Last updated: October 29, 2021
Lesson Plan
Life of a Spanish Soldier
- Grade Level:
- Upper Elementary: Third Grade through Fifth Grade
- Subject:
- Literacy and Language Arts,Social Studies
- Lesson Duration:
- 90 Minutes
- Common Core Standards:
- 4.RI.1, 4.RI.4, 4.RI.5, 4.RI.7
- State Standards:
- FL NGSSS
SS.4.A.1.1
SS.4.A.1.2
SS.4.A.3.3
SS.4.A.3.4
SS.4.A.3.7
SS.5.A.1.1
SS.5.A.3.3
SS.5.A.4.1 - Thinking Skills:
- Remembering: Recalling or recognizing information ideas, and principles. Understanding: Understand the main idea of material heard, viewed, or read. Interpret or summarize the ideas in own words. Applying: Apply an abstract idea in a concrete situation to solve a problem or relate it to a prior experience. Analyzing: Break down a concept or idea into parts and show the relationships among the parts.
Essential Question
What was life like for a Spanish Soldier during the 1700's?
Objective
Students will learn what life was like in Colonial Florida as a Spanish Soldier from the 1720's -1760's. Students will practice using historical documents and video interpretation to summarize and synthesize information.
Preparation
Read material prior to lesson.
Lesson Hook/Preview
In this lesson, students will learn about what life was like as a Spanish Soldier.
Procedure
Introduction Activity 1 (15-25 minutes): After watching 1-3 of the following videos, students should turns and talk to partner to discuss (1) Two facts they learned from the videos and (2) One question that they still have about what life was like for a soldier in St. Augustine.
Watch video 1740's Spanish Costume Interview (3:19 minutes)
Description of video link: 1740's Spanish Costume Interview with Richard Shortlidge explains what a Spanish private at Ft. Mose circa 1740, now a State Historic Site in St. Augustine, FL may have worn. Mr. Shortlidge was kind enough to talk to St. Augustine film maker Bruce Merwin on a number of topics on June 26, 2010 at the 270th anniversary of The Battle of Bloody Mose in St. Augustine Florida.
Watch video The Spanish Soldados Life at Castillo de San Marcos (6:23 minutes)
Description of video link: Join Park Volunteer Orlando Ramirez as he discusses what soldier life would have been like in 1740's St. Augustine. He shares the story from the soldiers' barracks in the fort. He describes the bunk beds, fireplace and cooking area, responsibilities, uniform, and more.
Watch video Seeking Sanctuary (5:09 minutes)
Description of video link: Park Ranger Ted shares the story of free and enslaved Africans in colonial Florida and St. Augustine. He shares the story of the Black Militia at Fort Mose (the first free African American settlement in what is now the United States), the leadership of a formerly enslaved Mandingo named Francisco Menendez, the story of the Underground Railroad to Florida, and the connection to Castillo de San Marcos.
Video/Reading Activity 1 (40 minutes): Reading passage Colonial Florida's Spanish Bluecoats. After reading the passage, divide students into small groups (no larger than 3 students per group). Students are to create a skit to demonstrate what life was like as a Spanish Soldier in the 1700's. Students should include the following in their skit:
Where the soldier is living/ what or who the soldier is protecting?
Who were your enemies?
What trade the soldier is skilled in?
What weaponry was used as a soldier?
Where the soldier is living/ what or who the soldier is protecting?
Who were your enemies?
What trade the soldier is skilled in?
What weaponry was used as a soldier?
Activity 2 (15 minutes):
Journal Entry: Students are to create a journal entry response to the following question.
Think about your interests and things you are good at. What skills do you possess that would make you valuable in Colonial times in the 1700's? Explain your thinking.
Vocabulary
Soldado (Spanish word for soldier), haversack, escopeta, provinces, hardtack, cockade
Assessment Materials
Students will demonstrate knowledge Soldier Life by answering the skit required questions. Teachers my take an informal assessments from the skit and journal entry response.
Supports for Struggling Learners
Work with your exceptional student education or special education teachers to modify the lesson to meet the specific needs of your students with different abilities.
Enrichment Activities
Explore the Virtual Field Trip.
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