Bibliographic Information:
Collier, J. L., & Collier, C. (1974). My brother Sam is dead. New York: Four Winds.
Readability Level: 5.8
Audience Level: Grades 6-8
Suggested Delivery: independent or group read
Summary: "All his life, Tim Meeker has looked up to his brother Sam. Sam's smart and brave -- and is now a part of the American Revolution. Not everyone in town wants to be a part of the rebellion. Most are supporters of the British -- including Tim and Sam's father. With the war soon raging, Tim know he'll have to make a choice -- between the Revolutionaries and the Redcoats . . . and between his brother and his father." -Amazon.com
Collier, J. L., & Collier, C. (1974). My brother Sam is dead. New York: Four Winds.
Readability Level: 5.8
Audience Level: Grades 6-8
Suggested Delivery: independent or group read
Summary: "All his life, Tim Meeker has looked up to his brother Sam. Sam's smart and brave -- and is now a part of the American Revolution. Not everyone in town wants to be a part of the rebellion. Most are supporters of the British -- including Tim and Sam's father. With the war soon raging, Tim know he'll have to make a choice -- between the Revolutionaries and the Redcoats . . . and between his brother and his father." -Amazon.com
Curriculum Connections:
Taken from Discovery Education
Taken from Discovery Education
- Ask students to choose a battle between the British and the Americans. Direct them to create a historical marker for the battle site so that others may learn about what happened there. The minimum information that students should include on the plaque is name of the place, number of dead, names of leaders, and results of the battle.
- What are some of the reasons that countries and colonies seek independence? Are any of these reasons more important than others? Think about some of the "hot spots" around the world where people are currently seeking independence from a controlling government. What issues underlie these conflicts? Are they similar to the issues that led the American colonists to revolt against the English government? How?
- After reading and discussing the novel, ask your students to imagine themselves in Tim's place or as someone else who has a good vantage point for assessing the conflict—for example, a soldier's spouse or parent, a doctor or nurse, or a munitions maker's apprentice. Would they feel and act as Tim does—or differently?