NC Unit 3

4th Grade Unit 3

Fourth GradeUnit 4Revolutionaries

Topic:A man whose revolutionary ideas changed the world

Featuring:Historical FictionPrimary SourcesSecondary Sources

Historical FictionA fictional story with real and imaginary

characters that takes place during a time in history.

•based on historical events

•authentic settings

•characters portrayed in realistic manner

•some characters may be actual people from history, but the story is fictional

•artistic mix of fiction and historical fact

The story “Morse Gets Clicking” is considered Historical Fiction.

The events of the story are true.

However, the actual letters in the story are fictitious.

Another way to learn about history…

Primary Sources

Primary Sources are original records of specific historical periods.

• produced by the people who participated in and witnessed the past

• offer a variety of points of view and perspectives of events

• can be found anywhere

Examples:

•Audio—oral histories or memoirs, interviews, music

•Images—photographs, videos, film, fine art

•Objects—clothing, tools, pottery, gravestones, inventions, weapons, memorabilia

•Text—letters, diaries, treaties, maps, laws, advertisements, recipes

Let’s take a look at some Primary Sources about

Samuel Morse and the inventionof the telegraph.

This picture is a sketch by Morse of the telegraph machine.

What are modern day inventions could trace their roots back to Morse Code?

This is the actual telegraph machine used by Samuel Morse.

When decoded, this paper tape recording of the historic message transmitted by Samuel F. B. Morse reads, "What hath God wrought?" Morse sent it from the Supreme Court room in the U.S. Capitol in Washington to his assistant, Alfred Vail, in Baltimore. Morse's early system produced a paper copy with raised dots and dashes, which were translated later by an operator.

This strip shows the first messagesent with the telegraph.

The dots and dashes system of telegraph transmission was known as Morse Code. This is one of its earliest versions.

These drawings by Morse that show how wires will be strung along poles to carry the electric current that would carry messages long distances.

Do they remind you of anything?

Morse didn’t stop with the invention of the telegraph.

He was truly a revolutionary thinker. He knew his ideas could change the world!

In 1838-39 Morse developed a new application of his telegraph.

It was to report the location of a train anywhere on the railway line.

Why would this be an important development?

Samuel F. B. Morse's colored sketch of railway telegraph, ca. 1838.

Morse wanted to create a way to communicate across the Atlantic Ocean. He began trying to accomplish this dream as early as 1843, but it was not until 1854 that the American Cyrus W. Field wrote to the inventor of his idea to link Ireland and Newfoundland by telegraph cable.

This revolutionary project stirred the imagination of millions on both sides of the Atlantic and, despite repeated failures, met with success in 1866.

What modern technologies are connected to Morse’s invention?

How did this advance change the world?

How did Morse exhibit perseverance?

Compare them!You learned information about Samuel Morse through reading “Morse Gets Clicking” and by looking at some primary sources. Compare the Historical Fiction account and the Primary Sources.

Which one is probably the most accurate? How does point of view of the author effect what message you learn?

Historical

Fiction

Primary Sources