Using Historical Fiction in the Classroom Teaching Programs

This FalI I will be hosting a number of My Brother Sam is Dead Teaching Programs in Southwestern Connecticut. In these programs I will be providing information about the topics and issues My Brother Sam is Dead explores and how both teachers and students can benefit from its usage in the classroom. CD's containing all my material, maps and photos will be available at these events.

Tour Redding Ridge & Putnam Park
See where My Brother Sam is Dead took place!
Date: TBA
Location: Redding Ridge, CT
Cutoff Date for Registration: Open

Come see Tim Meeker's front yard, learn about the tavern, see the gravestones of actual characters in the book, run across the same field Sam chases Tim across in the novel, learn about Redding and town like Redding during the Revolutionary Period. See Putnam Park, the encampment Sam and his troops were stationed at in the Winter of 1778-79.

Contact Brent Colley if you are interested in signing-up. We have not set dates yet and are open to suggestions.

Testimonials

6th graders from Nathan Hale School in New Haven had a great time on November's "Tour of My Brother Sam is Dead" field trip.

Here are quotes from letters the 6th graders forwarded after the field trip:

"That was the [best] field trip I ever had about History…"

"I would never think that Connecticut would have that much interesting history! Thank you so much for taking us through Redding, showing us the great locations from My Brother Sam is Dead and answering our questions."

"One of my favorite parts of the trip to Redding was when we got to hear of what happened and where in the book."

"That was the best field trip I had this year! The parts I liked the best were when you showed us where the tavern was, where the Meeker family's graves were, and the field where Sam ran across after he took the Brown Bess. I wish I could run across that field just like Sam did."

"I had so much fun, especially when you showed us the graves at Redding Ridge. I never knew Tim and Sam were fictional. It's so surprising that I never knew how involved Danbury was [in the Revolution], yet I lived there for so long."

"Thank you for making the history come alive, I had a great time. Hope you do more fun things with other kids, I bet they will have a great time."

My Brother Sam is Dead Resources Available at the History of Redding Website:

• Photos of Redding Relating to My Brother Sam is Dead
• Chapter by Chapter Book Summary
• Real-Life Characters portrayed in the Book
• Real-Life Events portrayed in the Book
• Colonial Money, Commissary Notes, Financing the War and Inflation Issues
• Camp Life and Order Relating to Redding's Encampment
• Taverns of the Colonial Period
• Brown Bess
• Loyalists (Tories) of Redding, CT
• Cowboys and Skinners
• Places you can visit related to My Brother Sam is Dead
• The My Brother Sam is Dead Blog
• Download information on Redding Men in the Revolution(Word Document)

Resources Available Online:

• Connecticut Colonial Records
• Revolutionary War Research mostly Connecticut information but an excellent resource
• Connecticut American Revolution Sites Connecticut Society of the Sons of the American Revolution (SAR)
• Why the Revolution Occurred- a very good timeline of events that led to the colonist revolt, what happenned during it and how our nation was formed.
• Battles of the Revolutionary War- Awesome resource showing you dates, locations and winners and losers.
• Uniforms of the Revolutionary War
• Revolutionary War Finances
• Paper Money and Inflation
• Life and Death Aboard British Prison Ships
• Names of Prisoners who died on British Prison Ships
• Washington, George, 1732-1799. The writings of George Washington from the original manuscript sources: Volume 13 Electronic Text Center, University of Virginia Library
• The Complete General Orders of George Washington October 2, 1778 to 1780
• Religion and the Revolution The Revolution split some denominations, notably the Church of England, whose ministers were bound by oath to support the King, and the Quakers, who were traditionally pacifists.

Putnam Memorial State Park- This is where Sam Meeker was encamped during the winter of 1778-79. This is the same camp Tim describes when he attempts to free Sam from the stockade.

Keeler Tavern Museum- Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the Keeler Tavern Museum has been a farmhouse, tavern, stagecoach stop, post office, hotel for travelers and a private residence. The Meeker Family Tavern was very similar and thus Keeler Tavern gives a glimpse at the way Tim, Sam, Life and Suzanne lived and worked.

Putnam's Cottage / Knapp's Tavern Museum- Putnam's Cottage is intimately connected to the Revolutionary war, having housed General Putnam and hosted General Washington for lunch. The house has long been associated with General Israel Putnam and his heroic escape from the British during the Revolutionary War. General Putnam was Sam Meeker's General in the novel.

Compo Beach- The British landed on this beach in 1777. From here they marched north through Redding where they halted for several hours before their attack on Danbury Connecticut's military depot. Tim describes their visit in the novel.