Tanya
Beers
IST571:
Children's Literature Lit Kit
Book: My Brother Sam is Dead by
James Lincoln Collier and Christopher Collier
James Lincoln Collier and Christopher Collier
Lesson
Plan and Selling Tool:
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1eW6GLjlgg7hdU7dhgP4yPaAxfr1RZHVJmSMXFSjstg4/edit
Tanya Beers
IST 571: Children’s Literature
Share Blog Post – Week 11
Title: My Brother Sam is Dead
Author: James Lincoln Collier and Christopher Collier
Lexile Level: 770L
Grade Level: 7th – 8th grade
Ages: 12 – 14 years
ISBN #: 0439783607
My Brother Sam is Dead takes place during the American Revolutionary War (1775- 1783).
The main character, Tim Meeker, feels helpless as he watches the war encroach closer to his
home and family. Tim’s father and mother are Tories, or, people who are supportive of Britain
during the Revolutionary War and therefore, are against the war and fighting.
The main character, Tim Meeker, feels helpless as he watches the war encroach closer to his
home and family. Tim’s father and mother are Tories, or, people who are supportive of Britain
during the Revolutionary War and therefore, are against the war and fighting.
Tim’s older brother Sam is stubborn and thinks that the war if worth fighting. He gets into
many arguments with his father about it and eventually enlists in the Continental Army to
fight the British. The verbal and emotional struggle between Sam and their father makes
Tim feel like he is in the middle and he struggles with which side to take. This book very
accurately depicts what the Revolutionary War was like and how it affected citizens during
that time. It also engages readers to think about moral issues, such as, loyalty, bravery in the
face of fear, and dealing with the emotional toll of death and pain on a large scale.
many arguments with his father about it and eventually enlists in the Continental Army to
fight the British. The verbal and emotional struggle between Sam and their father makes
Tim feel like he is in the middle and he struggles with which side to take. This book very
accurately depicts what the Revolutionary War was like and how it affected citizens during
that time. It also engages readers to think about moral issues, such as, loyalty, bravery in the
face of fear, and dealing with the emotional toll of death and pain on a large scale.
Lesson for 7th graders:
Students will do a short research assignment where they will research the Revolutionary War
and using scholarly books and articles. They will then write a 2-page paper about the main
aspects of the war (how it started, who was involved, how long it lasted, etc.).
and using scholarly books and articles. They will then write a 2-page paper about the main
aspects of the war (how it started, who was involved, how long it lasted, etc.).
Students will read the book My Brother Sam is Dead by James Lincoln Collier and
Christopher Collier. They will try to identify with the main characters of the reading and
what it must have been like for citizens and families during the Revolutionary War by putting
themselves in their shoes. Students will write a 1-2 page journal entry depicting themselves,
in the first person, as either a Revolutionary War soldier or a family member of a soldier.
If depicting themselves as a soldier, they must explain why they enlisted to fight the British
and if they are depicting themselves as a family member they must explain how they feel
about the war and their relative fighting in it.
Christopher Collier. They will try to identify with the main characters of the reading and
what it must have been like for citizens and families during the Revolutionary War by putting
themselves in their shoes. Students will write a 1-2 page journal entry depicting themselves,
in the first person, as either a Revolutionary War soldier or a family member of a soldier.
If depicting themselves as a soldier, they must explain why they enlisted to fight the British
and if they are depicting themselves as a family member they must explain how they feel
about the war and their relative fighting in it.
Learning Standards:
Common Core Writing Standards Grades 6-12 (Grade 7):
7.3. Write narratives to develop real or imagined experiences or events using effective
technique, relevant descriptive details, and well-structured event sequences.
technique, relevant descriptive details, and well-structured event sequences.
a. Engage and orient the reader by establishing a context and point of view and
introducing a narrator and/or characters; organize an event sequence that unfolds
naturally and logically.
introducing a narrator and/or characters; organize an event sequence that unfolds
naturally and logically.
b. Use narrative techniques, such as dialogue, pacing, and description, to develop
experiences, events, and/or characters.
experiences, events, and/or characters.
c. Use a variety of transition words, phrases, and clauses to convey sequence
and signal shifts from one time frame or setting to another.
and signal shifts from one time frame or setting to another.
d. Use precise words and phrases, relevant descriptive details, and sensory language
to capture the action and convey experiences and events.
to capture the action and convey experiences and events.
e. Provide a conclusion that follows from and reflects on the narrated experiences
or events.
or events.
7.4. Produce clear and coherent writing in which the development, organization, and style
are appropriate to task, purpose, and audience. (Grade-specific expectations for writing types
are defined in standards 1–3 above.)
are appropriate to task, purpose, and audience. (Grade-specific expectations for writing types
are defined in standards 1–3 above.)
a. Produce text (print or non-print) that explores a variety of cultures and perspectives.
7.11. Create a presentation, art work, or text in response to a literary work with a commentary
that identifies connections.
that identifies connections.
a. Make deliberate, personal, cultural, textual, and thematic connections across genres.
b. Create poetry, stories, plays, and other literary forms (e.g. videos, art work).
(New York State Department of Education).
Learning Goal:
Students will use their research conclusions and their creative writing skills to identify
with citizens during the Revolutionary War and the main characters in the novel
My Brother Sam is Dead by James Lincoln Collier and Christopher Collier.
with citizens during the Revolutionary War and the main characters in the novel
My Brother Sam is Dead by James Lincoln Collier and Christopher Collier.
Learning Objectives:
1. Through their research and the reading, students will identify with the citizens of
the Revolutionary War and the main characters of the reading by writing a first person
account as a journal entry. (Affective and Cognitive)
the Revolutionary War and the main characters of the reading by writing a first person
account as a journal entry. (Affective and Cognitive)
2. Students will integrate the historical research information with the reading to influence
their creative writing assignment. (Psychomotor)
their creative writing assignment. (Psychomotor)
Learning Outcome:
Students will identify with the main characters of the reading and the citizens of the
Revolutionary War through research, the assigned reading, and creative writing.
Revolutionary War through research, the assigned reading, and creative writing.
Works Cited:
Collier, James Lincoln and Collier, Christopher. My Brother Sam is Dead. Simon and
Schuster Books for Young Readers, 1974.
Schuster Books for Young Readers, 1974.
New York State Department of Education. (2011). New York State P-12 Common Core
Learning Standards for English Language Arts & Literacy. Retrieved from https://www.engageny.org/
resource/new-york-state-p-12-common-core-learning-standards-for-english-language-arts-and-literacy.
Learning Standards for English Language Arts & Literacy. Retrieved from https://www.engageny.org/
resource/new-york-state-p-12-common-core-learning-standards-for-english-language-arts-and-literacy.
Selling Tool: Bookmark of My Brother Sam is Dead.
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