Social Studies - 5th Grade (2024)
Lesson Plans

Strand 2: Road to Self-Government

Students will examine British colonial policies that led colonists to becoming Loyalists, Patriots, or neutral leading up to the American Revolution. They will recognize how the actions of key individuals influenced the outcome of the Revolution. Students will explain how the colonists prevailed in gaining their independence and summarize significant ideas in the Declaration of Independence.

Compelling Questions:

• What motivated some groups to be revolutionary, some to be loyalists, and others to be neutral?
• In what ways was the American Revolution a war of ideas?
• Under what circumstances did the Declaration of Independence justify rebellion?
• What are factors that may lead to victory in war?

Standard 5.2.1

Use primary sources to craft an argument representing different perspectives during the period leading to the American Revolution (for example, men and women who were Loyalists, Patriots, Native Americans, enslaved people).

• Cartoons and Art at the time of the American Revolution
  This lesson will allow students to create their own meme or GIF dipicting a political cartoon during the time of the American Revolution. Students will be able to observe different cartoons from the time period and discuss their meaning.
• How Did Sugar Feed Slavery?
  C3. Inquiry based lesson plan. Students explore the connection between the consumption of sugar and the reliance of slave labor to cultivate sugar plantations. Includes multiple opportunities to explore the supporting questions and develop an argument with claims, including charts, graphs, illustrations, reading excerpts, and background information.
• How did the English and the Wampanoag move from contact to cooperation to conflict?
  C3. Inquiry based lesson plan. Students explore how the relationship between the pilgrims and the Wampanoag changed over time. Students develop an argument with evidence about whether or not the conflicts that developed could have been avoided (from the pilgrims' and Wampanoag's perspectives). Includes pictures, maps, excerpts, supporting questions, formative, and summative assessments.
• Revolutionary War
  After researching the time period around the Revolutionary War, students should understand the how's and why's behind the Revolution.Enduring Understanding:Key events led to self-government in the colonies.Change comes through revolution.Independence was important to the American colonies.Individuals, even outside of the elected leaders can have a profound impact on history.
• Revolutionary War Debate
  Students will use debate as a tool for discussing the Revolutionary War.
• Slavery
  After learning about Harriet Tubman and the Underground Railroad, students will participate in the Underground railroad experiment on the National Geographic web site.Enduring Understanding:Global trade and cultural exchanges alter the lives of people around the world.
• Taxation without Representation
  Students will learn about the Boston Tea Party, how taxes impact people's lives and where tax money goes.Enduring Understanding: Students will understand the roles of the events leading up to The Declaration of Independence by the United States.
• Was the American Revolution Avoidable?
  C3. Inquiry based lesson plan posits the question about whether or not the American Revolution avoidable. Students explore the relations between the British and the colonists, how British policies affected these relations, and how the colonists responded. Includes graphs, charts, maps, historical excerpts, information about the sugar, stamp, tea and quartering tax (along with others), illustrations and pictures that allow students to gather information to create an evidence-based argument as to whether or not war was avoidable.
• Why Do Countries Declare Independence?
  C3. Inquiry based lesson plan that focuses on why countries declare independence. Students explore three supporting questions, and develop an argument based in evidence from historical sources. Includes pertinent background knowledge for the teacher, an activity to introduce the concepts, the Declaration of Independence text (broken into parts) for students to analyze with an organizer, charts that show other countries and the dates they declared independence, maps, a Declaration of Independence for Haiti, Mexico, and Venezuela (for comparison), graphic organizers, formative, and summative tasks to complete.
• Why was the Revolutionary War Important?
  This is a lesson plan that can help students understand the importance of the American Revolution and the key details and events that led to its importance. The success criteria will allow students to show their competence in reading and studying an article based on UOSL and explore their technology side through their chosen presentation resource. Image Credit: https://www.istockphoto.com/photos/american-revolution 

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http://www.uen.org - in partnership with Utah State Board of Education (USBE) and Utah System of Higher Education (USHE).  Send questions or comments to USBE Specialist - Robert  Austin and see the Social Studies website. For general questions about Utah's Core Standards contact the Director - Jennifer  Throndsen.

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