April Morning

Use this activity to engage all types of learners, while requiring that they refer to and incorporate details from the text over the course of the activity.

April Morning Sequel

In this activity, students will create a premise for a sequel to Adam’s experience using an event from the Revolutionary War.

April Morning ends after Adam returns to his home and contemplates whether he will continue to fight in the Revolutionary War or stay home and take care of his family. Write the premise (a developed idea with details) for a sequel to Adam’s story based on a battle or event in the Revolutionary War. Use the bullet points to develop and summarize your story.

• Select a battle or event from the Revolutionary War and research events that occur to add setting and conflict ideas.
• Why might Adam continue to help with the war?
• How might Adam’s character continue to grow and change?
• What is Adam’s new role as part of the Revolution?
• What new struggles might Adam face as the head of his household?
• Explain the overall conflict, internal conflicts, and outcome of the sequel.
• Write the sequel’s opening line and create a title.

Discuss your potential sequel with peers, highlighting important plot points and comparing your story with the author’s depiction of Adam’s life. Present your sequel premise to the class with the title and opening line displayed nearby. Explain the ways in which Adam’s actions in your sequel are a natural and logical extension of his character growth in April Morning.

Teaching Suggestion: Students may find it beneficial to work in small groups to brainstorm individual characteristics and details in April Morning that would be important to carry through to a sequel. After working together on preliminary ideas, students might use plot diagrams or graphic organizers to create individual plot lines and map potential character growth Adam may experience in their sequel. Consider encouraging students to conduct thorough research, like Fast, to create an accurate depiction of what Adam could logically experience next.

Differentiation Suggestion: Students who require an additional challenge may want to explore the roles Adam might experience in the war other than his involvement in the militia. Consider asking students to introduce Adam to important figures during this time and to portray an accurate picture of these historical figures based on research.