Programs > K-12 Programs

Inspire your students to study historic primary source materials with a dynamic theatrical presentation about Isaiah Thomas (1749-1831), a printer who was instrumental in starting the American Revolution and then, as the foremost publisher in the Early Republic, created a uniquely American literature and culture.

In Isaiah Thomas - Patriot Printer a professional actor, wearing a costume and wig, comes directly into your classroom and impersonates Isaiah Thomas. In an interactive presentation, Thomas tells his own life story and the history of our nation's founding through selected documents that the real Thomas either created or collected. All the historic documents and graphic images described in the theatrical presentation are contained in the facsimile/curriculum guide and come from the collections of the American Antiquarian Society (AAS), a national research library of American history, literature and culture. Your students hear Thomas read from and talk about these documents, and then explore them on their own through the included facsimiles and lesson plans developed by classroom teachers.

This program is appropriate for Language Arts and American History classes in grades 5-12.

Isaiah Thomas - Patriot Printer encourages students to use their research, investigative learning, and critical thinking skills. The program also engages students who may have problems reading and learning in traditional ways through the excitement of a live theatrical presentation, and by the variety of learning activities included in the facsimile/curriculum guide.

Isaiah Thomas - Patriot Printer adheres to the National Standards for History, the Curriculum Standards for Social Studies developed by the National Council for Social Studies, and to the history and social science curriculum frameworks and standards for the states of Massachusetts, Connecticut, Vermont, and New York.

Topics addressed in Isaiah Thomas - Patriot Printer

• The American Revolution
• Events leading up to the American Revolution
• The beginning and early battles of the war
• The War of 1812
• The Early National Period
• Early American Printing and Publishing
• Early American Literature
• The Rise of the Market Economy
• The Transportation Revolution

Fees:

First-time performance	$350
Each additional performance	$300

To encourage making this program an integral part of your curriculum we are offering a special rate for schools that have used the program in the past.

Returning Performance	$300
Each additional returning performance	$250

These prices include multiple copies of the curriculum guide (much of the package can be reproduced free of charge.) Additional travel expenses may apply to performances outside of Central Massachusetts.

For further information contact:
James David Moran, Director of Outreach
American Antiquarian Society
185 Salisbury Street, Worcester, MA 01609
Phone: 508-471-2131
Fax: 508-754-9069
E-mail: jmoran[at]mwa.org