Dylan Scharf National University April 18, 2011 Lesson Plan

Lesson Description April 18, 2011 U.S History The American Revolution Grade 11 Goals and Objectives Students will demonstrate a thorough understanding of how and why America

entered into a revolution with England, and why the Declaration of Independence became such an important aspect of the war. Some questions they will be able to answer through this lesson are: 1. How did the delegates come to believe that their freedoms were more important than their allegiance to the crown? 2. Why did some of the delegations continue to side with the crown when their own countrymen were being killed? 3. How did allegiance to freedom finally become unanimous? State Social-Science Content Standard #2. Analyze the ideological origins of the American Revolution, the Founding

Fathers philosophy of divinely bestowed unalienable natural rights, the debates on the

drafting and ratification of the Constitution, and the addition of the Bill of Rights. Materials and Tools Power point lecture, video, white boards, overhead projector, worksheet.

Procedure Begin with bridging to previous lesson plan regarding issues with England such as

the Stamp Act and the Boston Tea Party using power point, lecture and class discussion. (15 min) Do a review of the information included in the Power Point using white boards in

think pair share groups. (8 min) The students will view scenes from the Continental Congress in the HBO movie

series John Adams so they can get a feeling of the Congress format, and the basic tenor of the meeting itself. (25 min) Students will complete a handout during the video that focuses on the arguments

and discussions dealing with American Independence and Revolution. Students will write down two questions they have about the meeting of Congress

or other events that directly relate to it. These questions must have their names on it and will be their ticket out the door at the end of the class period.

Video Presentation Worksheet

1. What does the first speaker (Mr. Rutledge) want the Congress to do in spite of the bloodshed in Massachusetts?

2. Why does Mr. Dickinson believe that Congress should offer the British Crown an olive branch?

3. Why is John Adams so emotional about going to war to fight for their rights and freedom?

4. How many patriots did John Adams say died at Bunker Hill? Were they soldiers? Why does this matter? How many British soldiers were killed?

5. Why would it take weeks for the Crown to receive the Colonists petition for peace?

6. Why does Washington accept the position of General to lead the Continental Army in the war against the British?

7. Which side makes a better argument regarding the discussion of war?

8. If you were a state delegate at the Continental Congress, how would you have sided with the argument? Be sure to include evidence from the video to support your decision.