Handout
Library of Congress

Loc: Thomas Jefferson, 1743 1826

For Students 9th - 10th
Brief summary from the Library of Congress of Thomas Jefferson's involvement in the Declaration of Independence.
Handout
Bill of Rights Institute

Bill of Rights Institute: John Hancock

For Students 9th - 10th
Forever famous for his outsized signature on the Declaration of Independence, John Hancock was a larger than life figure in other ways as well. Part of the great Boston triumvirate that included Samuel Adams and James Otis, Hancock was a...
Handout
Bill of Rights Institute

Bill of Rights Institute: John Jay

For Students 9th - 10th
John Jay epitomized the selfless leader of the American Revolution. Born to a prominent New York family, John Jay gained notoriety as a lawyer in his home state. He favored a moderate approach to Britain but joined his fellow Patriots...
Lesson Plan
US National Archives

National Archives: To Sign or Not to Sign

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Use this lesson in the middle of a Revolutionary War unit. Students will analyze sections of the Declaration of Independence to answer critical thinking questions. Upon completion of the unit, students will reevaluate their responses to...
Handout
Bill of Rights Institute

Bill of Rights Institute: Thomas Jefferson

For Students 9th - 10th
Thomas Jefferson hoped that he would be remembered for three accomplishments: his founding of the University of Virginia, his crafting of the Virginia Statute for Religious Freedom, and his authorship of the Declaration of Independence....
Website
University of Groningen

American History: Outlines: Early American and Colonial Period to 1776

For Students 9th - 10th Standards
Background information about the literary traditions of the pre-Colonial and Colonial period. Includes information about Native American oral traditions and Native American cultures. Follow the links to the Early American era and to...
Unit Plan
The Dirksen Congressional Center

Congress for Kids: Democracy

For Students 3rd - 8th
Aimed at younger students learning about government, this section of the larger 'Congress for Kids' website focuses on Democracy. Links to related topics include democracy vs autocracy, 13 Colonies, Declaration of Independence, and...
Lesson Plan
Alabama Learning Exchange

Alex: Identifying Parallel Structure in Sentences

For Teachers 9th - 10th Standards
After textbook and online instruction in parallel construction, students examine "Lincoln's Gettysburg Address" and the Declaration of Independence for parallelism before writing their own paragraphs.
Lesson Plan
iCivics

I Civics: Hey, King: Get Off Our Backs!

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Follow the grievances of the American colonists from oppressive British policies to the creation of the Declaration of Independence. Stamp Act primary source extension included.
Graphic
Curated OER

The Declaration of Independence

For Students 9th - 10th
Listen and read along as news reporters from NPR recite the Declaration of Independence. Somehow the document becomes so much more alive as it is being read aloud.
Primary
Harry S. Truman Library and Museum

Declaration of the Establishment of the State of Israel

For Students 9th - 10th
This is the declaration issued by the members of the People's Committee severing the mandate of the British and establishing the state of Israel.
Graphic
Other

The Story of the Us Told in 141 Maps

For Students 9th - 10th
This collection of United States maps includes a year-by-year. Beginning from the Declaration of Independence and extending to present-day, students will learn explore and interact with these maps that change year-by-year.
Website
BBC

Bbc: Serbia Rejects Un Legal Ruling on Kosovo's Secession

For Students 9th - 10th
This article discusses Serbia's reaction to the United Nation's ruling that Kosovo's declaration of independence in 2008 was not illegal. Links to related articles are featured. (July 22, 2010)
Activity
Read Works

Read Works: The Liberty Bell

For Teachers Pre-K - 1st
[Free Registration/Login Required] Intended to support early elementary students' reading comprehension, Independence Hall's "Liberty Bell" is described in this informational text. Visual cues are provided to support the passage and...
Handout
CommonLit

Common Lit: Text Sets: The American Revolution

For Students 9th - 10th Standards
Collection of 17 Grade-Leveled texts (4-12) on the topic "The American Revolution." Learn about the events leading up to America's Revolutionary War for independence from Britain and how the war was won. [Free account registration...
Lesson Plan
Schools of California Online Resources for Education

Score: Colusa Community School: Independence Day!

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Using the concept that a class has become an independent country, students work in groups to design symbols that depict their class. This activity not only teaches the history of American symbols, but it exercises higher-order thinking...
Article
BBC

Bbc: Kosovo M Ps Proclaim Independence

For Students 9th - 10th
The BBC discusses the situation in Kosovo as its parliament unanimously endorses its independence from Serbia. Although celebrated by tens of thousands, trouble ensued. (17 February 2008)
Article
A&E Television

History.com: The Patriot Financier Who Bankrolled the Revolutionary War

For Students 9th - 10th
A brash, self-made millionaire helped fund the fight for independence, but after the war, he ended up in debtor's prison. Without Robert Morris, the American Revolution may have been crushed under a mountain of debt and disarray. The...
Handout
Library of Congress

Loc: Today in History: April 13: Thomas Jefferson, Grand Old Flag

For Students 9th - 10th
Multi-faceted site with hypertexted links to Jefferson's writings, summary of the events leading to the Constitution and the failure of the Articles of Confederation; included is Jefferson's original draft of the "Bill for Establishing...
Handout
Wikimedia

Wikipedia: Ho Chi Minh

For Students 9th - 10th
This site from Wikipedia provides a biography of the North Vietnamese leader Ho Chi Minh. Focuses primarily on his political life. Ho Chi Minh led the independence movement in North Vietnam.
Website
Instituto Latinoamericano de la Comunicacion Educativa

Acta De La Independencia (1811)

For Students 9th - 10th
Declaration of Independence for Venezuela, July 5, 1811. English and French available on the homepage.
Unit Plan
Annenberg Foundation

Annenberg Learner: A Biography of America: A New System of Government 1776 1826

For Students 9th - 10th
This module examines America's efforts to form a new government after the War for Independence and to draft the Constitution. Includes an interactive activity comparing Thomas Jefferson's and Alexander Hamilton's visions for America, a...
Website
University of Groningen

American History: Outlines: Common Sense,independence

For Students 9th - 10th
Discussion of comparison and contrast of Declaration of Independence and Common Sense. If you click the "documents" link in the sidebar, you can also access the text of Common Sense.
Primary
The History Place

The History Place:king George Iii Proclaims the Colonies to Be in Open Rebellion

For Students 9th - 10th
This site from The History Place provides the original text of the royal proclamation of King George III that the Colonies were in open rebellion against the Crown having received the Declaration of Independence.