You are about to embark on a trip back into time. So get ready, hold on to your socks, and let's enjoy this patriotic adventure of a lifetime.
 
 

      Let The Adventure Begin

I bid Good day to you. I'm so glad you've decided to visit me.  Hi, my name is Scrubbs McGraw and I'm going to join you for a trip back to see George Washington.  I need your help to write this amazing sequel to George Washington's Socks by Elvira Woodruff.  History is an awesome topic, and it should give you goosebumps.  It's your history-so let's make it come alive.

Your first task was to read the book, George Washington's Socks by Elvira Woodruff. I hope you held on to your "Socks" as history came alive and you were there with Katie, Hooter, Tony, and Matt as they met the hero of the American Revolution.
 

Did you notice the picture on the front cover of this historical fiction story?  Look at it for a moment to see if you see any famous people on the boat in the background or any famous articles.

Check out the following link to learn more about this famous picture:

http://www.americanrevolution.org/delxone.html
 

Now that you have read that classic book and know about the "History Club's " first adventure, your perilous journey is about to begin.The web will be your lifeline.  Check your sources and make your decisions wisely.  Document your path carefully. Your life may depend on it.
 
 

Adventure 1
  "The Pen is Mightier Than The Sword"

Katie has finally eaten her bag of marshmallows, Hooter has cleaned out the whole refrigerator, Tony soaked in the tub for over an hour, and Matt has finally read his book, Adventures in History............

Your second task is to find out how to write an historical fiction story.   You are going to have to research the following links on Matt's laptop to learn about setting, characters, and plot to write an historical fiction story detailing the events as the club travels back in time to visit George Washington one more time. Just what is setting, character, and plot you ask.  Well, let good old Scrubbs help you out.

Setting: The setting is the time and place of a story.
Character: A character is a person or humanlike animal in a story.
Plot: The plot is the action or series of events that make up the story.
"Good old Scrubbs agrees with you. There are numerous literary or narrative elements in literature, but just for today we're going to focus on just these three even though you'll probably use numerous narrative elements in your historical fiction sequel."

Your first site will be:  www.marshmallow.com
                "Katie, get off the internet."
Oops, Sorry Guys, Katie just seems to always cause problems.

It's a good thing that Matt has brought his laptop so you can  research the following links to find out how to write your story utilizing the narrative elements (character, setting, and plot).

http://www.csustan.edu/english/reuben/pal/append/AXG.HTML
Gives the definitions of the narrative elements.
 http://www.csupomona.edu/~delashgari/tools/analyticalguide.html
Analytical guide for studying fiction.
 http://hrsbstaff.ednet.ns.ca/engramja/elements.html#CHARACTER
Short story elements.
http://www.qcc.mass.edu/booth/102/terms/tsld006.htm
Shows the plot line.
http://english.utb.edu/Dameron/courses/comp2/02-12-01_files/displaypage.html
Basic character types.
http://www.creativecauldron.com/articleCharacterDev.shtml
An article on character development.
http://www.teachervision.com/tv/resources/PDF/GOOD_TV_3_6_pdf_s/62177_InRCd_86.pdf
Plot Graphic Organizer.

Use the following graphic organizers to record the narrative elements as you write your story. Click on the graphic organizers and be ready to start brainstorming your story.
Graphic Organizer (Plot Line)  #1: This graphic organizer will help you write the plot line of this story.  Don't forget that every great story has to have an impressive story line.  Remember things such as: exposition, rising action, climax, falling action, and resolution.  Remember the plot of the story is the action or series of events that make up the story.

Graphic Organizer (Setting) #2: This graphic organizer will let you show the setting of the place you decide to visit.  You will describe in words & pictures the setting of your sequel. Remember that the setting is the time and place of a story.
 

Graphic Organizer (Character) #3: This graphic organizer will help you to record the characters in your story.  You will log in each character's name, a description of each character's physical characteristics, details about each character's personality, and any other information about your character, and a picture of your character.  You will also add a surprise character once you have decided whether it wil be a patriot or a loyalist.  Remember that a character is a person or humanlike animal in a story.
 

**Take good notes as you write your George Washington's Socks Sequel.
The time has come to enter the tent. The night sky is black and the moon is bright.  Matt's parents have finally stopped peeking out the back door.  The crickets are chirping and the frogs are croaking.  Kind of eerie isn't it?  Now don't tell me you want to go home already...  Be brave.  Have a marshmallow and relax.
    The "Adventure Club" pulls out the history book and flips to the chapter on the American Revolution.  Katie yells out that she wants to see "George" again.  Matt turns to the section about The Crossing of the Delaware.  Hooter sits back in his sleeping bag and pulls out George's socks.  Your mouth drops. Just imagine... The hero of the American Revolution wore socks.  Well that was silly, it was winter during the Battle of Trenton wouldn't you wear socks too? Katie's crying now and really wants to see George again.  Q starts to tell you what they learned about George Washington during their last adventure.  Take a peek at Matt's laptop to read all of the links about George Washington.
 

 

"George,George, He's our Man. If he can't do it, No one can."
"Here Katie, have another marshmallow"

GEORGE WASHINGTON WEB SITES:
1.http://www.patriotresource.com/people/washg/summary.html
Summary page about George Washington's Career and Life.
2.http://www.historyplace.com/unitedstates/revolution/wash-pix/gallery.htm
A picture gallery of George Washington.
3. http://www.usa-people-search.com/content-george-washington-father-of-our-country.aspx
A great collection of information about George Washington.
4.http://www.pbs.org/georgewashington/father/greatness.html
An article telling why George Washington is so great.
5.http://sc94.ameslab.gov/TOUR/gwash.html
An overview of George Washington's  military and personal career.
6. http://gi.grolier.com/presidents/ea/bios/01pwash.html
18 page document giving an overview of his career.
7. http://www.mountvernon.org/education/biography/
An extensive site for students and teachers.
 
 

"Good old Scrubbs here just to remind you to get out your plot sheet and start writing down your events as they happen.
(CLICK HERE TO VIEW A PRINTABLE COPY OF GRAPHIC ORGANIZER #1-PLOT).

This task is very important. You must keep track of the events of your story.  It is the backbone of your sequel."

Now that you know all about George Washington, how would you like to visit him at another point in history?  The "Adventure Club" is about to head to Lake Levart and you've been invited to come along.  You and your friends sneak out of the tent.  Stay down low, Matt's parents might look out the back door!
A cool breeze blows across the back of your neck and you get a cold chill.  The leaves crackle under your feet as you go through the forest.  A cob web just wrapped itself across your face.  Just a little farther.  The frogs are croaking a little louder. Just beyond the trees you see the lake.  There's the boat.  Allright, I know your mother says to always wear a life jacket around the water, but this is just a story.  Chill Out!!
Just step into the boat. Careful.  Matt pulls out the history book and asks the club where they want to meet George this time.  Hooter clutches the socks, Katie munches on marshmallows, and you look at the history book. The pages blow to the chapter about the Battle of Yorktown and then to Valley Forge.  Hint Hint.  SSSHHHH, Everybody think hard. Where do you want to go???
Is it too hard to make a decision? Well, let's go to the Matt's laptop and check out the two places together.
 

WEB RESOURCES:

Sites on The Battle of Yorktown:

1.http://www.publicbookshelf.com/public_html/Our_Country_vol_2/1781theb_bed.html
Describes the Battle of Yorktown.
2. http://members.aol.com/spursfan50/davidallen/yorktown.htm
Describes the last battle of the American Revolution.  Contains graphic and  maps.
3. http://www.pbs.org/ktca/liberty/chronicle/convergence.html
The miraculous convergence recounted.  Two armies trapping Cornwallis.
4. http://www.patriotresource.com/battles/yorktown.html
Several resources to use as a timeline to follow the events of the battle.
5. http://www.pbs.org/ktca/liberty/chronicle/episode5.html
Account by PBS
6. http://www.patriotresource.com/battles/yorktown.html
Gives several resources to use as a timeline to follow the events of the battle.
7.http://darter.ocps.net/classroom/revolution/ytown.htm
Summary of the battle. Battle map included. (Student Generated).
 

Sites on Valley Forge:

1.http://www.cr.nps.gov/logcabin/html/vf.html
Extensive site for information.  Tells about the suffering at Valley Forge.
2. http://www.ushistory.org/valleyforge/
Lengthy site of information.
3. http://odur.let.rug.nl/~usa/D/1776-1800/war/waldo.htm
Primary document (diary) by Albigence Waldo (a surgeon at Valley Forge, 1777).
4. http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/Ranch/9198/revwar/vforge.htm
Detailed account of Valley Forge.
5. http://www.infoplease.com/ce6/history/A0856593.html
Lengthy site of information.
6. http://www.ushistory.org/valleyforge/served/index.html
The people who served at Valley Forge.
 
 

            THE CHOICE
    " Please Tread Lightly"

Now that you have researched the two different historical events you have a choice to make. Do you want the adventure club to go to The Battle of Yorktown and do you want the adventure club to go to Valley Forge?   One place was a terrific battle that made its place in history as the climax of the Revolutionary War and the second choice is the turning point in the attitude of the brave soldiers who trained and survived the cold winter to fight the British with all their might and win. One site will take you to a three week siege close to the tobacco port of Yorktown located in Virgina on the night of October 17, 1781, and the second site will take you to a six month encampment just outside of the Schuylkill River about 25 miles west of Philadelphia from December 19, 1777, to June 19, 1778.
 
 

Matt takes the history book and takes one last peek.  He looks at Q, Hooter, and Tony.  Katie is busy twirling her pig tails and sucking her thumb.  You're sweating.  Matt looks at you and asks you where you want to go.  You panic.  Do you choose the Battle of Yorktown or Valley Forge?  You know you have studied your resources carefully and you're ready.  But what if your choice leads to danger for one of the members of the club... What if it brings danger to yourself?  You close your eyes and think HARD........ Think Harder..... Think Harder... Put your finger on your choice........... CLICK

"Emit Levart"