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Lesson · Elementary (BRI Jr)

Consequences of the American Revolution for 3-5

Grade
3–5
Published
Jul 26, 2024
Three historical figures with a book titled "The Federalist: A Collection of Essays on the New Constitution."

About this lesson

How did Americans organize their new government after the American Revolution?

How this lesson flows

Every stage is laid out below, so you can see the whole lesson at a glance. Nothing is hidden.

  1. 1AnticipateVocabulary Word Study To anticipate the lesson,…
  2. 2EngagePolitical Cartoon Analysis In this section of th…
  3. 3ExploreIn this part of the lesson, students will discov…
  4. 4AssessLiving History “Wax” Museum In the summative per…

Guiding questions

  • Lesson Plan PDF Essential Question: How did Americans organize their new government after the American Revolution?
  • What powers did the Founders assign to the national government under the Articles of Confederation?
  • How did this new government align with the goals of the Revolution as outlined in the Declaration of Independence?
  • What were the limits and weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation?

Learning Objectives

  • I can analyze and interpret political cartoons. 
  • I can investigate excerpts of a primary source document.  
  • I can write from the perspective of a historical person. 
  • I can research an American Founder. 
  • I can write a monologue. 
  • I can participate in a class wax museum and recite a monologue to visitors. 

Content Objectives

  • I can summarize the results of the American Revolution. 
  • I can identify American Founders and explain their contributions and impact on the early American government. 
  • I can explain the intent of the Articles of Confederation and why it was adopted. 
  • I can identify the weaknesses and limitations of the Articles of Confederation. 

Lesson components

Everything you need, in the version that fits your class.

Activity3-5 Elementary Vocabulary Word Study Handout

A template to help students define key vocabulary words.

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Activity3-5 Elementary Consent of the Governed Political Cartoon Analysis

Two political cartoons that help students understand the term consent of the governed.

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Activity3-5 Elementary Articles of Confederation Readings

Readings that provide an overview of the detail the powers and structure of the Colonial government.

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Activity3-5 Elementary Articles of Confederation Scaffolded Primary Source

A scaffolded version of the document to help students gain detailed understanding.

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Activity3-5 Elementary American Founder Research Handout

A template to prepare students for the Wax Museum presentation.

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Activity3-5 Articles of Confederation Monologue Peer-Review Handout

A step-by-step handout to help students prepare for the verbal portion of their Wax Museum presentation.

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Activity3-5 Consequences of the American Revolution Student-Self Assessment

A self-reflection activity that allows students to internalize their learning.

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Activity3-5 Elementary Articles of Confederation Visual Guide

A visual representation of the documents main ideas.

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Activity3-5 Elementary Articles of Confederation Partnering Cards

An activity to showcase the differences of opinion present at the first Continental Congress.

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Materials

Teacher Materials 

Student Handouts  

 

The lesson, step by step

Open each stage as you teach it, or expand them all to read straight through.

More Information

This lesson is designed around inquiry questions. There is one essential question, and several guiding questions around which the content is based. The lesson takes place in 5 stages:  

  • Anticipate- Students build background knowledge needed to be successful in the lesson. 
  • Engage- Students are ‘hooked” into the lesson. 
  • Explore- Students grapple with the main content of the unit (usually 2-3 parts). 
  • Assess- Students demonstrate their knowledge through a performance assessment. 
  • Reflect- Students reflect on their learning in the lesson. 
  • The sections below provide a brief overview of the unit’s structure. It offers a snapshot of the organization and flow of the entire unit. 

The following detailed sections break down the five stages of the lesson. Each stage is discussed thoroughly with actionable steps to guide you through the teaching process effectively. 

Standards

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