Virtual Field Trip: John Stark, Revolutionary Hero
One of the most revered figures in New Hampshire history, John Stark was a Revolutionary War general and the author of what became the state motto, “Live free or die.”
This virtual field trip takes students to several locations associated with John Stark's life, including his home and grave in Stark Park in Manchester, the Bunker Hill battlefield in Massachusetts, and the Bennington battlefield in Vermont.
The virtual field trip includes footage of a battle reenactment at Bennington.
A graphic organizer helps students record what they learn from the video, which, when combined with the activity, tackles the question: how does a person become a hero?
The video is 22 minutes.
The Big Question
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1What's the best place to build a fort?
Before You Take Your Virtual Field Trip
Review what you know
Ask students what they know about the American Revolution. Together, make a list of the reasons why colonists, including many who lived in New Hampshire, wanted to be free from rule by Britain.
Discuss the big question
How does a person become a hero? Encourage students to think carefully about this question with discussion prompts: Who do you think of when you hear the word hero? What qualities does that person have? How does that person act or treat others? How do other people react to that person?
During Your Virtual Field Trip
Organize facts and ideas
An optional graphic organizer is provided to help students identify and expand upon the three key ideas addressed during the trip. As they listen and watch, students can check off the key idea as they hear it mentioned. The chart below provides space for students to note supporting facts that relate to each idea. This graphic organizer could be used as part of a preview to the trip. It also works well as a review exercise after the trip and can be completed as a whole group or independently.
Travel Log
This graphic organizer helps students organize the information they learn in the virtual field trip.
Virtual Field Trip: John Stark, Revolutionary Hero
Follow NH's Most Famous Revolutionary General into Battle
After Your Virtual Field Trip . . .
Heroic acrostic poem
In this activity, students think about the qualities that made John Stark heroic and how those qualities are the same or different today. Begin by having students brainstorm John Stark’s heroic qualities and not heroic qualities. This can be done individually or in small groups. Students will then work individually to list the qualities they believe are heroic. These can include both qualities that John Stark had and didn’t have. Finally, the students will identify an individual, real or fictional, that has the qualities they described and write an acrostic poem using their name.
Heroic Acrostic Poem
The New Hampshire Historical Society thanks the following organizations for assisting in the making of this virtual field trip:
Friends of the Bennington Battle Monument