was accused of starting a fire she did not start, then she away ran from the Redcoats to live in a cave by herself. She was bitten by a copperhead and survived the bite. She was accused of witchcraft and actually went to to defend herself at the trial.

I think Sarah Bishop is intelligent because... She made a cave into a decent home. She survived on her own in the wilderness. She made almost everything she had in her cave by herself.

I think Sarah Bishop is strong because... She is not afraid to use her musket if someone would cause her harm. She fought off an Indian from her home. She found a way to live in peace even knowing that everyone in her family is dead.  

Signing Off,

*Evalynn* and Mom

Girls Rock . . . and Run

 Twelve weeks ago I started a program called Girls on the Run.  I wasn't so sure I wanted to be in the program, but my Mom said I had to.  Even though I was unsure at first, after the first week I knew I was going to like it.

Twice a week I met with my coach and group, and we talked about things in a girl's life that can bring you down or lift you up.  We also trained for a 5K.  On Saturday, we ran our 5K!

 There were fun activities before the race.  I went to the Happy Hair Station, where I got my hair dyed pink for the race.  I also went to the crown station, where I got to choose a crown with a word on it that I thought best described my feelings about the day.  I really liked the live band they had playing.  I got their autographs.

 Every girl had to run with a partner.  I chose my Mom to run with me.  This is a picture of us before the race.

 This is a picture of us after the race.  I was tired.  I felt like dropping onto the grass and falling asleep.  I was so relieved that it was over, but I was happy with myself for running the race.

 My brothers and my Dad came to cheer me on.

The three most important things I learned from completing the Girls on the Run program are:
1.  Be myself.
2.  Be confident.
3.  Be healthy.

I learned that when I believe in myself, I can do anything.  I totally recommend this program for all girls!  It is a national organization with clubs all over the country.  Here is a link to their website:
http://www.girlsontherun.org/

Signing Off,
*Evanlynn* and Mom

Boston Brown Bread and Butter

My Mom and I are reading about what is was like to live in Colonial Times.  In this book that we are reading we found a recipe for Boston Brown Bread and churned butter.  I was curious to know what bread might have tasted like back in the 1700s, so we decided to make it.  

 We had to go shopping for Rye flour, which was hard to find!  I did not like the way the molasses smelled - it smelled like a dead skunk!  I'm glad we have other ways to sweeten our food now.  I'm also glad we have an electric oven and dishwasher.


















I had an assistant.  He's kind of cute.

Here's the bread dough - stinky bread dough - ready to go in the oven.

 While the bread was cooking, I made butter.  I poured heavy cream into a lidded container and shook, shook, shook.

When my arms were tired of shaking, my assistant and I rolled the container back and forth.  Then, when we tired of that, we gave it to my Mom!  With her superhuman MOM powers, she finished it up.












We all sat down to try some Colonial delights.

I was hoping the bread didn't taste as bad as it smelled.  I didn't want to take a bite, but my Mom told me I had to in order for the time I spent making the bread to count as school time.

Here I go . . .

The bread was not my favorite, but my Mom, Dad, and neighbors loved it!

By doing this project I learned that I am glad I live in a world with electricity and many food choices.

Signing Off,
*Evalynn* and Mom

Where, What, and Why - A Lolly Dolly Play

After reading several books about the American Revolution, my Mom and I created these Lolly Dollies of the historical people from the Revolution that I found most interesting and important.  My Mom drew the people and I colored them.  Then I was given the assignment to write questions I would like to ask them.  I typed up the questions, edited them for grammar, revised the questions, and practiced answering them with my Mom.  I created a time machine, went back to the late 1700s and grabbed all of these people, and brought them to my house to ask them my questions.  Hot off the press, here is my cutting edge journalism:

UGGGGHHH!  NEVERMIND.  My mom cannot get the video to load!  She has tried everything she can think of and it's not working.  Anyhow . . .

Here are the questions I asked the guests in the interviews.  See if you know all the answers.  I do.

King George the Third

King George, how are you?

Do you really have 15 children?

How do you manage?

George Washington

How could you believe in slavery?

Are your teeth really wooden?

Samuel Adams

Why were the Sons of Liberty so violent?

Were you really one of 12 children born in your family?

Patriot Soldier

How did you survive Valley Forge?

Why did you want to be in the Army?

Redcoat Soldier

Do you like King George?

What do you think of the taxes on the Americans?

Paul Revere

What was your horse's name?

How many miles did you ride?

Thomas Jefferson

How long did it take you to write the Declaration of Independence?

Was it hard to be President after George Washington and John Adams?

Benjamin Franklin

How did you get the French on our side?

How did you feel when the French King said France would help us?

Minute Man

Could you really get ready in a minute?

Button Spy

Were you scared that you were going to get caught?

Molly Pitcher

How did you feel when your husband fell wounded?

Signing Off,

*Evalynn* and Mom

Vote for George!

I've been reading books about George Washington.  My Mom gave me the assignment to pretend that George Washington was alive today and running for President again.  As his campaign poster designer,  my task was to make an eye-catching design and write five concise bullet points about why you should vote for him.  I wrote the bullet points based on the knowledge I gained from reading about him.  Here's why you should vote for George:

• I keep control of my emotions at all times.
• I am compassionate and always polite.
• My history shows that I am brave and determined.
• Most people agree that I am the best General in the history of America.
• I will work with all citizens to grow our Country to prosperity.

Signing Off,

*Evalynn* and Mom

Halloween Fact Posters

I was interested in learning more about how Halloween got started.  From the library I checked out, Witches, Pumpkins, and Grinning Ghosts, by Edna Barth.  It was filled with information about how wicked things got into and out of wicked Halloween.  It made me feel happy that we have science and reason today, and not just superstitions.  Especially after I read the story about a rooster going to court because he was thought to be a witch's familiar.  The rooster was actually put on trial.

My Mom gave me the assignment to create 3 Halloween fact posters from information I learned in the book.  Here they are:

• All witches had familiars, an animal that the devil gave to them.
• The witch would keep the familiar in a box or an earthen pot and feed it bread and milk with drops of blood.
• Whatever happened to a witch's familiar also happened to the witch.

• People used to leave food for fairies.
• Any food still there went in the trash just in case the fairies had poisoned it.
• The people used to think a horseshoe would scare the fairies away because they hated metal.

• Irish people declared that a charm made of the bone of a black cat would make one invisible.
• People thought that if a cat rubbed against you, it would bring good luck.  

Signing Off,

Evalynn and Mom

George Vs. George

My Mom and I read George vs. George, by Rosalyn Schanzer.  This book is amazing.  It shows both sides of the American Revolution.  Before I read this book, I had not even thought about how the British might have felt about the war.  The writing and the pictures are informative and interesting.  I highly recommend this book to kids interested in the American Revolution.

My Mom gave me the assignment to write a test for her on the information we learned in the book.  Then she wrote a test for me too.  Do you want to see if you could pass our tests?  Here you go:

1.  How tall were both George Washington and King George III?
A.  5'7"
B.  Over 6'
C.  7'6"

2.  How many kids did King George have?
A.  20
B.  30
C.  15

3.  What was George Washington's wife named?
A.  Martha Custis
B.  Charlotte White
C.  Betty Mans

4.  What did Samuel Jackson say about the Americans?
A.  We should stop the taxes.
B.  How is it that we hear the loudest yelps for liberty from the drivers of Negros.

5.  How many slaves did George Washington have by 1775?
A.  135
B.  600
C. 144

6.  What year did the Boston Tea Party happen?
A.  1774
B.  1775
C.  1773

7.  The Daughters of Liberty . . .
A.  did not exist.
B.  sang before battles.
C.  made their own tea and ball gowns instead of buying from the British.

8.  What is a Hessian soldier?
A.  A German soldier.
B.  An American soldier.
C.  A British soldier.

9.  Who had the biggest signature on the Declaration of Independence?
A.  John Hancock
B.  Ben Franklin
C.  Benjamin Harrison

10.  Where was the final battle of the war?
A.  Yorktown
B.  Bunker Hill
C.  Saratoga

11.  True or False: George Washington is known as the "Father of our Country" and King George III is  known as the "Father of the People."

12:  True or False: Great Britain made more money trading with an independent America than it did from owning and taxing the Colonies.

13.  True or False:  John Adams wanted to meet with King George III two years after the peace treaty, but King George refused him.

14.  True or False:  King George suffered from a hereditary condition that caused brief bouts of madness.

15.  True or False:  King Georg made the laws, not British Parliament.

16.  True or False:  King Louis XVI of France signed a treaty in 1978 recognizing the U.S. as a new nation and promising ships, soldiers, and money.

17.  True or False: A Quaker housewife living across from British headquarters in Philadelphia, spied on the Redcoats and sent the information sewn into shirts to George Washington.

18.  True or False:  General Cornwallis delivered a white flag of surrender to George Washington at Yorktown in 1781, signifying the unofficial end of the war.

19.  True or False: The First Continental Congress, with delegates from the 13 colonies, was the governing body of the new U.S. until 1789 when George Washington was elected president.

20.  True or False:  At Valley Forge, about 2,500 of George Washington's soldiers died from starvation, freezing, or sickness.


How do you think you did?  Here are the answers:

1.  B
2.  C
3.  A
4.  B
5.  A
6.  C
7.  C
8.  A
9.  A
10.  A
11.  T
12.  T
13.  F - King George actually accepted John Adams with open arms.
14.  T
15.  F - King George worked with Parliament to make laws.
16.  T
17.  F - She wrote the information on cloth buttons.
18.  F - Cornwallis sent his second-in-command to deliver the white flag.  George Washington would not accept it from the second-in-command, so he sent Cornwallis' messenger to his own second-in-command.
19.  T
20.  T

Signing Off,
Evalynn and Mom

American Revolution Comic Strip

After finishing a book with my mom about the American Revolution, I was assigned to create a 9-strip comic about some of the major events we learned about.  This is my finished masterpiece.

Boston Tea Party.  Who could forget that!?

I will include what I wrote in the quotation bubbles in italics:

No taxation without representation!

I hate this law!  And this tea.

Thomas Paine wrote a pamphlet titled, Common Sense.  I'm sure most of you know about the famous speech that Patrick Henry gave when he declared, "Give me liberty or give me death!"

Common sense, people!

Give me liberty or give me death!

On a midnight ride, Paul Revere bellowed, "The Redcoats are coming!"  The Redcoats were the British Army.

The Redcoats are coming!

I was in the middle of a perfect dream.

When they heard that the Redcoats were coming, farmers, who called themselves Minute Men, assembled to fight.  No one knows which side shot first, but 8 Minute Men were killed, and the war was started.  Ralph Waldo Emerson, in his famous poem, called that first shot "the shot heard around the world."

Bang!

What was that!?

I think a war has started.

On famous Bunker Hill, even though we lost, we proved to the Redcoats that is was not going to be easy to beat us Americans!

We won, but I think this is going to get uglier.

The Declaration of Independence was signed on July 4, 1776.  It was written mostly by Thomas Jefferson.  It officially declared to King George III and Britain that America was a free and independent country.  Even after they wrote it, they still had to fight for it.

It's the 4th of July, 1776.

We have declared our independence!

John!  Why is your signature so big!

In 1778 the French entered the war to help America.  They had a lot of warships and weapons.  This was a turning point in the war.

We are coming!

Molly Pitcher was a famous woman in the war.  When her husband fell wounded (he was in charge of the cannon), she stepped in and took his place.  She also carried water out to the soldiers right on the battle field.  I guess that's why she's called Molly Pitcher :)

Love you, Honey.  Bye!

At Yorktown we surrounded the British (also known as encircled), and won the war!  The British General Cornwallis surrendered on October 19, 1781.  The Redcoats played, "The World Turned Upside Down," as they gave their weapons to the Americans.  The peace treaty between Britain and America was signed in 1783.

I surrender!

You're encircled.

Thanks for reading.  Signing-Off,
Evalynn and Mom