Teacher Resources
Crown Point
Students learn to distinguish tactical from strategic outcomes by tracing the causal chain from Arnold's fleet construction through Valcour Island, the delayed British invasion, and the Saratoga surrender. Using maps, timelines, and a campaign season analysis, students understand how time functions as a military resource and evaluate whether Arnold's decision at Valcour Island was strategically correct.
Grade Range
6-8
Duration
2-3 class periods
Included
3 Resources
What's Included
Everything
You Need
- 5 primary sources with analysis prompts
- Quiz with answer key (5 questions)
- 3 printable handouts
Lesson Overview
Students learn to distinguish tactical from strategic outcomes by tracing the causal chain from Arnold's fleet construction through Valcour Island, the delayed British invasion, and the Saratoga surrender. Using maps, timelines, and a campaign season analysis, students understand how time functions as a military resource and evaluate whether Arnold's decision at Valcour Island was strategically correct.
Essential Questions
- What is the difference between winning a battle and winning a campaign? Can you lose one to win the other?
- How does time function as a military resource? What did Arnold buy with his fleet, and what did it cost?
Primary Sources
5 Sources for Analysis
INSTITUTIONAL · TIER1
Crown Point State Historic Site
New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation
View SourcePRIMARY · TIER1
Amherst Papers: Crown Point Correspondence
UK National Archives
PRIMARY · TIER1
A Narrative of Colonel Ethan Allen's Captivity
Various editions (original 1779)
SECONDARY · TIER1
Sails and Steam in the Mountains: A Maritime and Military History of Lake George and Lake Champlain
Purple Mountain Press (Russell P. Bellico)
INSTITUTIONAL · TIER1
Historic American Buildings Survey: Crown Point Fortifications
Library of Congress / National Park Service
Lesson Plan
In the Classroom
Learning Objectives
- 1Distinguish between tactical outcomes (who won the battle) and strategic outcomes (what the battle accomplished)
- 2Trace the causal chain from Arnold's fleet construction to the Saratoga surrender
- 3Analyze how campaign seasons shaped military decision-making on Lake Champlain
- 4Evaluate Arnold's Valcour Island decision as strategically correct or incorrect, using evidence
Assessment
Crown Point in the American Revolution
Answer the following questions based on our study of Revolutionary history.
What makes Crown Point significant in Revolutionary history?
multiple choice
Primary sources are documents or objects created during the time period being studied.
true false
Name one event that occurred in Crown Point during the Revolutionary period and explain its significance.
short answer
+ 2 more questions in the full packet
Ready to Print?
The full teacher packet includes cover page, lesson plan, all primary source worksheets, quiz, answer key, and standards alignment — formatted for classroom printing.