LEARN NC

K–12 teaching and learning · from the UNC School of Education

Declare the causes: The Declaration of Independence

http://edsitement.neh.gov/view_lesson_plan.asp?id=282

A lesson plan for Grade 5 English Language Arts and Social Studies

Provider: National Endowment for the Humanities

About this resource

Appropriate grades
5
Provider
National Endowment for the Humanities

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In this lesson plan, students will see the development of the Declaration as both an historical process and a writing process through the use of role play and creative writing. By the end of the lesson, students will be able to:

  • describe and list the sections of the Declaration of Independence and explain the basic purpose of each
  • give examples of a document that served as a precedent for the Declaration
  • list and explain one or more of the colonists' complaints included in the Declaration
  • demonstrate an awareness of the Declaration of Independence as a historical process developed in protest of unfair conditions

It should be noted that “Declare the Causes” is actually a series of eight lessons, each one requiring 1-2 class periods.

North Carolina Curriculum Alignment

Social Studies (2003)

Grade 5

  • Goal 4: The learner will trace key developments in United States history and describe their impact on the land and people of the nation and its neighboring countries.
    • Objective 4.04: Describe the causes and effects of the American Revolution, and analyze their influence on the adoption of the Articles of Confederation, Constitution, and the Bill of Rights.

English Language Arts (2004)

Grade 5

  • Goal 4: The learner will apply strategies and skills to create oral, written, and visual texts.
    • Objective 4.03: Make oral and written presentations to inform or persuade selecting vocabulary for impact.
    • Objective 4.04: Select a self-evaluated composition for publication and justify rationale for selection.
    • Objective 4.05: Use a variety of preliminary strategies to plan and organize the writing and speaking task considering purpose, audience, and timeline.
    • Objective 4.06: Compose a draft that elaborates on major ideas and adheres to the topic by using an appropriate organizational pattern that accomplishes the purpose of the writing task and effectively communicates its content.
    • Objective 4.08: Focus revision on target elements by:
      • improving word choice.
      • rearranging text for clarity.
      • creating simple and/or complex sentences for clarity or impact.
      • developing a lead, characters, or mood.
    • Objective 4.09: Produce work that follows the conventions of particular genres (e.g., clarification, essay, feature story, business letter).
    • Objective 4.10: Use technology as a tool to enhance and/or publish a product.
  • Goal 5: The learner will apply grammar and language conventions to communicate effectively.
    • Objective 5.04: Determine the impact of word choice on written and spoken language.
    • Objective 5.06: Proofread for accuracy of spelling using appropriate strategies to confirm spelling and to correct errors.
    • Objective 5.07: Edit final product for grammar, language conventions, and format.