- Physical, topographical and historical maps of Pennsylvania (preferably with enlargement of the southeast corner of Pennsylvania) One flat board (plywood, fiberboard, heavy-gauge cardboard, etc.) - the size should be determined by the scale used to recreate the battlefield Modeling clay or craft foam Tempera paints Cocktail toothpicks, labels or some other type of marker
Preparation
Gather the materials you will need for the construction of the battlefield, including enough graph paper for each student. Download Student Worksheet PDFs: Worksheet 1: You Are There - Constructing a Battlefield to Scale; Worksheet 2: You Are There! - Setting the Stage; Worksheet 3: You Are There! - Decisions, Decisions, Decisions!, Worksheet 4: You Are There! - The Debriefing
Day 1
Explain to students that they are going to studying the Battle of Brandywine, the first major battle of the Philadelphia campaign.
Ask the students to read two letters pertaining to the Battle of Brandywine, one from Robert H. Harrison, one from G. Washington on the Virtualology.com web site.(site no longer exists)
Discuss how primary sources enrich our understanding of historical events. Encourage the students to use available maps to locate some of the landmarks mentioned in the letters.
Using a topographical or physical map, explain the general layout of the area around Brandywine Creek, pointing out landforms and landmarks. See Current topographical map of Brandywine region at Topozone.com. Discuss the concept of scale with students. Explain that they are going to reconstruct the battle area to scale. Using graph paper, each student will sketch a map of the battle area and mark it appropriately. The group will then construct a relief map of the battlefield and use it to reenact the actual troop movements using markers to indicate troop positions.
Distribute Worksheet 1: You Are There! - Constructing a Battlefield to Scale. Allow students time to sketch their individual maps and begin construction on the relief map. Give students some time each day to work on the construction and label the map.
Copy and distribute Worksheet 2: You are There! - The Stage is Set. Allow students time to read the play and choose the roles they would like to play. Assign roles.
Day 2
About one week later, ask students to perform the play: "The Stage is Set," which reenacts the first phase of the Battle of Brandywine. Discuss the confusion that resulted from so many conflicting reports. Ask them to read 
Source 1: Conflicting Versions of an Intelligence Report September 11, 1777.
Distribute Worksheet 3: You Are There! - Decisions, Decisions, Decisions. Allow students time to write the assigned essay.
Select and discuss several passages from J.P. Martin's Diary, Private Yankee Doodle. Tell the class that Martin's Diary is a primary source. Reinforce the concept of primary source. Ask the class how Martin's experience differed from that of officers.
Day 3
Share the rest of the story of the Battle of Brandywine (Phase 2 and Phase 3 of the battle) with the students and point out the historical markers associated with the events. Discuss their predictions in terms of what actually happened. Have the students read
Source 2: Washington's Report to the Continental Congress,
Source 3: Local Youth Recalls Encounters with British at Brandywine (Account of Joseph Townshend, battle witness),
Source 6: Dr. Benjamin Rush Reports on Conditions Following Brandywine. Compare the different points of view about the battle and discuss why each of these participants of observers might have had different opinions of the battle.
