Famous Figures of the American Revolution: A Hands-On History Activity Kids Love

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If you are looking for an American Revolution activity for kids that brings history off the page, take a look at Famous Figures of the American Revolution: Expanded Edition. Instead of only reading names and dates, children get to color, cut out, assemble, and play with 15 important people from the Revolutionary era.

My kids love these movable historical figures! They are great quality, easy to put together, and so much more memorable than another worksheet. Once assembled, the arms and legs move, turning each historical figure into an articulated paper puppet that children can use for storytelling, narrations, reenactments, displays, and imaginative play.

SHOP FAMOUS FIGURES OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION HERE

What Is Famous Figures of the American Revolution?

Famous Figures of the American Revolution: Expanded Edition is a 60+ page hands-on history book. It contains 15 articulated paper figures representing people from different sides and roles in the American Revolution.

Each person is included twice: once in full color and once as a black-and-white version children can color themselves. After choosing a version, children cut out the individual pieces, punch the marked holes, and connect the pieces with mini brads. The completed puppets have movable arms and legs and stand approximately 10 to 13 inches tall.

The book includes:

15 articulated historical figures
Full-color and color-your-own versions of every figure
Detailed biography and information pages
A companion reading list for additional study
Assembly instructions
Illustrations based on historical paintings and descriptions
Sturdy cardstock pages

The book recommends the project for children ages 6 to 12, although younger children may need help with the cutting, hole punching, and tiny brads.

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Which Historical Figures Are Included?

The expanded edition contains five more figures than the original edition, for a total of 15:

Benjamin Franklin
Marquis de Lafayette
George Washington
John Adams
Paul Revere
Thomas Jefferson
A soldier of the Continental Army
A soldier of the British Army
Molly Pitcher
Two Kettles (Tyonajanegen)
Phillis Wheatley
Patrick Henry
Betsy Ross
Daniel Boone
Joseph Brant

I appreciate that the selection goes beyond the handful of names children usually encounter. Including writers, soldiers, leaders, women, and people from opposing sides of the conflict gives families several directions to explore as they study the Revolutionary era.

Why My Kids Enjoy These American Revolution Puppets

There is something about a lesson children can hold in their hands that makes it stick.

The figures are large, colorful, and fun to move. Once the puppets are assembled, children can make George Washington march, Paul Revere ride off with an important message, or bring several figures together to narrate an event. A history lesson suddenly feels more like play—and that is usually when the best learning sneaks in.

I also love that the book gives children a choice. Kids who want to get straight to cutting and assembling can use the full-color figures. Children who enjoy art can choose the black-and-white versions and add their own color first. You could even have two children work on different versions of the same person.

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Our Best Tip: Laminate the Figures Before Cutting

The figures are printed on sturdy cardstock, but we laminate ours before cutting out the individual pieces. It adds an extra step, but it makes the finished puppets much more durable—especially if your children plan to use them for reenactments and imaginative play rather than making them only for a display.

Here is the method that works well for us:

Choose either the colored figure or the version your child has colored.
Remove the page carefully if needed.
Laminate the entire page before cutting out the pieces.
Cut around each laminated piece.
Use a ⅛-inch hole punch on the marked holes.
Connect the pieces with mini brads.

The small mini brads we use fit the figures perfectly. Standard-size brads can look bulky on the joints, so this is one project where the smaller size really does make a difference.

Helpful supplies:

MINI BRADS
⅛-INCH HOLE PUNCH
LAMINATOR
LAMINATING POUCHES
Scissors
Crayons, colored pencils, or markers

One little warning: mini brads are, as their name cheerfully announces, very small. I like to pour a few into a shallow dish while we work so they do not roll off the table and disappear into whatever mysterious place tiny craft supplies go to live.

More Than a Craft: Biography and History Are Included

The puppets may be the part that first catches a child's attention, but this book is more than a cut-and-assemble activity.

I really like the informational sections included in the book. Each historical figure has biographical information that helps children understand who that person was and why he or she mattered. These pages make it easy to add meaningful history without having to hunt down a separate lesson for every figure.

You can read the information aloud before your child begins assembling a puppet, or let an independent reader study it and then tell you what they learned. The companion reading list is also helpful when one person sparks your child's curiosity and you want to find additional books.

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Ways to Use the Figures in Your Homeschool

You do not have to complete all 15 puppets at once. We prefer to bring them out as we encounter each person in our history studies. That keeps the project connected to what the kids are learning and gives them something new to anticipate.

Here are a few ways you could use the completed figures:

Retell a history lesson

After reading about an event, let your child use the puppets to explain what happened. This is an easy, low-pressure form of narration.

Put on an American Revolution puppet show

Children can write a short script or retell a familiar event. A puppet show is especially fun for siblings or a homeschool co-op.

Add the figures to a timeline

Place each person near the events connected with his or her life. If a full-size puppet is too large for your timeline, photograph the completed figure and print a smaller copy for the timeline.

Create a history display

Use removable adhesive or clips to display the figures near a map, timeline, or collection of books about the American Revolution.

Use them for a biography presentation

Have each child choose one person to research. The completed puppet can become a visual aid during a short oral presentation.

Compare perspectives

Because the book includes both Continental and British soldiers, along with figures such as Joseph Brant and Two Kettles, older children can discuss how people experienced the conflict differently.

Encourage imaginative play

Not every use needs to look like a formal lesson. Children often remember more when they are free to create stories and return to the figures during play.

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Does This Work With Other History Curricula?

Yes. This is a supplemental activity rather than a complete American Revolution curriculum, so it is easy to add to almost any history program.

It would work especially well alongside:

The Story of the World
Mystery of History
A chronological American history curriculum
An American Revolution unit study
A biography study
A homeschool co-op lesson
A classroom history center
A library program for children

You can complete the figures in the book's order or simply select the people who appear in your current lessons.

Is Famous Figures of the American Revolution Worth It?

For families with children who enjoy coloring, crafts, puppets, or hands-on learning, I think this is a wonderful addition to an American history study.

The quality is excellent, the figures are straightforward to assemble, and including both colored and colorable versions makes the book useful for different ages and personalities. I especially appreciate the biographical information because it keeps the project rooted in real history while still allowing plenty of creativity.

And unlike a worksheet that may be completed and forgotten, the finished puppets can continue to be used for narrations, reenactments, displays, and play. Laminating them first makes them even more durable.

If you are planning an American Revolution unit, studying early American history, or simply looking for a way to make history more engaging, Famous Figures of the American Revolution: Expanded Edition is definitely one to consider.

Frequently Asked Questions

What supplies are needed to assemble the figures?

You will need scissors, mini brads, and a ⅛-inch hole punch. Coloring supplies are optional if your child uses the full-color versions. We also recommend a laminator and laminating pouches if you want the finished figures to last longer.

Are the figures already colored?

Each historical figure comes in two versions: one printed in full color and one in black and white for children to color.

How many historical figures are included?

The expanded edition includes 15 articulated historical figures, which is five more than the original edition.

What ages is this activity best for?

The book recommends ages 6 to 12. Children who are still developing scissor skills will likely need adult assistance, particularly with the smaller pieces, hole punch, and mini brads.

Can the figures be laminated?

Yes. We laminate the whole page before cutting out and assembling the pieces. This makes the puppets much more durable for repeated use.

Is this a complete American Revolution curriculum?

No. It is a hands-on supplemental resource with biographical information and a reading list. It can be paired with most American history curricula or unit studies.

Where Can I Purchase Famous Figures of the American Revolution: Expanded Edition?

Famous Figures of the American Revolution: Expanded Edition is available to purchase from Timberdoodle. You can purchase items separately or bundled together in curriculum kits.

We've purchased many items from Timberdoodle over the years - they have SO many fun and educational products, oftentimes priced lower than other retailers.

If you aren't familiar with Timberdoodle, they offer fantastic learning products for babies all the way up to high school students. We have used their curriculum for many years and have been very happy with their products and amazing customer service. Not a homeschooling family? That's fine too! They have an entire shop of products that would make the perfect gift for any child.