Andrew Humphreys, Gabrielle Papp, and Elliot Zackoski

Teaching Social Studies

Dr. Michael F. Ruffini

Fall 2013

Social Studies Mini-Unit Plan

Unit- The Revolutionary Era

Unit Lessons:

Lesson 1 – The Road to Revolution

Lesson 2- Declaring Independence

Lesson 3- The Revolutionary War Begins

Lesson 4- An American Victory

Unit Overview:

A series of increasingly restrictive law angered many American colonists, leading to rebellion

against the British. As a revolutionary ideology grew and conflicts with the Britain continued,

the Second Continental Congress declared American independence. While the colonists and the

British began with different strengths and weaknesses, the Revolutionary War demonstrated

Washington’s great leadership. A strengthened Continental Army, along with European allies,

helped the colonists achieve a victory at Yorktown.

Lesson 1- The Road to Revolution

1. Standards

NCSS Standards

o Standard 2 - TIME, CONTINUITY, AND CHANGE

o Standard 10 - CIVIC IDEALS AND PRACTICES

Pennsylvania Standards

o 8.3.8.B: Evaluate the importance of historical documents, artifacts and places critical

to United States history.

o 8.3.8.D: Examine how conflict and cooperation among groups and organizations have

impacted the growth and development of the U.S.

2. Lesson Topic/Main Idea: Tensions grew between Britain and America after Britain passed a series of increasingly

restrictive laws in the colonies. Colonists responded by protesting the acts openly and taunting

British soldiers. When British soldiers shot and killed five protesting civilians in the Boston

Massacre news of British injustices spread even more rapidly throughout all of the colonies. A

meeting of the First Continental Congress serves to unite the colonist against British control and

prepare for conflict. This conflict erupted at the Battles of Lexington and Concord, signaling the

start of the Revolutionary War.

Comment [G1]: 10. School and Community Involvement This lesson demonstrates my ability to work efficiently with others colleagues in the field to compile a lesson for our students.

Comment [G2]: 1. Content Pedagogy The lesson is aligned to both national and state standards in the field. We were able to create a lesson that makes the information that they are required to learn a bit more interesting.

3. Objectives:

1. Given a vocabulary worksheet, students will be able to define seven out of the eleven

vocabulary words.

2. Students will recite 3 facts about the Boston Massacre given the reader’s theater

script.

3. Students will be able to discuss the effects of the “Shot Heard ‘Round the World” in

small group discussion while citing two key ideas.

4. Students will fill out a timeline listing the events along the road to revolution starting

with the Sugar Act and ending with the Battle of Lexington and Concord with no

error.

Vocabulary:

1. Stamp Act-law passed by Parliament in 1765 that raised tax money by requiring

colonists to pay for an official stamp whenever they bought paper items

2. Quartering Act –law passed in 1765 that required colonists to find quarters, or living

space, for the British soldiers stationed in America

3. Townshend Act- 1767 tax on glass, leads, paints, paper, and tea imported from

Britain

4. Boston Massacre-a 1770 incident where British soldiers fired into a crowd of

colonists, killing five people

5. Tea Act- law passed in 1773 meant to give an advantage to the British East India

Company and cause colonial tea merchants to lose business

6. Imported- bought from another country

7. Boycott- to refuse to buy or use a product

8. Boston Tea Party-colonists dumped shiploads of British tea into the Boston Harbor on

December 16, 1773

9. Intolerable Acts- a series of acts passed in 1774 to punish the rebellious colonists

10. First Continental Congress- delegates met in Philadelphia in September 1774 to unite

the colonies against the British

11. Minutemen- colonial soldiers who would be ready to resist a British attack with short

notice

5. Media/Technology:

o Web-enhanced PowerPoint Presentation for lesson

o Timeline from TimeToast

o Timeline Graphic Organizer from Freeology

6. DVD/Video:

o Liberty Kids #6: The Shot Heard ‘Round the World

o Too Late to Apologize: A Declaration

7. Activities:

o Anticipation Guide: Students will be given a brief pre-assessment and we will refer back

to the anticipation guide upon completion of the lesson to check for student

understanding.

Comment [G3]: 7. Planning These objectives are effectively the plan for the lesson and represent what we would like the students to know upon completion of the lesson. All material included is designed to help students meet their learning objectives.

Comment [G4]: 6. Communication and Technology We were able to use online resources to help enhance our lesson so that students can maximize their learning. The graphic organizer was especially helpful in having students follow along and grasp the timeframe of the events discussed.

Comment [G5]: 5. Motivation and Management The videos are designed to be grade-level appropriate and engaging.

Comment [G6]: 8. Assessment The anticipation guide serves as both an informal pre and post assessment for the lesson. We are able to keep track of student understanding to ensure that they have mastered the content at the end of the lesson.

o Boston Massacre Readers’ Theatre: Students assuming a role of a perspective leading up

to the Boston Massacre. (Not attached)

o Timeline Graphic Organizer: Ongoing activity in which students will develop chronology

of events leading up to the Revolutionary War.

o Video Segment with Questions: Students will watch a short animated cartoon on the

Battle of Lexington and Concord and answer accompanying questions in cooperative

learning groups.

o Sing Aloud with Lyric Handout: Video will serve as an end to Lesson 1 and an

introduction to the next lesson in the unit.

8. Closure/Summary/Questions:

1. Tension between the colonists and Britain were caused by the passing of increasing

restrictive laws that penalized the colonists and required them to pay taxes without

representation in parliament.

2. The Boston Massacre occurred in April 1770 and resulted in five colonist deaths at the

hands of British soldiers.

3. The Boston Tea Party that took place in December of 1773 in which American colonists

dumped cases of imported tea into the Boston Harbor.

4. The First Continental Congress met in Philadelphia in 1774 to unite the colonies against

Britain and organize boycotts of British goods. It was the first time the colonists were

brought together as Americans.

5. The Battles of Lexington and Concord signal the start of America’s Revolutionary War.

9. Assessment: Unit test is attached.

Answers to unit test:

1. F 11. C 21. B

2. E 12. B 22. A

3. G 13. C 23. yes, armed and ready to fight; no, expected them to quit when

4. B 14. A they saw they were outnumbered

5. I 15. D 24. some fearful, some loyal to Britain, patriots supported it with

6. C 16. B enthusiasm

7. H 17. A 25. they were hoping to help weaken Great Britain

8. A 18. C

9. J 19. C

10. D 20. D

Comment [G7]: 2. Student Development and 5. Motivation and Management The use of a readers’ theatre is a fun way to get all students involved in the classroom. It promotes peer interaction and active engagement in the learning process. I think that this is a fun alternative to direct instruction that supports students intellectual and social development at the same time.

Comment [G8]: 5. Motivation and Management The students will enjoy singing along to this comical remake of a popular modern song. The sign along is engaging for students while reviewing content covered during the lesson

Comment [G9]: 8. Assessment The unit test would be presented upon completion of the unit, not just this lesson. It is a formal summative assessment that includes a variety of questions to assure students truly understand the content.

Revolutionary War Anticipation Guide

Name: ______________________

Directions: Before we start today’s lesson, read each of the statements and record whether it is

True of false in the before column. At the end of today’s lesson you will go back and re-read

each statement. Then record whether it is true or false in the after column. Note if you made any

changes from the before column.

Before After

__________ __________ 1. Tension between the

Colonists and Britain were

caused by the passing of

increasing restrictive laws

that penalized the colonists

and required them to pay

taxes without representation

in parliament.

______________ _____________ 2.The Boston Massacre

occurred in April 1770 and

resulted in five colonist

deaths at the hands of militia

men.

______________ ______________ 3. The Boston Tea Party took

place in December of 1773,

where American colonists

dumped cases of imported tea

into the Boston Harbor.

______________ _______________ 4. The First Continental

Congress met in Boston in

1774 to unite the colonies

against Britain and organize

boycotts of British goods. It

was the first time the

colonists were brought

together as Americans.

______________ _______________ 5. The Battles of Lexington

and Concord was the start of

America’s Revolutionary

War.

Name____________________________ Road to Revolution Vocabulary Date_______ 1. Stamp Act

2. Quartering Act

3. Townshend Act

4. Boston Massacre

5. Tea Act

6. Imported

7. Boycott

8. Boston Tea Party

9. Intolerable Acts

10. First Continental Congress

11. Minutemen

Name: ____________________ Section: ___________ Date: ______________

Liberty Kids: The Shot Heard ‘Round the World

Directions: Answer the following questions after watching a short cartoon about

the start of the American Revolution.

1. How many sides are there to the conflict? Who are the main players?

2. Who is the leader of the colonists’ militia? What are his qualifications?

3. Why are bells ringing? Who made the colonists aware of the British army’s

presence?

4. What was the British army’s original plan for Lexington and Concord?

5. What are some differences between the Britain military and the colonists’

militia? How many soldiers did each side have?

6. Do we know who fired the first shot?

Too Late to Apologize: A Declaration

Halfway across the globe

And we're standing on new ground

Screaming 'cross the waves

You can't hear a sound

There's no fair trials, no trade, no liberties

No tea

We've colonized America; we won't stand for tyranny,

Oh king

And it's too late to apologize

It's too late

I said it's too late to apologize

It's too late

We've paid your foolish tax, read the acts

And they just won't do

We want to make it clear, we believe this much is true

All men were created with certain

Unalienable rights

Among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit

Of happiness

And it's too late to apologize

It's too late

I said It's too late to apologize

It's too late

It's too late to apologize

It's too late

I said it's too late apologize

It's too late

I said it's too late to apologize, yeah

It's too late

I said it's too late to apologize, yeah

Halfway across the globe

And we're standing on new ground

Name: ________________________ Section: ________ Date: _________________

Unit 4: The Revolutionary Era

Section I: Match each vocabulary word to its definition.

____1. Terrible winter encampment for the Continental Army. A. Treaty of Paris

____2. Sided with the British government. B. Intolerable Acts

____3. Olive Branch Petition to the King of England. C. Common Sense

____4. Designed to punish the colonies. D. Battle of Saratoga

____5. Began the Revolutionary War. E. Loyalist

____6. Pamphlet that called for revolution. F. Valley Forge

____7. Required a government stamp on all legal documents. G. 2nd

Continental

____8. Document that ended the Revolutionary War. Congress

____9. Met in Philadelphia in 1774 to unite the colonies. H. Stamp Act

____10. Major British loss where Burgoyne surrenders to Gates. I. Lexington and

Concord

J. 1st

Continental

Congress

Section II: Circle the correct answer.

11. Why did Great Britain pass new laws in America?

A. Punishment

B. For fun

C. Raise money

D. Raise awareness

12. How did the colonists respond to the new laws?

A. They accepted them

B. Boycotted British imports

C. They voted

D. They made new laws

13. Why did the first Continental Congress meet?

A. To write the Declaration of Independence

B. To make a constitution

C. Unite the colonists

D. To understand the British laws

14. What was the significance of the battles of Lexington and Concord?

A. It was the first battle of the Revolutionary War

B. It was the bloodies battle of the Revolutionary War

C. It ended the Revolutionary War

D. It was the turning point of the Revolutionary War

15. What actions did the Second Continental Congress take?

A. They wrote the Declaration of Independence

B. They created a constitution

C. They wrote 95 complaints against Britain

D. Created a Continental Army

16. What was the Olive Branch Petition?

A. A petition nailed to an olive tree

B. An appeal to the King to compromise

C. An appeal to the colonies to compromise

D. A petition for France to assist the colonies

17. How did violence in Boston push colonists closer to revolution?

A. It gave the colonist confidence

B. It made the colonist afraid of Britain

C. It caused the colonists to succeed from Britain immediately

D. It gave the colonists an excuse to go to war

18. Why did the Declaration of Independence not condemn the slave trade?

A. Pressure from the northern states

B. There was no slave trade at the time

C. Pressure from the southern states

D. Slavery was already abolished

19. Why did enslaved African American join the British army?

A. They were paid more

B. They were originally from Britain

C. They were promised freedom

D. The British treated them more fairly

20. What were the results of early battles with the British?

A. British troops had to retreat

B. They were all stalemates

C. The colonists took a big lead

D. American troops had to retreat

21. Why did European help arrive in late 1776?

A. Europe had just found out about the war

B. Americans had shown they could fight against Britain

C. Europeans were in a war of their own until then

D. America never asked for help before then

22. Where did the British surrender?

A. Yorktown

B. Yorkshire

C. New York

D. Yorkston

Section III: Answer each question in 3-4 sentences. Use details.

23. Do you think that the British military expected strong resistance from the colonial militia?

24. How did colonists reactions to the Declaration of Independence differ?

25. Why did France and other European nations assist the Americans?