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Road to The Revolution

The Events Leading Up to the American Revolution

Learning Module

Abstract

This learning module is all about the events leading up to the American Revolution. Students will be learning about on average three acts per week. We start with the 13 Colonies and how they were under British Rule, we then move onto the Proclamation Act of 1763 (The first event on the road to the revolution). Students learn how a number of events imposed on the colonists by the British lead to America gaining its independence. At the end of the learning module, students are prompted to make a prediction about what the battle of Lexington and Concord will cause. This allows students and teachers to transition smoothly into the American Revolution.

Keywords

13 Colonies, revolution, freedom, independence, Revolutionary war, British

Overview

Throughout this learning module, students will learn about The Road to the American Revolution and how our nation gained its independence from Great Britain. This learning module translates the ideas and principles in this course into practice by providing students with alternative assessments. This idea comes from week three of the course "Standards-based and alternative practices for assessment".

My personal experience with this content area comes from my student teaching. I student taught at Madison Elementary School in Lombard Illinois in a 5th-grade classroom. Due to my student teaching being done during the COVID pandemic year, I completed my entire program online. The school I was in did not offer social studies or science lessons due to the overwhelming need for data from standardized tests in math and language arts. Because of this, I was able to create my social studies and science lessons weekly while my cooperating teachers focused on data collecting and preparing students in math and reading. I gained a great deal of experience by creating engaging and educational lessons on The Road to the American Revolution. I outlined and built an entire unit on the Revolution while using many alternative assessments along the way. 

In a literature review titled "The Educational Forum" written by Carole Janisch, Xiaoming Liu, and Amma Akrof "The opportunity to provide positive experiences for students and the ability to offer responsive instruction to student's needs were identified by course participants as the two most positive outcomes of alternative assessment." (Janisch et al., 2007) I wanted to provide my students with a positive learning experience where they could grow as historians and broaden their educational background while being provided with as much instructional feedback as possible during the pandemic.

The material in this learning module has been previously created by me and modified to fit into this learning module. To transform the materials, I added lots more videos and IXL learning assignments to the list of to-dos. 

Please feel free to modify these lessons to best fit your students. Every class is different and each student deserves to be supported as best as possible. Please let me know if you have any questions about the material or need any help navigating the module. Enjoy the Road to Revolution!

Intended Learning Outcomes

This learning module is intended for 5th-grade students who have previously learned about Westward Expansion, The Lewis and Clark Expedition, and The Original 13 colonies. This learning module should take 6 weeks to complete. We will focus on 1 update a week. 

Every week you will be given assignments to complete in the module and a "comment and update" section to write. Your comments must be at least 100 words long and include 1 picture. Your updates must be at least 200 words and include 1 picture and 1 quote from a resource you found online. 

Important Vocabulary:

Historians- an expert in history. Especially when it comes to a particular time period, geographical region, or social phenomenon. 

Standards:

Social Studies-

SS.H.3.5 Explain probable causes and effects of events and developments in U.S. history.

SS.CV.2.5 Examine the origins and purposes of rules, laws, and key U.S. constitutional provisions.

SS.H.1.5: Create and use a chronological sequence of related events to compare developments that happened at the same time.

Writing-

CC.5.W.7 Research to Build and Present Knowledge: Conduct short research projects that use several sources to build knowledge through investigation of different aspects of a topic.

Learning Outcomes:

Students will be able to recall events that lead up to the American Revolution.

Students will be able to complete each alternative assessment fully.

Students will be able to complete in full each part of the 13 Colonies review worksheet.

Students will be able to predict why it is important for us to know about the 13 Colonies and the Proclamation line before we talk about the American Revolution.

Update 1: 13 Colonies Review

Student

Please complete this survey before starting the module. 

http://cgscholar.com/survdash/cgsurvey/uauthorsurvey/depid/62325368ca021258fc8ce1df

Goals:

Historians, you will be able to complete in full each part of the 13 Colonies review worksheet.

Historians, you will be able to predict why it is important for us to know about the 13 Colonies and the Proclamation line before we talk about the American Revolution. 

Welcome, historians! To your first update in the Road to Revolution Learning Module. In this update, we will be revisiting the 13 Colonies and how they came to be. We will also be talking about the Proclamation Line of 1763 and how this started the Road to Revolution. When you have completed the video and the worksheet, please make sure to submit them to your teacher however they may want you to. 

Please watch this video on the Proclamation Line, then fill out the 13 Colonies review worksheet. Every update will have a "comment and update" section. These must be completed independently weekly. You must answer the comment 

As a historian, you are responsible for researching, analyzing, interpreting, and writing about the past by studying historical documents and sources. Throughout your time completing this module you will be required to do all 5 of these things.

Please skim this article below to learn to get a brief overview of what we will be learning about in this module. 

https://www.ducksters.com/history/revolutionarywartimeline.php

Comment: Why do you think it is important for us to know about the 13 Colonies and the Proclamation line before we talk about the American Revolution? 

Update: After looking at the information on the map, which colony do you think you would have wanted to live in? Give details to support your answer and don’t forget to write in complete sentences!

Any further questions: 

Media embedded February 23, 2022
 
 
13 Colonies Review Worksheet
Screenshot Preview of Attached Worksheet (13 Colonies)

Teacher

 

Standard:

SS.CV.2.5 Examine the origins and purposes of rules, laws, and key U.S. constitutional provisions.

In this first update, students are expected to watch the video on the Line of Proclamation of 1763, complete the worksheet on the 13 Colonies and complete the comment/update. 

For this module, make sure to tell your students how you would like them to turn in their assessments. I prefer to use google as it is very convenient and students tend to know how to share through google if they have had some prior experience with it. 

Make sure you check for understanding by going through the questions at the end of each student's module to make sure all bases are covered. 

Starting students off with a worksheet where they can use their comprehension skills to answer the questions, will allow them to buil their confidence in the information being studied. This is an important first step to complete because we want to build their confidence before we start to get into new information. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

*Please be sure to return the student's work to them as soon as possible. Work form update 1 should be passed back no later than week 2 and so on. It is super important that students see their results are able to make changes to them to keep their motivation up. 

Update 2: Introduction to the Causes of the Revolution

Student

Media embedded February 23, 2022

Goals:

Historians, you will be able to connect current events to their origins in our history. 

Historians, you will be able to complete in full the IXL activity and watch the whole video. 

Congratulations historians, you have made it to update 2In the previous update, we talked about the 13 Colonies and the Proclamation Line of 1763. Your comment on the last update was to talk about why these two things are important to the Road to the Revolution. Please watch the BrainPop video above to learn more about the causes of the American Revolution. 

After you have watched the video, please click on the link below to the IXL activity where you will complete 6 multiple choice questions on the American Revolution and the 13 Colonies. Once you have completed the activity, make sure to hit the submit button so your teacher can see your score. Remember, this is a learning opportunity and as historians, we are not expected to be perfect. If you do end up answering a few questions wrong on the IXL, that Is ok! 

https://www.ixl.com/social-studies/grade-5/the-american-revolution-the-thirteen-colonies-under-british-rule

*Make sure to use at least 100 words in your comment with 1 picture and at least 200 words in your update with 1 quote and 1 picture. 

Comment: How did the British King Rule the 13 Colonies if he was so far away? How do you think this made the colonists feel? How would you feel if you were a colonist living during this time? 

Update: Find a current event that is similar to what happened back during the Road to the Revolution. List 3 ways in which the event is similar and in which it is different.

Further Questions: 

Teacher

Standard:

SS.H.3.5 Explain probable causes and effects of events and developments in U.S. history.

SS.CV.2.5 Examine the origins and purposes of rules, laws, and key U.S. constitutional provisions.

In this module, students will watch the BrainPop video and complete the IXL activity. You will collect their IXL reports and review their data. This IXL activity is considered to be an alternative assessment. This data is useful to you to monitor your student's progress. With this information, you are able to determine if students are able to move on to the next update or if they need to go back and review videos or work from the previous update. 

I love using IXL to support my students because it uses the theory of classial conditioning to build confidence in learners. 

Update 3: 1765-1767

Student

Historians, this week we will be talking about the first acts that lead to the American Revolution. These events took place from 1765 to 1767 so these events took place pretty close in time. The first act we will be looking at is the Stamp Act. The Stamp act took place in 1765. This act was In place to help pay for the cost of the expenses by the French and Indian war. Please watch this video to learn more about the Stamp Act.  

Media embedded February 24, 2022

Goals:

Historians will be able to retell what the 1st and second Quartering Acts were about. 

Historians will be able to retell what happened between the years 1763 and 1767 and express their reaction to the acts. 

The next act we are going to talk about is the Quartering Act of 1765. The Quartering acts were acts imposed on the colonists requiring them to allow British soldiers to live with them. 

Please read this article from Ducksters to learn more about the 1st and 2nd Quartering Acts.

https://www.ducksters.com/history/american_revolution/intolerable_acts.php

After you read this article, please take the quiz at the bottom of the page. You should report your score here __________. You have the opportunity to explain your score here if you feel the need to. ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________.

The final act we will discuss this week will be the Townshend Act. The Townshend Acts were a series of measures passed by the British in 1767. This was a tax on goods imported to the American Colonies. The colonists saw this as the British abusing their power and taking advantage of the colonists. Please watch the video below to better understand the Townshend Act. 

Media embedded February 24, 2022

After you have completed all three activities, please fill out this worksheet for only the first four sections. Click on the PDF below to access the worksheet in full. 

Road to Revolution

Comment: How would you feel if the government was trying to impose unfair taxes on you? Which act do you think would bother you the most? 

Update: Find a current event that is similar to the Stamp Act. Describe this event and how it is affecting people today like it affected the colonists.

Teacher

SS.CV.2.5 Examine the origins and purposes of rules, laws, and key U.S. constitutional provisions.

This is a pretty loaded week. Make sure that your students are staying up to date with the workload. Students should be learning about 1 act a day and then filling out the worksheet in the second half of the week. Please go over the student's responses on the worksheet as their alternative assessment this week. Also, the Ducksters quiz should be used as further data for you on the Quartering Acts. 

Make sure to go back reteach or have students review work from this week or from update 2 to reinforce the information being taught. 

Throughout this module we use many different forms of alternative assessments to provide the best learning expirence for our learners. No two students are the same so why should we all be tested the same? That is why we use so many different forms of assessments in this module. 

Update 4: 1770-1774

Student

Welcome historians to a pivotal point in American history. This week is your 4th week as a historian. As we move on through our timeline our next major event is the Boston Massacre. 

Please watch this video below to learn more about the Boston Massacre. 

*Remember that as a historian, you are responsible for researching, analyzing, interpreting, and writing about the past by studying historical documents and sources.

 
Media embedded February 24, 2022

After watching this video, please read this article on the Boston Massacre.

https://www.ducksters.com/history/american_revolution/boston_massacre.php

Please take the quiz provided at the bottom of the article and report your score back to your teacher. 

After you read this article, please take the quiz at the bottom of the page. You should report your score here __________. You have the opportunity to explain your score here if you feel the need to. ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________.

Please read this article below to learn about the Boston Tea Party.

https://www.history.com/topics/american-revolution/boston-tea-party

The Boston Tea party was one of the first acts where the colonists spoke up for their rights against the British. They did this by using their freedom of speech to protests taxes. Please make a list of ways we can still practice our freedom of speech today. _____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Please read this article below to learn more about the intolerable acts. 

https://www.ducksters.com/history/american_revolution/intolerable_acts.php

After you read this article, please take the quiz at the bottom of the page. You should report your score here __________. You have the opportunity to explain your score here if you feel the need to. ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________.

The video below is a History Brief on The Intolerable Acts. You can watch this video to help you better understand The Acts if you feel you need further explanation. I have also attached a liberty kids video that you have the option to watch. 

Media embedded February 26, 2022
Media embedded February 26, 2022

Please fill out the second part of the worksheet below. Just like before, the left side should be what happened during the event and the right side should be your reaction. 

(Only fill out 1770-1774)
Worksheet for Boston Massacre - Intolerable Acts

Comment: What do you think was the major cause of the Boston Massacre? What do you think could have prevented this? 

Update: Why did the Colonists call this a "Massacre?" What does the word Massacre really mean? Come up with another name for the Boston Massacre.

Further questions: 

 

Teacher

SS.CV.2.5 Examine the origins and purposes of rules, laws, and key U.S. constitutional provisions.

This week your students will be learning about The Boston Massacre, The Boston Tea Party, and the Intolerable Acts. Students have 3 articles to read and 1 video to watch. They also have two optional videos. Both videos are about the Intolerable Acts and are supposed to be used as optional additional resources to support understanding of the Acts. 

As the teacher, you are going to be analyzing their quiz scores at the end of each article and scoring their responses on the worksheet provided on the update. Students should be defining the three events and sharing their reactions to the events. The worksheet should be completed up until 1775. 

Please review the further questions section for your students. Go through and answer any questions they may have for you. 

Update 5: 1775 "The Shot Heard Round the World"

Student

BOOM! The shot heard round the world rang out on the night of April 18th, 1775. Which side shot first is still a mystery. This update is all about you deciding who you think it was! 

In this update, you will participate in a peer-reviewed project. 

Please click on this link to view the instructions and the rubric for the project. For this project, you are going to be writing a paper. Please type this paper up and submit it to your teacher however they request. 

http://Shot Heard Around the World

Peer Reviewed Project Rubric

To learn more about The shot heard round the World, please read this article and watch the video linked below. 

https://www.history.com/news/what-was-the-shot-heard-round-the-world

Media embedded February 26, 2022

After analyzing these resources, fill out the rest of the worksheet provided and answer the comment and updates for this week. 

Worksheet for 1775
The Shot Heard Round the World 1775

Comment: Where was the shot heard round the world? What is another name for the shot heard round the world? What is the significance of the shot? What did this cause? 

Update: How do you believe that all of the events leading up to the battle of Lexington and Concord cause the American Revolution?

Teacher

SS.CV.2.5 Examine the origins and purposes of rules, laws, and key U.S. constitutional provisions.

CC.5.W.7 Research to Build and Present Knowledge: Conduct short research projects that use several sources to build knowledge through investigation of different aspects of a topic.

For this module, students will participate in a peer-reviewed project. As the teacher, you are responsible for putting your students in groups of 2. Please view instructions on the left-hand side. 

The alternative assessment this week is the worksheet and the peer-reviewed paper. Please use the rubric provided on the peer-reviewed paper to grade your student's peer reviews. 

The reason behind this peer-reviewed project is so that students can read their partner's opinions on who they believe fired the shot that started the Revolutionary War. We want our students to get familiar with the idea of reading their peer's work and providing feedback to them. This promotes a collaborative learning environment where students can feel that they have a community of other writers supporting them and cheering them on. 

Update 6: PopUp Museum

Student

PopUp Museum Worksheet
PopUp Museum American Revolution Screenshot

Comment: Pick one of the artifacts you found in the popup museum to talk about. Do some further research on the artifact and tell us more about it. 

Update: After learning about the road to the revolution, make a prediction as to what you think will happen after the shot heard round the world. 

Further questions:

Teacher

SS.H.3.5: Explain probable causes and effects of events and developments in U.S. history.

For this last update, students will be completing the Road to Revolution Scavenger Hunt worksheet. This is their alternative assessment for the week. Please collect these worksheets through electronic submission and assess them. Make sure to give students back their final grade this week based on all of the data you have collected throughout the unit. Students should receive their final grades as soon as possible to keep their motivation going. 

After this week, you will be moving on to the American Revolution. The update at the end of this week will lead your students into the American Revolution by asking them to predict what they think the battle of Lexington and Concord will cause. 

You are responsible for making sure your students are ready to move on and all misconceptions about the road to the revolution are cleared up. You can do this by answering their further questions at the bottom of each update. 

References

American revolution. Ducksters. (n.d.).

Ducksters American History (n.d.). 

Encyclopædia Britannica, inc. (n.d.). Proclamation of 1763. Encyclopædia Britannica. 

Fast facts about the proclamation of 1763 | history - youtube. (n.d.). 

History brief: The Boston massacre - youtube. (n.d.).

Janisch, C., Liu, X., & Akrof, A. (2007, May 5). Implementing Alternative Assessment: Opportunities and Obstacles.

Liberty's Kids 102 - intolerable acts: History videos for kids. YouTube. (2018, February 27). 

Nix, E. (2015, January 23). What was the "shot heard round the world"? History.com. 

Readingthroughhistor. (2014, September 18). History brief: The intolerable acts. YouTube.

The Boston Tea Party. Bill of Rights Institute. (n.d.). The Stamp Act of 1765 - YouTube. (n.d.).

What were the Townshend Acts? | history - youtube. (n.d.).

YouTube. (2016, January 13). Liberty's Kids 106 - the shot heard 'round the world. YouTube.