Causes of the American Revolution: Lesson 6

I. General Information:
Grade Level: 5th
Discipline: Social Studies
Unit Topic: Causes of the American Revolution
Time Frame: one 50 minute period
Text: Paul Reveres Ride by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow illustrated by Ted Rand
Other Materials: George vs. George by Rosalyn Schanzer, Bottle of soda, large bin, Video
http://www.history.com/topics/american-revolution/paul-revere, Let It Begin Here! By Don
Brown,

II. Essential Understanding/Questions:

What were the factors leading up to the American Revolution?
What was the start of the Revolution?
Who is Paul Revere?

III. Standards/Indicators:
Maryland Content Standard:
Standard 5.0 History
Topic C. Conflict between Ideas and Institutions
Indicator 1. Analyze the causes of the American Revolution
Objective a. Identify and sequence key events between the French and Indian War and the
American Revolution

Common Core ELA Standards:

grade: 05
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RI.5.3
Explain the relationships or interactions between two or more individuals, events, ideas, or
concepts in a historical, scientific, or technical text based on specific information in the text.
R4: Interpret words and phrases as they are used in text, including determining technical,
connotative and figurative meanings; and analyze how specific word choices shape
meaning and tone Determine the meaning of general academic and domain-specific words and
phrases in a text relevant to a grade 5 topic or subject area.
R6: Assess how point of view or purpose shapes the content and style of a text Analyze
multiple accounts of the same event or topic, noting important similarities and differences in the
point of view they represent.
R9: Analyze how two or more texts address similar themes or topics in order to build
knowledge or to compare the approaches authors take. Integrate information from several
texts on the same topic in order to write or speak about the topic knowledgeably

W1: Write arguments to support claims in an analysis of substantive topics or texts, using
valid reasoning and relevant and sufficient evidence Write opinion pieces on topics or texts,
supporting a point of view with reasons and information. (see items a-d for specific sub-standard
expectations)
 Causes of the American Revolution: Lesson 6

W3: Write narratives to develop real or imagined experiences or events using effective
technique, well-chosen details, and well-structured event sequences Write narratives to
develop real or imagined experiences or events using effective technique, descriptive details, and
clear event sequences.

IV. Lesson Objectives:

Students will be able to list causes of the American Revolution.
Students will be able to identify the start of the Revolution.
Students will be able to describe Paul Revere.

V. Evaluation/Assessment:
Assessment of Objectives
Exit Ticket
Colonial Journal Entry
Observations and Discussions

VI. Procedures:
Introduction
Review of what we have learned so far, update unit wall posters and timeline.
Have a bottle of soda and a large bin. Talk about how things have been building up between
Britain and the colonies. Have the students give you examples of things that have built up
tensions. Each student who suggests one then shakes the soda bottle while telling the class and
the teacher writes on the board. At the end, the teacher will open the soda, illustrating that
building tensions will cause an explosion.

Teaching/Activities
1. Talk about how there have been different sides Patriots and Loyalists. Why someone
would be one each side during this time.

2. Ask the students if anyone has heard of Paul Revere. Have the students watch
http://www.history.com/topics/american-revolution/paul-revere

3. Read Paul Reveres Ride by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow. Talk about the language that
was used. Review language and vocabulary that would be difficult for students.

4. Read George vs. George pgs. 28-30 (only parts about the shot heard around the world)

5. Talk about how the texts are similar and different. Talk about why I would read more than
one book that is about the same thing.

6. Visit www.paulreverehouse.org/ride and visit the interactive pieces of the site together.

Closure
Finish the classroom TimeLine, finish the KWL chart, review the causes chart.
Colonial Journal Entry: What is your characters reaction to Paul Revere and The Shot
heard Around the World?
 Causes of the American Revolution: Lesson 6

Exit Ticket: What were the causes of the American Revolution? What was the start of the
Revolution?

References:
Brown, D. (2008) Let it begin here!. New York, NY: Roaring Brook Press
History.com Staff (2009) Paul Revere [video file] Retrieved from
http://www.history.com/topics/american-revolution/paul-revere,

Schanzer, R. (2004) George vs. George: The American Revolution as seen from Both Sides.
Washington, D.C: National Geographic.

The Paul Revere House (n.d.) The real story of Paul Reveres Ride. Retrieved from
www.paulreverehouse.org/ride