Name: _______________________________________
6th Grade Pre-course Reading
Dear Parents and Students,
Deane Bozeman School believes reading is a valuable experience for all students
and an important extension of our educational programs. Books are the wings on which
children’s imaginations soar. Books dare them to dream, nourish their curiosity, challenge
their ideas, and help to develop internal reading strategies. Reading a variety of texts will
enable students to learn, explore, and discuss new ideas with others. Our objective is for
each student to become a life-long reader and learner.
In order to accomplish this objective, the English Language Arts Department
reviewed student data on multiple assessments. Our research revealed characterization
and informational text/research process as two areas that all of our students could
improve on. All 6th grade students received the book entitled, A Nation Created: The War
for American Independence. This informational text and the learning activities assigned
support learning in this area. As students read this novel, they will concentrate on two
standards. Standard LAFS.6.RL.1.3, which focuses on characterization, and standard
LAFS.6.RI.4.10, which focuses on reading and comprehending informational text. Below
are the directions to complete the assignments. Thank you for helping achieve our goal
and have a great summer.
Sincerely,
Deane Bozeman
English Language Arts Department
Directions
Students you are to read A Nation Created: The War for American Independence.
As you read, focus on the character development of George Washington and King George
III. Refer to the Text Mark-up page for specific directions on how to mark the text as you
read. You may also make notes in the book; this is your book and your responsibility.
We expect to see your writing on the pages. Once you have completed this task, you will
need to place this information in the graphic organizer for each character. Please return
your packet on the first day of school. We will be using it during the first week and
after instruction and revisions, you will receive a grade. This is mandatory for all
secondary level students. Only students enrolling late will be allotted extended time to
read the book and complete this packet. It is extremely important that you complete your
reading assignment and come back to school prepared! The materials are your
responsibility and replacement books will not be free.
Name: _______________________________________
Essential Question:
How can one person’s leadership and
guidance change the course of a nation?
Leadership: (Noun) the ability to guide, direct, or influence people
Guidance: (Noun) advice from an official organization on how to deal with
particular situations
Course: (Noun) a sequence of events
1.
2.
Directions: Before you begin reading, please answer the essential question. (7-10
sentences)
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Name: _______________________________________
A Nation Created: The War for American
Independence
By Mark Thomas
Pre-reading Activity: K-W-L
Directions: Fill in the chart below. In the K column, write information you know about
the Revolutionary War, George Washington, or King George III. In the W column, write
question you would like answered about the Revolutionary War, George Washington, or
King George III. As you read the novel, write any new information you learn about the
Revolutionary War, George Washington, or King George III in the L column.
The Revolutionary War
K
W
L
1.
1.
1.
2.
2.
2.
3.
3.
3.
4.
4.
4.
Websites with links for pre-reading background information:
http://gwpapers.virginia.edu/
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/amex/patriotsday/
http://mrnussbaum.com/amflash/
http://www.pbs.org/ktca/liberty/chronicle.html
http://www.factmonster.com/ipka/A0769969.html
Name: _______________________________________
Text Markups
Underline:
loves, hopes, dreams, this can be for them individually, or
personally, or for the country
Circle: specific information about their background or who they were before
the Revolutionary War began, previous jobs, how their life was different
before they came into power
Highlight in Yellow:
quotes you find interesting for both George
Washington and King George III
Highlight in Pink: descriptions of both George Washington and King
George III, this can include what they looked like (physical characteristics)
or what are acting like (personality)
Highlight in Green:
descriptions or information about both George
Washington and King George III’s weaknesses or strengths
Weaknesses: flaws, faults, problems, issues, (mental or physical), look for
words that show that they are weak leaders,
Strengths: power, things they are good at, the (physical or mental), gifts or
gifted at something
Box: specific information about George Washington and King George III’s
personal accomplishments, awards, recognitions before and after the war
Write questions you have about anything you need
clarification on or help with in the margins of the
pages or on the assignment. These notes will
assist you with class discussions at the start of the
new school year.
Name: _______________________________________
Character:
George Washington
Quote from text:
Character’s Hopes or
Dreams for our country:
Character’s Weaknesses,
Fears, or Challenges:
Character’s Strengths:
Likes or Loves:
Character’s
Personal
Accomplishments:
Background Information: (Personal or Historical)
Name: _______________________________________
Quote from text:
Character:
King George III
Character’s Hopes or
Dreams for our country:
Character’s Strengths:
Character’s Weaknesses,
Fears, or Challenges:
Likes or Loves:
Background Information: (Personal or Historical)
Character’s
Personal
Accomplishments:
Name: _______________________________________
3–2–1
3 things King George III and George Washington
have in common.
1.
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2.
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3.
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2 things unique to King George III
1.
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2.
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2 things unique to George Washington
1.
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2.
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1 Question you still have about these men, the
Revolutionary war, or the book.
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Name: _______________________________________
Declaration of Independence
The main purpose of America's Declaration of Independence was to explain to foreign nations
why the colonies had chosen to separate themselves from Great Britain. The Revolutionary War had
already begun, and several major battles had already taken place. The American colonies had
already cut most major ties to England, and had established their own congress, currency, army, and
post office. On June 7, 1776, at Independence Hall in Philadelphia, Richard Henry Lee voiced a
resolution that the United States ought to be completely free of England's influence, and that all
political ties between the two countries should be dissolved. Congress agreed and began plans to
publish a formal declaration of independence and appointed a committee of five members to draft the
declaration. Thomas Jefferson was chosen to draft the letter - which he did in a single day. Four
other members, Roger Sherman, Robert Livingston, Benjamin Franklin, and John Adams were part of
the committee to help Jefferson. In the Declaration of Independence, Jefferson explained that a body
of people has a right to change governments if that government becomes oppressive (unfair and
controlling). He further explained that governments fail when they no longer have the consent of the
governed. Since Parliament clearly lacked the consent of the American colonists to govern them, it
was no longer legitimate. The Declaration was presented to the Continental Congress in
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on July 2, 1776. It was approved with a few minor changes. Of the 56
signers of the Declaration of Independence, John Hancock, of Massachusetts was the first.
Mark-up Directions: Use the following mark-ups to identify pieces of the article.
Highlight the main idea of the article.
Circle any new or difficult words and use a dictionary or online resource to look them up.
Underline any information you found interesting in the article.
Summarize the article in 3-5 complete sentences:
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Name: _______________________________________
Answer the following questions using the article to assist you.
____1.) Why was the Declaration of Independence written?
A. For the colonists
B. For the British
C. For the kings
D. For other nations
____2.) Which of the following HAD NOT taken place before the Declaration of Independence
was written?
A. Battles
B. America had named a president
C. The Revolutionary War
D. American had cut most ties with England
____3.) In the following sentence, what does the word “influence” mean?
“Richard Henry Lee voiced a resolution that the United States ought to be completely free of
England's influence.”
A. battle
B. royal family
C. under the effect of
D. money
____4.) Which of the following is an accurate description of what Thomas Jefferson described
in the Declaration?
A. The King of England owes the colonists money
B. America will win the war against England
C. People have the right to fair government
D. The colonists have no rights
____5.) According to Jefferson, when do governments fail?
A. When they no longer have the consent of the people
C. When they issue taxes
B. When they fight wars
D. When they owe money
____6.) Which of the following is NOT a reason the Declaration of Independence was written?
A. Parliament lacked consent of the American people B. Parliament was unfair
C. Parliament taxed the Americans
D. Parliament had failed the American people
____7.) The Continental Congress….
A. Agreed to the Declaration with a few changes
C. Disagreed with the Declaration
B. 100% agreed with the Declaration
D. Agreed, but made major changes
____8.) Which of the following describes an illegitimate government according to the
Declaration?
A. A government that taxes its people
B. A government that oppresses its people
C. A government that has the consent of its people
D. A government run by the people
____9.) The British were likely to….
A. Agree to the declaration
B. Disagree to the declaration
C. Agree to the declaration with few minor changes D. Agree to the declaration with major changes
____10.) Which of the following is FALSE?
A. Congress established a taxing system before the Declaration of Independence
B. Congress established a post office before the Declaration of Independence
C. Congress established an army before the Declaration of Independence
D. Richard Henry Lee voiced the resolution that American should dissolve its ties to England