Curated OER
The Declaration of Independence and Your Own Rights
Young scholars read and discuss the Declaration of Independence and the Declaration of Sentiments. They discuss how the rights of the colonists and women were being violated. Students write about their own personal rights and how their...
Curated OER
Building a Nation
Eighth graders identify the main ideas of the U.S. Declaration of Independence. They read and discuss text, read and summarize a section of the Declaration of Independence in small groups, and write a paper on why the colonists felt it...
Curated OER
Examining the Declaration of Independence
Students examine the Declaration of Independence and its significance to American history. They read the document, identify America's grievances with Great Britain, and restate a part of the document in their own words.
Curated OER
the Declaration of Independence Lesson
Students demonstrate reading comprehension skills, including reading strategies, inference, literal meaning, and critical analysis.
Curated OER
To Be An American
Young scholars research the symbols of America, present their research to the class, write a paper about being an American and write their own Declaration of Independence.
Curated OER
Fragment on the Constitution and Union (1861). The Purpose of the American Union
Eleventh graders examine how President Lincoln formulated the principles of the Declaration of Independence as the goal of the American Union. In this American Government instructional activity, 11th graders read and analyze...
Curated OER
Social Studies: Jeffeerson and the Declaration
Students investigate Thomas Jefferson's intentions for the Declaration of Independence. In discussion, they consider what parts of the document are most useful today and to what purposes does it address the most. Finally, students...
Curated OER
VS.5a
Fifth graders explore, examine and identify the reasons why the colonies went to war with England as expressed in the Declaration of Independence. They discover the conflicts that developed between the colonies and England over how the...
Curated OER
American Revolution
Students review the events leading to the American Revolution and the Declaration of Independence. Using the internet, they examine many different political cartoons from the time period and discuss the political atmosphere. In groups,...
Curated OER
Understanding the Importance of the Declaration of Independence
Eighth graders examine the importance of the Declaration of Independence
by using a variety of research sources and computer technology to obtain information. They internalize the thoughts, actions, and motives of the signers of the...
Curated OER
How Does Government Secure Natural Rights?
Students explain why a government with a constitution is not necessarily a constitutional government, and identify alternative models of government that the Founders had to choose from.
Curated OER
Declaration of Independence
Students research the Declaration of Independence and write a group paper. Students use a set of designated questions as a guide for the threee to four page paper.
Curated OER
Change: Just a Matter of Time
Young scholars analyze the Declaration of Independence and primary sources to explain civil rights. Then, students write a Declaration of Change to express the grievances of African Americans, and their desire to participate fully in the...
Massachusetts Historical Society
Mhs: Coming of the American Revolution: Declarations of Independence
Features the history behind the document that "shaped the course of American history" and gave Americans their independence. Includes many supporting original documents and teacher resources.
University of Groningen
American History: Presidents: Novariglus,february 6,1775
John Adams' response in this critical essay to the definition of the "British Empire", not an empire as other European monarchies, but a republic by constitution. Link to "Massachusettensis" for a Biography of Daniel Leonard.
George Mason University
George Mason University: Interpreting the Declaration of Independence
Read multicultural translations of the Declaration of Independence, including interpretation of the document by translation in languages like French, Spanish, German, and Italian. Also includes topics on individual cultures views of the...
Library of Congress
Loc: Thomas Jefferson's Original Letters and Documents
This page from the Library of Congress provides us with links to images of original documents. These includes letters from Thomas Jefferson, holographs, and the transcript of Jefferson's "original Rough Draft" of the Declaration of...
Library of Congress
Loc: Jefferson's "Original Rough Draught"
Readers can explore a reconstruction of Thomas Jefferson's original rough draft of the Declaration of Independence, before it was revised by the members of the Committee of Five.
George Mason University
George Mason University: Declaration of Independence
Source analysis of the Declaration of Independence including text, audio, and video resources. Contains a scholarly analysis along with teacher discussion of relevant lesson plans. Includes images and transcript of the Declaration of...
Library of Congress
Loc: Declaring Independence: Drafting the Documents
This site from the Library of Congress provides a timeline of the events surrounding the writing of the Declaration of Independence. Click around the Exhibits Home Page for some fantastic treasures housed in the Exhibit Hall.
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
Harcourt: Biographies: Thomas Jefferson (Spanish)
A brief biography on Thomas Jefferson with pictures and links.
University of Groningen
American History: Biographies: John Locke
The University of Groningen provides information about the 17th century British liberal philosopher. Includes concise biographical information and a link to the text of "A Letter Concerning Toleration." Read about what part of his...
National Endowment for the Humanities
Neh: Edsit Ement: Declare the Causes
Offers lesson plans that guide students to understanding the structure of the Declaration of Independence. Throughout the course of the lesson, students will be working on writing their own declaration of grievances relative to issues in...
Georgia Department of Education
Ga Virtual Learning: American Literature: Declaration of Independence [Pdf]
This is a 6-page PDF of The Unanimous Declaration of the Thirteen United States of America, better known as The Declaration of Independence.