Primary
US National Archives

Nara: Declaration of Independence

For Students 9th - 10th Standards
The National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) provides an extensive overview of the Declaration of Independence. View the actual document, explore the history of the document as well as it's "stylistic artistry," and much more.
Article
US National Archives

Nara: Declaration of Independence Stylistic Artistry

For Students 9th - 10th
On this National Archives and Records Administration web site, Stephen E. Lucas describes how the Declaration of Independence is a persuasive piece of literature. Lucus goes into details of the Declaration of Independence studying, at...
Lesson Plan
Other

American Heritage Education Foundation: The Declaration of Independence [Pdf]

For Teachers 9th - 10th
Students examine and analyze the Declaration of Independence.
Unit Plan
Annenberg Foundation

Annenberg Learner: A Biography of America: A New System of Government 1776 1826

For Students 9th - 10th
This module examines America's efforts to form a new government after the War for Independence and to draft the Constitution. Includes an interactive activity comparing Thomas Jefferson's and Alexander Hamilton's visions for America, a...
Website
University of Virginia

Miller Center at Uva: u.s. Presidents: John Adams

For Students 9th - 10th
A great in-depth biography of John Adams. Topics include: his life before the presidency, campaigns and elections, domestic affairs, foreign affairs, and life after the presidency. Links to the first lady, his Cabinet members, and Staff...
Website
Library of Congress

Loc: Thomas Jefferson Timeline

For Students 9th - 10th
This detailed timeline describes Thomas Jefferson's life, spanning the colonial period, the American Revolution, and the early Republic. You will also find maps and written documents within this collection.
Activity
Library of Congress

Loc: Continental Congress and the Constitutional Convention

For Students 9th - 10th
This site provides a collection of material regarding the work of the Continental Congress and the Constitutional Convention. Content includes a focus on how the Revolutionary War was organized, fanning the flames of patriotism,...
Handout
Library of Congress

Loc: Today in History: April 13: Thomas Jefferson, Grand Old Flag

For Students 9th - 10th
Multi-faceted site with hypertexted links to Jefferson's writings, summary of the events leading to the Constitution and the failure of the Articles of Confederation; included is Jefferson's original draft of the "Bill for Establishing...
Unit Plan
CPALMS

Florida State University Cpalms: Florida Students: Analyzing the Declaration of Independence

For Students 7th
This tutorial discusses the history of the Declaration of Independence, its structure, the philosophy on which it is based, the grievances against Great Britain, and the actual Declaration of Independence. A PDF file of the tutorial is...
Lesson Plan
US National Archives

National Archives: Prequel to Independence

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Students will sequence key events leading to the Declaration of Independence by viewing primary source documents.
Lesson Plan
US National Archives

Docsteach: Celebrating America's Bicentennial in 1976

For Teachers 9th - 10th
In this activity, students will learn how the Declaration of Independence has been made available so that Americans can still read this important document. They will follow the steps that were involved in printing copies of the...
Primary
Claremont Institute

Founding.com: The Declaration of Independence

For Students 9th - 10th
The complete text of the Declaration of Independence, along with its founding principles, a glossary, and the historical context are provided at this well-organized and comprehensive site.
Unit Plan
C3 Teachers

C3 Teachers: Inquiries: Declaration of Independence

For Teachers 5th
A learning module on the significance of a declaration of independence by a country. It includes several supporting questions accompanied by formative tasks and source materials, followed by a summative performance task. Students will...
Lesson Plan
Stanford University

Sheg: Document Based: Reading Like a Historian: Declaration of Independence

For Teachers 9th - 10th Standards
[Free Registration/Login Required] Students use primary source documents to investigate central historical questions. For this investigation students weigh contrasting interpretations by prominent historians to answer the question: Why...
Primary
University of Virginia

University of Virginia: Thomas Jefferson Digital Archive

For Students 9th - 10th
This online collection of Thomas Jefferson resources includes texts, quotations, and bibliographies, along with documents which were written either by or to Jefferson.
Unit Plan
Texas Education Agency

Texas Gateway:analyze How Author's Style and Syntax Support Meaning

For Students 9th - 10th Standards
In this learning module, students will learn and apply the concepts of author's style and syntax.
Unit Plan
Library of Congress

Loc: Thomas Jefferson Exhibit

For Students 6th - 8th
The Library of Congress has created an exhibit which focuses on the extraordinary legacy of Thomas Jefferson--founding father, farmer, architect, inventor, slaveholder, book collector, scholar, diplomat, and the third president of the...
Unit Plan
Center For Civic Education

Center for Civic Education: 9/11 and Constitution: American Identity, Diversity

For Teachers 9th - 10th
A set of lessons that can be used to commemorate the anniversaries of the terrorist attacks on the United States on September 11, 2001, and the signing of the Constitution on September 17, 1787. They help students to reflect on the...
Lesson Plan
Library of Congress

Loc: The Declaration of Independence: From Rough Draft to Proclamation

For Teachers 9th - 10th
By analyzing the first draft of Thomas Jefferson's Declaration of Independence through primary source documents, students can proceed to understand why a first draft was required, and why there are changes in the final version. There are...
Primary
Yale University

Avalon Project: Declaration of Independence: July 4,1776

For Students 9th - 10th
Read the words for independence penned by Thomas Jefferson in the Declaration of Independence. Then link to a discussion of the document by Jefferson in his own autobiography.
Primary
Independence Hall Association

U.s. History: The Declaration of Independence

For Students 9th - 10th
The Independence Hall Association provides an online image of the original document of the Declaration of Independence.
Website
Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History

Gilder Lehrman Institute: Age of Jefferson and Madison

For Students 9th - 10th
[Free Registration/Login Required] After a brief description of Thomas Jefferson's and James Madison's contributions to the early ideology and government of the new United States in their authorship of the Declaration of Independence and...
Website
Utah Education Network

Uen: Themepark: Liberty: United States Historical Documents

For Students 9th - 10th Standards
Find a large collection of internet resources organized around historical documents. Links to places to go, people to see, things to do, teacher resources, and bibliographies.
Lesson Plan
iCivics

I Civics: Got Grievances?

For Teachers 9th - 10th
Learn what economic, political, and social factors led to the writing of the Declaration of Independence and the American Revolution. For this lesson, students learn what caused the colonies to declare independence from Great Britain and...