Thomas Jefferson Teacher Resources

Thomas Jefferson, the primary author of the Declaration of Independence and the third president of the United States, helped to build the American government and economy into what it is today—though the size and scope of the modern United States are far beyond what the Founding Fathers imagined.

Teach the basics of Jefferson’s life and goals for the American government with an informative video, and include a packet on Thomas Jefferson in your social studies class. You can bring several handouts and activities to a lesson on the Declaration of Independence. For a fun classroom game, use a Jeopardy!-themed presentation on the facts of Jefferson’s life and instrumental administration.

Connect to language arts with a lesson on historical fiction that focuses on Jefferson and his home at Monticello. A writing assignment analyzes John Adam’s description of Jefferson’s agreement to write the Declaration of Independence, while a reading lesson compares Jefferson’s writings and speeches to those by James Madison and George Washington. At the end of a Revolutionary War unit, learners can argue which Founding Father was the most influential with an argument essay prompt.

At Lesson Planet, our teacher-curated resources supplement your social studies curriculum, making it easier for you to teach how Thomas Jefferson led America out of tyranny and into the age of democracy.

Showing 982 resources
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

A Lesson To Accompany "The First Bank of the United States: A Chapter in the History of Central Banking"

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Here is an interesting topic. Learners examine the economics that led to the founding of the First Bank of America. They participate in a reader's theater experience depicting the debate between Alexander Hamilton and Thomas Jefferson...
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Activity
Thomas Jefferson Foundation

Personal Morals vs. Political Moves Document Based Essay

For Teachers 6th - 8th Standards
Was Thomas Jefferson a hypocrite? Tackle this question with primary source analysis and an essay. The packet includes historical background, a writing prompt, a combined outline and checklist, and ten primary documents paired with...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Jefferson vs. Franklin: Revolutionary Philosophers

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students examine the contributions of Benjamin Franklin and Thomas Jefferson to American Independence. In small groups, they conduct Internet research, read and discuss primary source documents, and complete a chart.
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Instructional Video4:18
Curated OER

The American Revolution (Sesame Street) - Part 1

For Teachers 5th - 8th
The Sesame Street crew take on the American Revolution. Part one depicts Thomas Jefferson attempting to write the Declaration of Independence. Unfortunately, he breaks his quill and Mr. Grover gets him everything but a quill. This is a...
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Instructional Video3:33
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HISTORY Channel

The Continental Congress

For Teachers 8th - 12th Standards
A fantastic video highlights the role of Thomas Jefferson at the Continental Congress, focusing on the language of the Declaration of Independence and its listing of grievances against the British government.
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Worksheet
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Humanities Texas

Primary Source Worksheet: Thomas Jefferson, Confidential Message to Congress Concerning Western Exploration and Relations with the Indians

For Students 8th - 11th
A confidential message written by Thomas Jefferson provides readers with an opportunity to practice their reading comprehension skills. The resource, part of a series, includes questions that require a close reading of the message and a...
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Worksheet
Curated OER

The Louisiana Purchase: Reading and Quiz

For Students 6th - 8th
In need of informational text and a related quiz regarding the Louisiana Purchase? Here are four pages containing basic information on Thomas Jefferson, Napoleon, Manifest Destiny, and the Louisiana Purchase, plus a 15-question...
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Worksheet
Curated OER

Fourth of July Addition and Subtraction

For Students 2nd - 3rd
What is Thomas Jefferson signing? Focus on American history with this cross-curricular math puzzle. Learners utilize addition and subtraction skills to solve the mystery of the Fourth of July. All numbers are 3-digit, and there are no...
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Instructional Video13:57
Crash Course

Where US Politics Came From

For Students 9th - 12th Standards
After the passage of the United States Constitution, the founding fathers faced a difficult question: What kind of country should we be? How democratic should we be, and much free speech should we have? Discover the different visions...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Thomas Jefferson on the Sedition Act

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students research and cite arguments Jefferson used in objecting to the Sedition Act. They discuss Jefferson's opinion on how constitutional questions about the Sedition Act could be resolved.
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Lesson Plan
American Evolution

Virginia Runaway Slave Ads

For Students 11th - 12th Standards
What does an ad reveal about a culture, or about the values of its intended audience? Class members examine a series of runaway slave ads—one of which was written by Thomas Jefferson—and consider what these primary source documents...
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Worksheet
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Humanities Texas

Primary Source Worksheet: Thomas Jefferson, Message to Congress Concerning Louisiana

For Students 8th - 11th
Proficient reading of informational text, especially primary source documents, requires practice. This message from Thomas Jefferson about the Louisiana Purchase offers readers a chance to develop these comprehension skills.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Thomas Jefferson: Philosopher of Freedom

For Teachers 7th - 12th
Students view a documentary on Thomas Jefferson. Statesman, scientist, architect, president-he was America's dashing Renaissance man. After viewing, students discuss what they saw then write their own version of a biography of Thomas...
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Interactive
Curated OER

Thomas Jefferson

For Students 7th - 12th
In this online interactive history activity, students respond to 10 short answer and essay questions about the accomplishments of Thomas Jefferson . Students may check some of their answers on the interactive...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Thomas Jefferson and the Declaration of Independence

For Teachers 4th - 8th
Students examine readings and symbols to learn about the War of Independence and Thomas Jefferson. In this War of Independence lesson plan, students explore the role of Thomas Jefferson in the Declaration for Independence. Students...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Drafting the Declaration of Independence

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Students working in small groups to compare and contrast the rough draft of the Declaration of Independence written by Thomas Jefferson with the final version. They list the differences and decide on why the changes were made.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Jefferson vs. Franklin: Renaissance Men

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students investigate the achievements of Benjamin Franklin and Thomas Jefferson. They conduct Internet research, identify their achievements, and participate in a 'competition' that compares/contrasts the two men.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Declaration of Independence: America is Born

For Teachers 9th - 12th
America is born, follow the Declaration of Independence from creation through ratification. Learners look at Thomas Jefferson and his pivotal role in the formation of America. Students view the handout of Declaration of Independence...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Drafts of the Declaration of Independence

For Teachers 7th
Seventh graders compare drafts of the Declaration of Independence. For this primary source analysis lesson, 7th graders access copies of Thomas Jefferson's original draft of the document and compare it the final document that gave birth...
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Worksheet
Curated OER

Thomas Jefferson

For Students K - 1st
In this Thomas Jefferson worksheet, students color a picture of Thomas Jefferson. Students color the picture and the caption of when he was alive.
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Worksheet
Curated OER

Creating the Constitution

For Students 8th - 11th
Useful as a review assignment or as a quiz, these ten questions on the U.S. Constitution address its creation. Thomas Jefferson, John Adams, and Ben Franklin are the main topics of the questions, as well as The Three-Fifths Compromise.
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Lesson Plan
National Endowment for the Humanities

On This Day With Lewis and Clark

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Walk in the footsteps of Lewis and Clark as they discover the wonders, beauty, and dangers of the American frontier. After gaining background knowledge about Thomas Jefferson and the Louisiana Purchase, young explorers use primary...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Jefferson vs. Franklin: Revolutionary Philosophers

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Young scholars cite connections among Franklin's Albany Plan of 1754, his Plan of Confederation of 1775 and the U.S. Constitution and/or the Declaration of Independence. In an essay, they give examples of the philosophical and political...
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Lesson Plan
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National Endowment for the Humanities

The Argument of the Declaration of Independence

For Teachers 9th - 12th Standards
When in the course of a course on historic American events, it becomes necessary for learners to examine, with decent respect, the Declaration of Independence, it becomes evident that there are six separate and equal parts of that...

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