Revolutionary War Story Map

Student Resources

• Chart paper or digital story map template 
• Markers, pens, or digital tools 

Teacher Resources

• American Revolution Interactive Timeline 
• For more information on the ​​Revolutionary War, read Chapter 3 Introductory Essay: 1763-1789 from Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness curriculum.  

Anticipate 

Begin with a quick Decision game to prepare students to understand the challenge of perseverance – should they keep going or give up in tough situations. This activity will start to help them understand the perseverance needed during the American Revolution.  

Decision Game 

• Prepare scenarios with tough decisions moments, or use the ones provided here.  
• Read the scenarios out loud or display them on slides or cards. This can be done as a whole class activity or in small groups.  
• Instruct students to give a thumbs up or thumbs down to indicate if they would continue going or quit.  
• Relatable Scenarios 
  • Studying for a Big Test After Failing the First One 
    • You failed your last history test, and the final exam is coming up. You could study really hard and try to pass, but it seems impossible. 
  • Do you put in the effort or accept a bad grade? 
  • Helping Your Team Win, Even When You’re Losing 
    • Your team is losing badly, and some of your teammates are giving up. You’re exhausted, but there’s still time to turn things around. 
    • Do you keep playing hard or just coast to the finish? 
  • Trying Again After Embarrassing Yourself 
    • You try out for the school play and forget your lines in front of everyone. There’s another round of auditions tomorrow. 
    • Do you try again or give up? 
• Revolutionary War Scenarios  
  • Freezing and Hungry at Valley Forge 
    • It’s winter, and your army is running out of food. Some soldiers have no shoes, and others are getting sick. You’re months away from the next battle. 
    • Do you stick it out or leave to go home? 
  • The Battle of Bunker Hill—Fight or Flee? 
    • You and your fellow soldiers are running low on ammunition, but you see the enemy advancing. Your commander says, “Don’t fire until you see the whites of their eyes!” 
    • Do you stay and fight or run before you’re overwhelmed? 
  • Crossing the Delaware in the Dead of Night 
    • Your general has a bold plan: cross an icy river in the middle of the night and attack the enemy while they sleep. It’s risky, and if you fail, you could lose everything. 
    • Do you go along with the plan or refuse because it’s too dangerous? 
  • Victory at Saratoga, But the War Isn’t Over 
    • Your army just won a huge battle, and for the first time, it feels like you might actually win the war. But there’s still a long fight ahead. 
    • Do you keep pushing forward or take the victory and hope the British give up? 
  • Trapped at Yorktown—The Final Stand 
    • The enemy is surrounded, but they’re still fighting. If you hold out a little longer, they might surrender. But the battle is intense, and you’re exhausted. 
    • Do you stay and fight or try to escape? 
• After the activity, discuss: 
  • “What made you want to keep going in these situations?”
  • “What kinds of things helped the colonists keep going?” (Belief in freedom, leadership, small victories, teamwork, etc.)
  • Transition: “The war didn’t go smoothly—it had highs and lows, just like these moments. But small victories, leadership, and determination kept the colonists fighting. This idea of perseverance will help us as we create our story maps!”

Engage 

• Begin by explaining that a story map is a visual way to organize the key elements of a historical narrative. It helps us see how events unfold and connect over time. 
• Discuss how perseverance is an important theme in storytelling and history. Ask students: How do people keep going despite obstacles? 
  • Explain that the American Revolution was full of moments where perseverance was key to eventual success. 
• Display an example of a story map, either on a board or digitally. Go over key components: Title/Topic, Setting, Key Players, Rising Action, Climax, Falling Action, and (optional) Long-Term Impact & Significance, and Themes & Lessons Learned. 
  • Here’s an overview of each:  
    • Topic 
      • What is the historical event? 
      • Example: The American Revolution  
    • Setting (Background Information) 
      • When and where did this event take place? 
      • What were the key causes leading up to it? 
      • Who were the major groups or nations involved? 
      • Example: In the 1760s, British policies and taxes angered American colonists, leading to growing tensions. 
    • Key Players (People Involved) 
      • Who were the major individuals or groups involved? 
      • What roles did they play in the event? 
      • Examples: George Washington and King George III 
    • Rising Action  
      • List the key moments that built up to the climax. 
      • Describe each briefly and explain its significance. 
      • Organized chronologically or in a cause-and-effect structure. 
      • Examples: Boston Tea Party (1773), Lexington & Concord (1775) and Saratoga (1777).  
    • Climax 
      • What was the turning point or most intense moment of the event? 
      • Examples: The Battle of Yorktown (1781), where British forces surrendered, leading to the end of major combat. 
    • Falling Action 
      • What events followed the climax leading to the resolution? 
      • What immediate changes occurred? 
      • Example: The Treaty of Paris (1783) officially recognized American independence. 
    • Long-Term Impact & Significance (Optional Extension) 
      • What were the long-term effects of this event? 
      • How did it shape future events or society? 
      • Example: The American Revolution inspired democratic movements worldwide. 
    • Themes & Lessons Learned (Optional Extension)  
      • What themes emerge from the event? (e.g., perseverance, leadership, resistance) 
      • How does it connect to broader historical patterns? 
      • Example: The revolution highlighted the power of self-governance and the struggle for rights. 

Explore  

Transition: Assign Students to Small Groups.

• Actively guide groups through story map creation as they work in small groups. 
  • Each group will create a story map of the American Revolution. They will focus on identifying key events, figures, and challenges, emphasizing perseverance throughout. 
  • Some areas you can focus on while monitoring groups include:  
    • Setting: Groups establish where and when the Revolution took place and the tensions leading up to it. 
    • Key Players: Students identify and describe major figures and groups of people.  
    • Major Events & Turning Points: Groups organize significant events chronologically and explain their importance/  
    • Challenges & Conflicts: Groups examine hardships (e.g., Valley Forge, lack of supplies, military defeats) and discuss how perseverance played a role in overcoming them. 
    • Resolution & Outcome: Groups summarize how perseverance led to victory and how the Treaty of Paris marked independence. 
    • Long-Term Impact: Students reflect on how the Revolution influenced future democratic movements and lessons on perseverance in civic life. 
    • Encourage Creativity and Visual Representation: Groups can use symbols, drawings, or digital tools to enhance their story maps. They can also include short descriptions or quotes that capture the spirit of perseverance in each section. 

Reflect 

• Students write 2-3 sentences answering the following question and using an example from the lesson.  
• What were the key events and turning points of the American Revolution?

Assess 

• Assess the completion of the students’ story maps. 
  • Did students identify key battles and turning points? 
• Assess students’ exit ticket responses.  
  • Did they explain why the Americans kept fighting? Did they use an example to support their answer?