Lesson Plan
Declaring Independence Lesson Plan
Students will be able to identify key reasons why the colonists wanted independence from Great Britain and understand that the Declaration of Independence was a document declaring that independence.
Understanding the Declaration of Independence helps students grasp fundamental concepts of freedom, self-governance, and the origins of their country. It fosters an appreciation for the rights and responsibilities of citizens.
Audience
3rd Grade Students
Time
30 minutes
Approach
Through engaging storytelling, visual aids, and a hands-on activity, students will explore the big ideas of the Declaration.
Materials
Whiteboard or Projector, Declaring Independence Slide Deck, Freedom Fighters Story Script, Our Class Rules for Freedom Activity, Chart paper or large drawing paper, and Markers or crayons
Prep
Prepare Materials
10 minutes
- Review the Declaring Independence Lesson Plan and all linked materials: Declaring Independence Slide Deck, Freedom Fighters Story Script, and Our Class Rules for Freedom Activity.
- Prepare whiteboard or projector for the slide deck.
- Gather chart paper or large drawing paper and markers/crayons for the activity.
Step 1
Warm-Up: What is Freedom?
5 minutes
- Begin with the Freedom Bell Warm-Up activity. Ask students: "What does freedom mean to you?" or "When do you feel free?" Allow a few students to share their ideas. (5 minutes)
Step 2
Introduction: Big Ideas of Independence
10 minutes
- Use the Declaring Independence Slide Deck to introduce the concept of the Declaration of Independence.
- Follow the Freedom Fighters Story Script to guide the discussion, focusing on why the colonists wanted to be free from Great Britain and the idea of declaring independence. Emphasize key vocabulary like 'colonists,' 'Great Britain,' 'independence,' and 'declaration.' (10 minutes)
Step 3
Activity: Our Class Rules for Freedom
10 minutes
- Introduce the Our Class Rules for Freedom Activity.
- Divide students into small groups (2-3 students).
- Provide each group with a piece of chart paper or large drawing paper and markers/crayons.
- Instruct groups to brainstorm and draw 2-3 'rules' or 'ideas' that they believe are important for their classroom to be a 'free' and 'fair' place. Explain that this is similar to how the colonists created rules for their new, free country.
- Circulate and assist groups as needed. (10 minutes)
Step 4
Wrap-Up: Sharing Our Declarations
5 minutes
- Bring the class back together.
- Have each group quickly share one of their 'rules for freedom' from the Our Class Rules for Freedom Activity.
- Conclude with the Freedom Fact Cool-Down question: "What is one new thing you learned about why the American colonists wanted independence?" (5 minutes)
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Slide Deck
What is Freedom?
Think about it: What does freedom mean to you?
When do you feel free?
Greet students and start with the warm-up question.
A Big Idea: Freedom!
Long, long ago, America was not its own country.
It was ruled by a faraway country called Great Britain.
Introduce the topic: Today, we're going to talk about a very important time in America's history when people wanted to be free and created a special paper to say so!
Unfair Rules?
The people in America, called colonists, thought the rules were unfair.
They wanted to make their own choices!
Like having a say in what games you play at recess!
Explain that the people living in America (colonists) felt treated unfairly by Great Britain. Use simple language and analogies appropriate for 3rd graders.
Let's Declare It!
So, the colonists decided to write a special letter, a Declaration.
It was called the Declaration of Independence.
It said: "We want to be free!"
Introduce the idea of a 'declaration' as a loud, clear statement. Explain that the colonists decided to write down their feelings.
Important Words
Thomas Jefferson helped write it.
It said: Everyone has rights!
Like the right to be happy and safe.
Explain who wrote it (Thomas Jefferson) and what it said: everyone has rights, and governments should protect those rights. Keep it very high-level for this age group.
Our Own Declarations
Just like the colonists, we can think about what makes our classroom a fair and free place.
What rules would you declare for our class freedom?
Connect it to the activity. Tell students they will create their own 'declarations' for their classroom.
Time to Reflect!
What is one new thing you learned today about why the American colonists wanted independence?
Prompt for the cool-down. Ask students to reflect on one new thing they learned.
Warm Up
Freedom Bell Warm-Up
Imagine our classroom has a special "Freedom Bell." When it rings, it's time to think about what freedom means!
Question: What does freedom mean to you? When do you feel free?
Share your ideas with a partner or with the class!
Script
Freedom Fighters Story Script
Introduction (Teacher says):
"Good morning, class! Today, we're going to travel back in time to learn about a very important moment in American history. It's a story about people who wanted to be free and to make their own rules."
"Let's start by looking at our first slide in the Declaring Independence Slide Deck."
(Display Slide 1: What is Freedom?)
"We just talked about what freedom means to us. Keep those ideas in your mind as we learn about a time when many people in America felt like they weren't truly free."
The Problem (Teacher says):
(Display Slide 2: A Big Idea: Freedom!)
"Long, long ago, the land that is now America was very different. It wasn't its own country yet! It was ruled by a faraway country called Great Britain. Imagine if your classroom rules were all made by someone in a different school, far away, who didn't really know you or what you needed. How would that feel?"
(Display Slide 3: Unfair Rules?)
"The people living here, who we call colonists, were part of Great Britain, but they lived across a huge ocean. They started to feel like the rules and taxes made by the King and Parliament in Great Britain were unfair. They didn't have a say in these rules, and they thought that wasn't right! They wanted to make their own choices about how to live and govern themselves. They wanted independence."
"Think about our analogy: if the far-away principal kept making rules without asking us, like 'No more colorful drawings!' or 'Everyone must wear a silly hat every day!' How would you feel? You'd probably want to declare your own rules, right?"
Declaring Independence (Teacher says):
(Display Slide 4: Let's Declare It!)
"So, these brave colonists decided they couldn't live like that anymore. They decided to make a very big, very important statement. They decided to write a special letter, a powerful paper, to tell the King and the whole world that they wanted to be free and become their own country. This special paper was called the Declaration of Independence."
"A declaration is like saying something really loud and clear, so everyone hears you! This Declaration was a way for the colonists to say, 'We are now independent! We are our own country!''"
(Display Slide 5: Important Words)
"A very smart man named Thomas Jefferson helped write this Declaration. He wrote down some really important ideas that we still believe in today. He wrote that all people are created equal and that everyone has certain rights, like the right to life, the right to liberty (which means freedom!), and the right to the pursuit of happiness (which means the chance to be happy and live your best life)."
"These were big, powerful ideas! The colonists were saying that a government should protect these rights for its people, and if it doesn't, the people have the right to create a new government."
Connecting to Today (Teacher says):
(Display Slide 6: Our Own Declarations)
"Just like the colonists bravely declared their independence and wrote down their important ideas for a fair and free country, we can think about what makes our classroom a fair and free place. What are some of those important ideas or 'rules' that we believe in to make sure everyone feels free and happy in our class?"
"Now, we're going to do an activity where you get to create your own 'declaration' for our classroom freedom!"
Activity
Our Class Rules for Freedom!
Just like the American colonists created the Declaration of Independence to say what was important for their new, free country, your group is going to create a mini-declaration for our classroom!
Your Mission:
- Talk it over: In your small group, discuss what makes our classroom a fair, happy, and free place for everyone.
- Brainstorm Ideas: Think of 2-3 important ideas or "rules" that you think our class needs so that everyone feels respected, safe, and free to learn.
- Write and Draw: On your large paper, write down your 2-3 ideas. You can use words and also draw pictures to show what your ideas mean.
Example Ideas:
- Everyone has the freedom to share their ideas without being laughed at.
- We declare that all voices should be heard.
- We have the right to learn in a peaceful classroom.
When you are done, be ready to share one of your group's
Cool Down
Freedom Fact Cool-Down
Now that we've learned about the Declaration of Independence and even made our own classroom declarations, let's think about what we learned.
Question: What is one new thing you learned today about why the American colonists wanted independence?
**Be ready to share your