The Elementary Common Sense of Thomas Paine: An Interactive Adaptation for All Ages [Import] [Paperback]

Mark Willensky (Author)

Product Details

• Paperback: 192 pages
• Publisher: Savas Beatie (January 15, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1932714227
• ISBN-13: 978-1932714227
• Shipping Weight: 1.1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (14 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #9,883,098 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Perfect Connection for my Students, March 16, 2008

By 

RJ Davis (littleton, co United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: THE ELEMENTARY COMMON SENSE OF THOMAS PAINE: An Interactive Adaptation for All Ages (Paperback)

As a 5th grade teacher that has to teach all subject areas to a self-contained classroom, I am always trying to find a way to link lessons from various subjects together.

For Social Studies I am required to teach American history from the early colonies through the Revolutionary War. I ran across this book and asked my school librarian if she could buy a few copies to see if I could use them for guided reading discussions during my students' literacy time (by the way, the book includes guided reading questions after each chapter). I was amazed at how well it made the issues we were discussing in Social Studies come alive.

This book is an easy read for my students and I love it because it gives them access to what I have always thought to be one of the most important pieces of writing from early American history. After having several of my students read the book, two of them actually went online and downloaded the audio-book of Paine's original version (these kids and their iPods!) and three others became so excited and inspired by Paine's arguments that they wrote their own version of Common Sense and presented it to the class during one of our Revolutionary War simulations in Social Studies. Paine, one of them said, was a true American hero for standing up for what was right even if others disagreed with him. Almost all of the students who read this really got into all the activities this book offers online (there is an icon on several pages that asks readers to go online for interactive activities that correspond with the text on that particular page) and for the first time in a long time, I had students getting on their computers at home to - get this - READ HISTORY.

Wow. All of that from bringing this book into my classroom. I have since ordered a classroom set and it will be a part of what I do for years to come.

If you're a teacher of early American history, this book is a "must-have" in your classroom. It teaches, it enriches, and it inspires. Wonderful.

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An Amazing Adaptation of the Overlooked Founding Document, February 20, 2008

By 

Sam Adams (Near Valley Forge) - See all my reviews

This review is from: THE ELEMENTARY COMMON SENSE OF THOMAS PAINE: An Interactive Adaptation for All Ages (Paperback)

What? Paine's Common Sense adapted for all ages? That was the question I asked myself when I came across this book for the first time. I was one of the first reviewers on the last edition (5 stars) and became extremely curious on why a larger publisher had picked it up. Happily, and even surprisingly, the new version is a stunner. Clocking in at 216 pages (Amazon shows it at 192, which is wrong) the original version was a mere 100 pages. Philosophically, this new book is much more expansive and ambitious, adding in adapted versions of The Boston Port Act, The Olive Branch Petition, and King George III's Proclamation for Suppressing Rebellion and Sedition. Every one a major contributing factor to the start of the American Revolution. Brilliant inclusions, because these documents are subtly referenced in Thomas Paine's rant against the Monarchy in his Common Sense pamphlet. I had never read the Olive Branch Petition or Port Act before, mainly because of "Olde English"...although, I had read about their tremendous effect on the colonists. All are fascinating, in their purpose and historical context. Next, I loved the humorous illustrations in the book, and happily--there are more of them in this edition. They clarify much of the text in key areas. (Look for the logo on the chamberpot in the Quartering Act cartoon, I'm still laughing.)

A stranger and more entertaining history book probably does not exist. But I can't imagine any age group not learning a lot about American History, and the effect of Paine's Common Sense on galvanizing revolution, through these adaptations. This book adds more depth to the understanding of early American documents, and history, than most others I have ever seen. And, like Paine's purpose in 1776, this book too is written in language for everyone. PLUS, the original Common Sense is included as well...so you can compare the two and better understand the original.

PS: The website that goes with the book has a game where you get to be a Colonial Police Sketch Artist and design a King George III Wanted Poster. I have no idea how to critique it, nor should I probably try, but I was very entertained.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Review of Elementary Common Sense, August 3, 2008

By 

Tilly (Dallas) - See all my reviews

This review is from: THE ELEMENTARY COMMON SENSE OF THOMAS PAINE: An Interactive Adaptation for All Ages (Paperback)

This was recommended to me by my local book store as I was recently trudging through an on-line college American History class, and was required to read Paine's Common Sense. It has been years since I've been in school and this was perfect for a quick and easy to understand reference to the document. Plus the original was included too. It was a life saver.