Curated OER
The American Revolution: Saratoga to Valley Forge
Students comprehend that people who who direct and fight wars are real people who make observations and have feelings. They comprehend the conditions under which the American Revolution was fought during the period 1777 until July 1778...
Center for History Education
Who Fired the Shot Heard Round the World?
Take a closer look. Young academics become detectives in an engaging instructional activity on the American Revolution. Scholars work in groups to analyze documents to uncover whether the American colonists or British soldiers fired the...
Curated OER
Revolution: The Call to Battle
Young scholars explore revolutions throughout history. In this world history lesson plan, students compare revolutions and wars as they watch "Revolution: The Call to Battle" and discuss their impressions. Young scholars then research...
Curated OER
Understanding Freedom: Catching "The Spirit of '76"
Sixth graders complete activities about colonial history through an examination of art from the American Revolution period. In this history and art lesson, 6th graders define an iconic image, sing the song 'Yankee Doodle,' and analyze...
Curated OER
Johnny Tremain for the 21st Century
Seventh graders complete a unit of lessons on the American Revolution based on the novel, 'Johnny Tremain.' They define key vocabulary terms, develop a timeline, write a report on a colonial craft, make a colonial flag, and create a...
Curated OER
George Washington's Revolutionary Journeys
Students take a closer look at historical maps. In this American Revolution lesson, students examine the provided historical maps and documents to determine the assignments that George Washington assigned to subordinates during the...
Curated OER
South Carolina: Loyalist or Patriot?
Eighth graders examine the battle waged in South Carolina over the American Revolution. In this American Revolution activity, 8th graders analyze primary sources as they determine how the Loyalists and Patriots chose sides in the war.
Curated OER
Winter at Valley Forge
Students assess the events leading up to the American Revolution. In this United States History instructional activity, students read "Crossing the Delaware: George Washington Fights in the Battle of Trenton," then discuss the highlights...
Curated OER
Gather the Stones!
Review how gristmills affected the lives of the Pennsylvania community. The class uses documents and pictures to explore the purpose of the gristmill. They simulate members of the community and write a paper about colonial forces...
The Alamo
The Alamo Then and Now
Reading about the Battle of the Alamo during the Texas revolution is one thing, but has the class seen it? Show them firsthand using an interactive resource. Scholars drag a mouse to view the surroundings of the Alamo in the past and as...
Curated OER
After the American Revolution: Free African Americans in the North
Eleventh graders explore how one-third of Patriot soldiers at the Battle of Bunker Hill were African Americans Census data also reveal that there were slaves and free Blacks living in the Nort
Curated OER
The French and Indian War (1756 to 1763):
Take your class through the lead-up, strategies, and effects of the French and Indian War of the mid-18th century. The dynamics of American patriotism is put to the test in the vital years before the American Revolution, and the ongoing...
Curated OER
Happy Endings: The Final Battle
Fifth graders explore all the myths of the battle of Yorktown. A variety of primary documents are viewed and analyzed for discussion. They become aware that what one sees and hears is not always as it seems in reality. Each group...
Curated OER
Battle of Lexington
Seventh graders investigate what happened at the Battle of Lexington. In this historical reading lesson, 7th graders analyze two historical accounts of the first shots fired during the American Revolution. Students discuss...
Curated OER
Review of our Presidents from the Progressive Era to Cold War
Covering the main events of the Cold War, this (mistitled) presentation includes photographs, political cartoons, and amusing graphics to illustrate its points. The information on the slides is helpful for an overview of the Cold War,...
Smithsonian Institution
General George Washington, Military Leader
Teach pupils the characteristics that make George Washington such an effective leader, especially in context of his time period. Scholars view artifacts, participate in group work, create lists, compare and contrast, and discuss as a...
Curated OER
African-American Communities in the North Before the Civil War
Young scholars examine what life was like in free African-American communities before the Civil War. They analyze maps, identify elements of everyday life in these communities, explore various websites, and complete a chart.
Curated OER
Political Cartoons of the American Revolution
Eighth graders examine various political cartoons from the American Revolution era. Using present day political cartoons, they compare and contrast the ones from the past to the ones of today. As a class, they discuss the use of...
Curated OER
Colonial America and the American Revolution
Students research the Saratoga Campaign and its importance in the overall outcome of the Revolutionary War. They consider French involvement in the war and what the Paris Peace Treaty meant for the new Americans.
Curated OER
Yorktown and Treaty of Paris
Eighth graders discuss the importance of battles fought during the Revolutionary War. They summarize the events, people, and strategies of significance in the Battle of Yorktown. They identify the significance of the the adoption of...
Curated OER
The Battle of the Battlefields
Middle schoolers simulate the role of a presidential analysis group to research a location for a Revolutionary War museum. They conduct research, and write a summary of their findings to present to the President.
Curated OER
American Revolution: A European Battle
Students create a timeline of events during the Revolutionary War and conduct research of historical figures. They construct acrostics or diamantes of the figures' names. They evaluate the involvement of Europeans in the war.
Curated OER
The American Revolution
Fifth graders read about the Revolutionary War. In this history lesson, 5th graders review what they know about the the Revolutionary War in order to identify British and American leaders. Students read a chapter from their...
Curated OER
The Revolutionary War: The Battle For Freedom
Eighth graders examine the events leading up to the Revolutionary War with a focus on the Boston Tea Party. Using the internet, they discover why the tea was dropped into the harbor by the colonists and research the Intolerable Acts. ...