LESSON PLAN # 1 – War of 1812 in the Western District Treasure Hunt

TOPIC: Treasure Hunt Activity. Students will read the War of 1812 website and answer a series of twenty-five questions. The questions are designed to promote a general understanding of the historical events of the war in the Western District as well as allow the students to familiarize themselves to the website. This may be done in partners.

CURRICULUM EXPECTATIONS: Students will – • describe the major causes and personalities of the War of 1812; • trace the historical development of their own community.

OBJECTIVES (desired student outcomes): The students will – a) Attitudes: • value the experiences of past residents (and for some students, ancestors) of Windsor- Essex, Chatham-Kent, and Lambton Counties. b) Skills: • familiarize themselves to the War of 1812 in the Western District website; • develop skills in data research. c) Knowledge: • learn historical facts about local War of 1812 events, places and important people; • understand the usefulness of the website as a resource tool for future study and research.

RESOURCES: • Access to a computer lab to use the War of 1812 in the Western District website. • Copies of the Treasure Hunt Question Sheet (see below). • Teacher copy of the Treasure Hunt Answer Sheet (see below).

INTRODUCTORY ACTIVITY: Begin by asking students what they think of when they hear the word ‘Tecumseh.’ To many this may bring to mind names of streets, parks, or buildings in their community. They may also think of the Town of Tecumseh.

Ask the students: “Do you know why so many places in our community have the name ‘Tecumseh’?” “Do you know who Tecumseh the man was and why he was important?” “Was Tecumseh Canadian?”

Do not explain the answers to these questions at this time. Have the students complete the Treasure Hunt activity and return to these questions as a class after the activity is complete.

DEVELOPMENT STRATEGIES: This lesson will take about one (1) hour to complete.

This is a student centred activity that allows students, working alone or in partners, to ‘teach’ themselves about exciting and significant events of war in their own community.

Allow students to complete the question sheet. When the students are done, have them write a short paragraph summarizing three important events they learned about through the activity. They should reflect on how such events occurred where they now live.

CONCLUDING ACTIVITY: Return to the questions about Tecumseh. What have the students learned about him? How does this knowledge change (or does it change) how they see their own community?

METHODS OF EVALUATION: Answers to the Treasure Hunt Question sheet can be taken up as a class. Short paragraphs may be marked for structure and content.

FOLLOW-UP IDEAS: Students may return to the website and their Treasure Hunt answers for further research.

Treasure Hunt Questions The War of 1812 in the Western District

1. On what date did William Hull invade Canada?

2. Who made up the band of fighters under John Norton’s command?

3. When was Sir Isaac Brock sent to Upper Canada?

4. With whom did Brock capture Detroit from the Americans on August 16, 1812?

5. What did Lydia Bacon write about in her diary?

6. At what age did Robert Heriot Barclay join the navy?

7. Where did the Americans set up their camp after they invaded Canada?

8. On what date did Hull finally surrender?

9. After the defeat of Hull at Detroit, who was put in charge of Fort Malden?

10. At the beginning of the War of 1812, how many soldiers were based at Fort Malden? How much was a soldier paid each day? How much did he often end up with by year’s end?

11. When was Fort Malden returned to the British?

12. When did Procter attack Fort Meigs (in Michigan)? Did he successfully capture the fort?

13. When did the Battle of the River Raisin occur and who won?

14. Why did Procter not continue the siege at Fort Meigs in May 1813?

15. Why were the British at Amherstburg so determined to finish the construction of H.M.S. Detroit?

16. What happened on Sept 10, 1813?

17. After the Battle of Lake Erie, why did Procter order the retreat of his troops from Amherstburg?

18. Where was the Battle of the Thames fought? Who died there?

19. According to Verchères, what did Tecumseh wear to dinner at James Baby’s home?

20. Where is the Duff-Baby House located today?

21. Who won the Battle of the Thames?

22. Who won the Battle of the Longwoods?

23. Who captured the McCrae house from the Americans and why was this significant?

24. When was the Treaty of Ghent signed?

25. When was the last battle of the War of 1812 fought?

Treasure Hunt (Answers) The War of 1812 in the Western District

1. On what date did William Hull invade Canada? July 12, 1812

2. Who made up the band of fighters under John Norton’s command? Mohawks and African-Americans (many who were escaped slaves)

3. When was Sir Isaac Brock sent to Upper Canada? July 1810

4. With whom did Brock capture Detroit from the Americans on August 16, 1812? Tecumseh

5. What did Lydia Bacon write about in her diary? The events that happened in Detroit during 1812

6. At what age did Robert Heriot Barclay join the navy? He joined the navy at the age of 12 years

7. Where did the Americans set up their camp after they invaded Canada? They set up at François Baby’s Farm

8. On what date did Hull finally surrender? August 16, 1812

9. After the defeat of Hull at Detroit, who was put in charge of Fort Malden? Brock put Colonel Henry Procter in charge

10. At the beginning of the War of 1812, how many soldiers were based at Fort Malden? How much was a soldier paid each day? How much did he often end up with by year’s end? At this time approximately 250 soldiers were based at the fort. A soldier received one shilling a day; however, he usually had only about 18 shillings by the end of the year because he was charged for food and clothing.

11. When was Fort Malden returned to the British? During the summer of 1815

12. When did Procter attack Fort Meigs (in Michigan)? Did he successfully capture the fort? He attacked both in May and July, 1813. Each time he did not successfully capture the fort.

13. When did the Battle of the River Raisin occur and who won? The battle took place on January 22, 1813. The British under Procter and Chief Roundhead of the Wyandot won the battle.

14. Why did Procter not continue the siege at Fort Meigs in May 1813? The siege could not continue since the Native peoples wanted to return to their families and the militia wanted to return home to plant crops for the summer.

15. Why were the British at Amherstburg so determined to finish the construction of H.M.S. Detroit? The Americans had taken control of Lake Erie and they cut off the British supply lines. The British were attempting to open those lines once more.

16. What happened on Sept 10, 1813? The Americans captured the H.M.S. Detroit on this day, at the Battle of Lake Erie.

17. After the Battle of Lake Erie, why did Procter order the retreat of his troops from Amherstburg? Britain lost the battle so the British supply route was cut off. Furthermore, the Americans had captured the British ships, containing guns from Fort Malden.

18. Where was the Battle of the Thames fought? Who died there? Moraviantown -- Tecumseh died there.

19. According to Verchères, what did Tecumseh wear to dinner at James Baby’s home? He wore “…a red cloak, trousers of deerskin, and a printed calico shirt…”

20. Where is the Duff-Baby House located today? It is located at the corner of Mill and Russell Streets in Windsor.

21. Who won the Battle of the Thames? The Americans.

22. Who won the Battle of the Longwoods? The Americans.

23. Who captured McCrae house from the Americans and why was this significant? Lieutenant Henry Medcalf and his Norfolk Militia captured the McCrae House from the Americans. This was the first all-Canadian militia act of the war.

24. When was the Treaty of Ghent signed? December 24, 1814

25. When was the last battle of the War of 1812 fought? January 08, 1915 (The Battle of New Orleans)