Lincoln Elementary School fourth-grade students attempt to identify loyalists and patriots on iPads during a recent lesson plan. P-J photo by Jordan W. Patterson

Using digital integration, Lincoln Elementary School fourth-grade students learned about what led to the Revolutionary War, which is information they would have not received based on the current ELA modules.

Jeffrey Kresge, the Jamestown Public Schools social studies curriculum coach, often assists district social studies teachers in various ways: lesson plans, guest lectures, and overall guidance.

Recently, Kresge began assisting fourth grade teachers based on a change in the state-provided ELA (English Language Arts) module that added an entire focus on the Revolutionary War. However, the inclusion of the first war between the U.S. and Great Britain lacked curriculum on the events that led to a conflict in the first place, Jamestown teachers said.

“They would learn about patriot and loyalist but now why they were fighting,” Kresge said of the current curriculum.

To supplement the module, Kresge has been providing a brief lesson plan to give students a general understanding on what sparked the colonies to declare their independence from the British. Kresge said he will guest lecture and provide supplemental lessons whenever teachers request it.

Because the newest edition of the fourth-grade ELA module incorporated the American Revolution, Jamestown teachers felt the students may get lost without learning why the war began. Lincoln students in Lynn Mayer’s class recently learned about taxation without representation, the Boston Massacre and the Boston Tea Party. Additionally, Kresge taught the students the make up of a typical loyalist and patriot.

Kresge added that the curriculum expands on the American Revolution as they move up in grade levels.

“This will be a primer for them so when they get to fifth grade they’ll have a pretty good idea what the American Revolution is,” Kresge said.

The recent lesson featured a digital aspect of learning as well. Using iPads, based on what the students had just learned, students determined whether several Jamestown teachers were loyalists or patriots. Each teacher provided a sample video detailing a brief backstory that would hint at which side they identified with pre-Revolutionary War.

Mayer believed the guest lecture and incorporation of the digital lesson plan using iPads made their students more attentive.

“Anytime we can bring technology in, it’s a plus for the kids because that’s their life today,” Mayer said.