American Centuries

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Memorial Association

American Centuries > Lessons > History Lessons By Teachers > The Midnight Ride of Paul Revere

The Midnight Ride of Paul Revere

Details

Author
Carol Tafel
Topic/Subject Area
Military, Wars, Battles
Historical Era
Revolutionary America, 1763–1783
Grade Level
Elementary (K–5)
Creation Date
2011
Last Revision Date
2024

Related items

About This Lesson

Summary and Objective

Students will understand that Paul Revere’s ride was an important event at the beginning of the American Revolution. Students will begin to understand the significance of Paul Revere’s ride to warn the colonists of the British Army’s march on Lexington and Concord. Students will become familiar with sites associated with Paul Revere and his ride, and will map Paul Revere’s ride from Boston to Lexington.

Materials & Resources

Collection Items
Websites
Books

Teaching Plan

  1. Show 1 or more images of Paul Revere’s ride. Ask the students to turn to a partner and share their ideas about the following: Who do you think this person is? Did this person live long ago or in the present? What seems to be happening in the picture? Ask children to share their ideas.
  2. Read The Midnight Ride of Paul Revere (picture book) by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow (author) and Christopher Bing (illustrator) to the children. Discuss after reading.
  3. Show images of Paul Revere (the silversmith), Paul Revere’s ride, Old North Church, the Paul Revere House, a bell made by Paul Revere, and Paul Revere’s engravings. Discuss the images, and ask children what they can tell about Paul Revere from these images.
  4. Students map the route of Paul Revere’s ride from Boston to Lexington. Show the students images of places along the route. The Paul Revere House website has a map showing the route of the midnight ride.
  5. Ask students to brainstorm and share what they have learned about Paul Revere. List facts about Paul Revere on a chart.
  6. Students will create a broadside illustrating Paul Revere’s ride. The broadside should include a title, one or more illustrations, and at least 5 facts about Paul Revere’s ride. Show students the broadside “Bloody Butchery, By The British Troops; Or The Runaway Fight Of The Regulars” as an example.