This illustrated book version of the famous poem,

with artwork by Charles Santore,

would be a great way to make the story come

alive, especially for younger readers.

 

Reading: Family Literacy

Patriotic Poem - Paul Revere's Ride

 

            Today's Snack: Even though Paul Revere had to go, go, go, let's try "Stoplight Salad" for our snack today. Can you guess why it's called that? (hint: has green, yellow and red parts!)

            Start with a handful of fresh basil or cilantro, rinsed and snipped into small pieces. Chop one green bell pepper (get rid of seeds and pulp first, of course!) and two tomatoes into fine pieces.

Combine with 2 cups of corn (canned or cut off a fresh cob) and 2 cups of cooked black beans (canned is fine). Stir carefully, and add basil or cilantro.

Then peel and finely chop one clove of garlic, and whisk it in a small bowl with 2 tablespoons of olive oil and 2 tablespoons of lime juice. Stir into salad. Add a little salt and pepper. Toss gently and serve!

 

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Supplies:

Print out the poem:

http://poetry.eserver.org/paul-revere.html

 

 

            Have you ever read, or heard someone read the poem, "Paul Revere's Ride," by the famous American poet, Henry Wadsworth Longfellow? Around the Fourth of July, or any time, reading and even memorizing this great American poem is a great way to celebrate a key moment in American history.

 

            You can learn more about the situation behind the poem, and more about Paul Revere, on http://www.paulreverehouse.org/ride/

 

But a poem on paper is not as good as a poem shared with others. It's a fun project to divide up the verses of this long poem with your family members or friends. Everybody can get together to read the poem aloud, taking turns to read each verse aloud. That would be a fitting activity between the cookout dinner and the fireworks show on the evening of Independence Day!

 

Take time to explain vocabulary words to people who don't know some of these outdated words, such as "belfry" - the bell tower of a church - which is where the slang expression, "You have bats in your belfry" - you are crazy in the head - comes from.

 

            If you're really ambitious, and want to do something extra special, you could make up your mind to memorize the entire poem, and recite it aloud for your family and friends. Memorization is a wonderful brain-builder. Memorizing this poem would be an accomplishment of which you can always be proud.

 

It would be a great way to celebrate our country's birthday, and a small sacrifice of your time and effort compared to the patriots who fought and died for our freedom back in the 1770s.