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Lesson Plan
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Carolina K-12

On the Road to Revolution: Creating a Living Timeline

For Teachers 8th Standards
Divided into nine topic groups, from the Proclamation of 1763 to the Battles of Lexington and Concord, your young historians research significant events on the road to the American Revolution, then create a two- to three-minute sketch...
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Unit Plan
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Core Knowledge Foundation

A New Nation American Independence Tell It Again!™ Read-Aloud Anthology

For Teachers 1st Standards
Sixteen lessons make up a read-aloud anthology centered around America's journey toward independence. Scholars hear texts about the Boston Tea Party, Betsy Ross, the Found Fathers, the Liberty Bell, and more! Pupils discuss their...
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Lesson Plan
Literacy Design Collaborative

American Dream: Reality, Promise or Illusion?

For Students 10th - 11th Standards
Dream or nightmare? Class members craft a synthesis essay with textual to determine to what extent the United States has fulfilled the ideas embodied in the America Dream.
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Lesson Plan
Los Angeles Unified School District

Why Is the Declaration of Independence Important?

For Teachers 5th Standards
Fair or unfair? To begin a study of the American Revolution, class members review the treatment of the people of the American Colonies by the King of England and decide which were fair and which were unfair. Class members then annotate a...
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Unit Plan
Annenberg Foundation

Spirit of Nationalism

For Teachers 6th - 12th
What were the virtues and values that helped form America? Pupils watch and discuss a video, read biographies of early Americans, chart the differences between early American religious movements, write journals and letters, draw, and...
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Handout
San Antonio Independent School District

Breaking Down the Declaration of Independence

For Students 6th - 8th Standards
Are learners heavy sighing at the idea of reading a primary source, written in a language that is difficult to understand and in cursive? Look no further, because the resource breaks down the Declaration of Independence in an...
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Lesson Plan
Heritage Foundation

How to Read the Constitution

For Teachers 9th - 12th Standards
Even lawyers can find the US Constitution to be very wordy! Help learners create a foundation for understanding the Constitution with several analysis essays. Multiple activities complement the reading and allow for active and meaningful...
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Lesson Plan
Roy Rosenzweig Center for History and New Media

Declaration of Independence

For Teachers 6th - 8th Standards
Give budding historians a guided exploration of the Declaration of Independence, historic photos, videos, and more as they deepen their understanding of the American Revolution and the attitude of the colonists leading up to the war.
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Unit Plan
California State University

The American Revolution

For Teachers 4th - 6th Standards
Invite your class on a ride through the American Revolution. Young historians travel through time as they explore the events that led to the foundation of the United States of America. Over the course of eight lessons, this unit provides...
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Lesson Plan
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Friends of Fort McHenry

A Just War or Just a War?

For Teachers 8th Standards
What, if anything, makes a war "just"? This is an interesting and important question to explore with your class, and you can utilize an excellent lesson plan to support your group inquiry. The American Revolution and the War of 1812 are...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Two Sides of the Declaration of Independence

For Teachers 11th - 12th
Budding historians read six documents related to grievances that led to the writing of the Declaration of Independence. They then craft an essay in which they discuss the perspective of both the colonists and the king. This DBQ could be...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

US Constitution

For Teachers 7th - 11th
Think about the Bill of Rights and the Declaration of Independence with your budding historians. They analyze the importance of historical documents by examining several famous documents, and then they complete activities that check...
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Activity
Carolina K-12

The Revolutionary Times

For Students 6th - 8th Standards
Be sure to grab a copy of the Revolutionary Times! Scholars take a step back in time to report on topics set in the revolutionary period. Events include the ride of Paul Revere, the Battle of Saratoga, and more.
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Lesson Plan
University of North Carolina

American Revolution: Events Leading to War

For Teachers 8th
After learning about the growing revolutionary sentiment among colonists, class members work in small groups or pairs to design a political cartoon.
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Lesson Plan
Carolina K-12

First Continental Congress, Second Continental Congress, and the Declaration of Independence

For Teachers 5th
Your learners will take on the roles of Congressional members in the year 1775 and devise a plan for America after the onset of the Revolutionary War.
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Activity
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Carolina K-12

Constitutional Period Parade

For Teachers 5th
What a unique and creative way for class members to summarize what they have learned about the United States Constitution! Here you will find project guidelines for learners to work independently on designing a float to represent a topic...
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Lesson Plan
Academy of American Poets

Teach This Poem: “Declaration” by Tracy K. Smith

For Teachers 6th - 12th Standards
Tracy K. Smith's erasure poem "Declaration" challenges scholars to use their noticing skills to make connections between an engraving entitled "The Declaration of Independence" and Smith's poem. Class members record observations and...
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Lesson Plan
Center for History Education

The Founding Fathers and the Constitutional Struggle Over Centralized Power

For Teachers 3rd - 8th
Believe it or not, the Constitution was America's second attempt at a democratic government. Academics travel back to the past to explore the shortcomings of the Articles of Confederation that would eventually lead to the Constitutional...
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Lesson Plan
Center for History Education

Freedom for All? The Contradictions of Slavery and Freedom in the Maryland Constitution

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Freedom for the few! An interesting lesson focuses on the Maryland Constitution and its lack of freedom for African Americans. Scholars examine the premise of freedom for all—which only extended to a limited few.  Academics complete...
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Lesson Plan
Museum of the American Revolution

Dissecting the Declaration

For Teachers 4th - 12th
Delve into the past to understand the issues that led to the Declaration of Independence. Academics read excerpts from the Declaration of Independence and take a virtual tour of the American Revolution Museum. The resource explains how...
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Lesson Plan
Museum of the American Revolution

The Ongoing Revolution

For Teachers 4th - 12th
America: a nation that continues to change. Budding historians analyze primary sources to understand the key ideas of the American Revolution and how the country has changed over time. Scholars read text from the Declaration of...
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Interactive
DocsTeach

Celebrating America's Bicentennial in 1976

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Budding historians learn the process of preserving history in an interesting hands-on-activity. The resource walks academics through the process of restoring the Declaration of Independence. Individuals place a series of images in...
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Interactive
DocsTeach

To Sign or Not to Sign

For Teachers 6th - 8th
To sign or not to sign, that is the question. Scholars review the Declaration of Independence and discuss the Framers' decisions for signing the document. The activity uses primary text, a worksheet, and group discussion to help...
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Interactive
DocsTeach

Road to Revolution: Patriotism or Treason?

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Patriot or traitor? Scholars debate the line between patriotism and treason in a short activity. Academics analyze a political cartoon and discuss varying viewpoints between different groups living in the American colonies. The activity...