Classroom Resources

Welcome to the classroom resources section for Morristown National Historical Park. We hope you find that these items compliment and enrich your classroom lessons. Please remember our on-site field trips and programs have specific resources and directions on their respective pages.

 

Videos for the classroom.
The Revolutionary Story at Morristown (2:24)
Produced by the National Park Service and National Park Foundation, this brief but entertaining video aptly summarizes the story and significance of Morristown in the American Revolution. Suitable for elementary and high school students..

Educator resource for The Revolutionary Story at Morristown with video text and suggested questions for students

Morristown: Where America Survived (26:39)
This documentary revisits the winter of 1779-80, when General Washington's troops built a log hut city for their winter camp in New Jersey - and saved the American Revolution from the brink of disaster. Edward Herrmann narrates.
The complete HD version of the 2009 NJN history special, MORRISTOWN: WHERE AMERICA SURVIVED. The re-enactment scenes were filmed in and around Jockey Hollow at Morristown National Historical Park. This special was aired by PBS in the national program schedule with the American Experience series.

Transcript of video "Morristown: Where America Survived"

Why Teach Morristown? Morristown and the Revolutionary War: SOME INTERPRETIVE THEMES FOR TEACHERS AND STUDENTS Mark Edward Lender Nathan Weiss School of Graduate Studies, Kean University

Compilations for the classroom.
Morristown Encampments During the American Revolution An overview of significant events and themes related to the Continental Army's visits to the vicinity of Morristown, New Jersey.
The Hard Winter--Data Based Questions Quotes from primary sources on the "Hard Winter" of 1779-80 with questions for students to answer,

Location, Location, Location--Data Based Questions Quotes from primary documents that relate to the selection of Jockey Hollow as the encampment site for the winter of 1779-80, with questions for students to answer.

Brigades and Regiments. A listing of those brigade and regiments at Morristown 1779-1780.

Hard Winter. A "news journal" description of the weather during the winter of 1779-1780, including primary source quotations.

Morristown Encampment - A Chronology
Significant events of the encampment November 1779-June 1780.

The People. Some of those who experienced the "Hard Winter-" Officers, Soldiers, and Civilians.

Women and children. What we know about who was here, and how they supported the Army.

Classroom activity:
Civilians v. Soldiers: Learn about the conflict between the local civilians and the soldiers in camp, through a "trial" in wihch students roleplay as advocats for each side,

 

Primary Sources:

Consider our Park and Library blog. A excellent source for updates on objects and documents in our collection. Link to it here at http://www.morristownnhpmuseum.blogspot.com/

 

Guide and lesson plans.

From Farming Village to Log Hut City: Morristown During the American Revolution is a classroom resource that introduces students to the many historical figures of Morristown and the sacrifices people made for freedom during the American Revolution. We hope these materials will provide a meaningful educational experience that relates directly to the New Jersey Core Curriculum Standards.

PLEASE NOTE: The three lessons in the Teacher's Guide are valuable for classroom use in teaching about the American Revolution. HOWEVER, the descriptions of the field trip/on-site experience do not reflect the current school programs offered classes visiting the park. Please refer to the field trip links in this educational web page ("A Soldier's Life" field trip and "War Comes to Morristown" field trip) for the full descriptions of the current programs given to classes making reservations for such a ranger-led experience during their visit.

For teachers who would like to receive a complete packet, please e-mail the park's Education Specialist (e-mail us) or leave a complete mailing address and contact number at [phone].