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 5.2.2

Summarize the most significant ideas found in the Declaration of Independence.

• 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.

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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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