The 251st Anniversary of Lexington and Concord!

This post is mostly bringing back special materials that were created for the 250th anniversary of the Battle of Lexington and Concord, as well as some classics on the events surrounding that time (like the famous ride of Paul Revere). Not going to discuss most of these since they have already been "out there" for a year - just want to make teachers aware of them if you are not already . . .

This would probably be my initial "go-to" site on a lot of American history - the National Park Service not only is filled with historians with a passion for their particular location (like going to Civil War battlefields, for example) but also has the time and access to do both academic research and on-site re-creation/re-enactment to allow American citizens to experience just a little bit of what the event and time period was like. I also think they are getting increasingly better at incorporating the stories of groups and people beyond the "celebrities" - like the last screenshot below linking to the stories of blacks and women at Lexington and Concord.

National Park Service (NPS) 250th Anniversary of the American Revolution Commemoration at Minuteman National Historic Park -

Rise To Rebellion links (focusing on the events of late 1773 - early 1775 that led to Lexington and Concord) https://www.nps.gov/mima/mima250.htm (includes onsite events that have already taken place)

Events of April 19, 1775 (focusing on the events of that day, including an interactive map and very detailed timeline) https://www.nps.gov/mima/learn/historyculture/april-19-1775.htm (includes onsite events that have already taken place)

This was not created specifically for the 250th anniversary, but was done in 2020 when students were unable to visit the Minuteman NHS during the Covid-19 pandemic. As usual I am only sampling one activity of several - I think there are something like 50 pages of material included with this lesson plan.

"Embattled Farmers and the Shot Heard Round the World: The Battles of Lexington and Concord" (lesson plan), from the National Park Service (NPS) -

Lesson plan webpage - https://www.nps.gov/teachers/classrooms/150concord.htm

Downloadable PDF of the actual lesson plan - https://www.nps.gov/teachers/classrooms/upload/TwHP-Lessons_150concord.pdf

Other links (articles and videos) on the 250th Anniversary of Lexington and Concord:

"Actors reenact Paul Revere's historic midnight ride with some modern-day tweaks", PBS NewsHour, Apr 2025, https://www.pbs.org/newshour/nation/actors-reenact-paul-reveres-historic-midnight-ride-with-some-modern-day-tweaks

"The birth of the American Revolution" (video), CBS Sunday Morning, Apr 2025, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SesT2bu7lbg

"In the Cradle of the American Revolution, Telling History Her Way", New York Times, Apr 2025, https://www.nytimes.com/2025/04/19/us/battle-of-lexington-250th-anniversary.html And the teenager's website the article is talking about - https://lexington250.com/

"Lexington and Concord at 250: Can We Still Hear the ‘Shot Heard Round the World’?" (expert article from historian Lindsay Chervinsky), The Bulwark, Apr 2025, https://www.thebulwark.com/p/lexington-concord-250-anniversary-revolutionary-war-shot-heard-round-the-world

"The Real Story of Paul Revere’s Ride" and "Frequently Asked Questions about the Midnight Ride of Paul Revere", The Paul Revere House, Apr 2025, https://www.paulreverehouse.org/the-real-story/ AND https://www.paulreverehouse.org/frequently-asked-questions-about-the-midnight-ride-of-paul-revere/

"Riding Paul Revere’s Route 250 Years Later, Here’s What We Saw", New York Times, Apr 2025, https://www.nytimes.com/2025/04/18/us/paul-revere-ride-250-anniversary.html

"The Shot Heard ’Round the World: Lexington, Concord and the Start of War | The American Revolution" (video), PBS, Nov 2025, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sCpOiCyZRm8

"Watch: The Battle of Lexington reenactment, 250 years later", Boston 25 News, Apr 2025, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6i28UUuUYRE

If you prefer a focus on primary sources, this lesson from the National Humanities Center is a good choice. Below I have a screenshot listing the four excerpts used in the lesson, along with a sample of questions based on the diary of a farmer in the area of Lexington and Concord. As usual I am only sampling a couple of items - there are about 25 pages of activities, student questions, and readings within this lesson plan.

"Lexington and Concord: Tipping Point of the Revolution" (lesson plan), from America in Class and the National Humanities Center (NHC) -

Lesson plan webpage - https://americainclass.org/tipping-point-of-the-revolution/

Downloadable PDF of the actual lesson plan - https://americainclass.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/LexingtonConcord-StudentVersion.pdf