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 5.2.4

Use evidence from primary and secondary sources to craft an argument that explains how the American colonists prevailed over one of the world’s most powerful empires.

• Revolutionary War Debate
  Students will use debate as a tool for discussing the Revolutionary War.
• 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.
• The Battle of Bunker Hill
  This lesson plan is designed to help 5th grade students explore the events and effects of the Battle of Bunker Hill during the American Revolutionary War through research of informational text, video presentation and pictures, with the ultimate goal of understanding the effect of the battle on the war. The lesson is best delivered in an in person whole group setting, but could be modified to be used in an online format. Time Frame: 45 - 60 minutesPhoto by Melanie Nixon
• 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.

These materials have been produced by and for the teachers of the State of Utah. Copies of these materials may be freely reproduced for teacher and classroom use. When distributing these materials, credit should be given to Utah State Board of Education. These materials may not be published, in whole or part, or in any other format, without the written permission of the Utah State Board of Education, 250 East 500 South, PO Box 144200, Salt Lake City, Utah 84114-4200.