Declare the causes: The Declaration of Independence
http://edsitement.neh.gov/view_lesson_plan.asp?id=282
A lesson plan for grade 5 Social Studies
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 2: The learner will analyze political and social institutions in North America and examine how these institutions respond to human needs, structure society, and influence behavior.
- Objective 2.01: Analyze major documents that formed the foundations of the American idea of constitutional government.
- 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.
