Casimir Pulaski: Father of the American Cavalry

Freedom Project
Course/Grade level: Guided Reading/Social Studies 5 th
Lesson Title: Casimir Pulaski "Father of the American Cavalry"
Teacher: Kayla Lischka
Aims/Objectives and Standards:
The objective of this lesson is to increase knowledge about Casimir Pulaski as well
as to integrate history into a guided reading lesson.
Illinois State Standards: 16.B, 16.D, 16.E, 1.A, 1.B., 1.C., 2.A, 2.B., 5.A, 5.B.,2.B.,
3.A, 3.B, 5.A, 5.B, 5.C.,14.D., 14.F., 16.B., 16.C.
Procedure:
Pass out information, vocabulary list, timeline and worksheets
Review vocabulary and assign a word to look up in the dictionary.
Review definitions
Read background information, speech and discuss material
Assign worksheet as a formal assessment.
Materials:
Dictionaries, pencils vocabulary journals
Attached documents, background information, timeline, vocabulary list, and
worksheet
Resources and Scholarship:
American Revolution, DK Eyewitness Books, DK Publishing written by Stuart
Murray.

The Blackwell Encyclopedia of the American Revolution, edited by Jack P. Greene
and J.K. Pole
Conclusion/Lesson wrap up:
The worksheet and group discussion should help students to better understand the
importance others played in our fight for Independence. This will also assist the
student's understanding of a vertical timeline.

gallant The residents of Charleston on Oct. 22, 1779, held a retreat
funeral procession in honor of this gallant hero.
Pulaski in America
1771- June 6 -leaves the French port Nantes for
America on the ship Massachusetts.
1777- July 23 - Arrives in the Colonies near the city
of Boston.
1777- October 3 -fought in Germantown, helping
out the retreat of Washington
1777-winter - stayed around Valley Forge.
1778- January 8- Pulaski and his men go to Trenton,
where he organizes and trains his army.
1778- late February - He is fighting the British, at
Cooper's Ferry (near Philadelphia).
1778- October 8- Pulaski's Legion goes to Egg
Harbor.
1778- October 15- He and his men are attacked at
night by the British. Suffering great losses.
1778- October 24-The Legion goes to Trenton, then
to Sussex Court House and Minsink to fight Indians.
1779- May 8-The Legion goes to Charleston, where
they capture the city.
1779- September 16- The Legion comes to
Savannah, where on October 9,Pulaski was
wounded at the battle of Savannah.
1779- October ll-Pulaski dies of his wounds on the
ship Wasp.

A) Vocabulary- Matching
1. Nobleman a) a queen: a female ruler of a country
2. Patriot b) soldiers fighting on horseback
3. Empress c) a person who loves and supports his or her
country
4. Battle d) a large number of soldiers
5. Legion e) person of power who owned land
6. Cavalry f) a fight in a war
B) True or False
7. Joseph Pulaski helped Catherine the Great.__
8. Casimir Pulaski was sentenced to death.
--
9. In Poland Pulaski met George Washington.__
10. The American Colonies wanted freedom from England._
11. Ben Franklin met Pulaski in France._
12. Pulaski became a general in the American colonies,_
13. Pulaski won every battle._
14. Pulaski became captain of The Wasp._
C) Short answers
15.Why were Pulaski and his family against Catherine the Great?
16.Why did Pulaski leave Poland?
17.Why did Ben Franklin want Pulaski to come to the Colonies?
18.Who was George Washington?
19.What happened to Pulaski in Savannah, Georgia?
20. What did the residents of Charleston do to honor Pulaski?
D) Extended Response
Why do you think Casimir Pulaski was called the Father of the American
Cavalry?
Support your answer.