The Real Story of the American Revolution 

Curricula and Lesson Plans

Latest Changes: 07Oct15 - merge-split from other educational resource pages / 07Oct24 - exand ABA listing /

Even if you are required to teach using a curriculum set by the school district or state
you may find that parts of the curricula presented here can be effective in your classes.

Curricula for Grades K-5 

FREE -- America's Heritage: An Adventure in Liberty is a curriculum support resource offered by and for teachers, with lesson plans and resource material. The elementary lesson plans correlate to the Core Knowledge standards applicable to teachers throughout the United States. Each unit lists relevant or correlating resources including books, articles, and websites. The lessons develop four underlying philosophical themes -- Freedom Unity Progress Responsibility and include related quotes by well-known figures, think-aloud activities, posters, and writing assignments for personal application. Elementary Level Lesson Plans from the 2007 edition Topic Theme(s) Forward: The Miracle of America Foreword From Oppression to Freedom Preface American Heritage Themes Introduction 1776 - The Monarchy Game Freedom, Progress 1776 - The Declaration of Independence Freedom 1776 - A Famous Signature Responsibility 1762 - George Washington Responsibility 1762 - U. S. Presidents Progress 1782 - The Great Seal Unity 1789 - Thanksgiving Unity 1792 - The United States Flag Freedom, Unity 1814 - The Star-Spangled Banner Unity 1864 - The National Motto Progress 1886 - The Statue of Liberty Freedom 1892 - The Pledge of Allegiance and Creed Unity 1895 - America the Beautiful Freedom Progress 2000 - What is an American? Responsibility, Unity Teachers: Click here to request -- from the Sons of the American Revolution -- a free CD containing the lesson plans and teaching aids Further information and the rationale for the curriculum are available through The American Heritage Education Foundation FREE -- The Center for Civic Education provides educational resources at three grade levels for civic/citizenship education and developing democracies. Programs focus on the U.S. Constitution and Bill of Rights; American political traditions and institutions at the federal, state, and local levels; constitutionalism; civic participation; and the rights and responsibilities of citizens. Topic What Basic Ideas Are in the Preamble to the Constitution? What Basic Ideas About Government Are Included    in the Preamble to the Constitution? Orb & Effy Learn About Authority Learning About Authority What Is a Republican Government? What Responsibilities Accompany Our Rights? See We the People: The Citizen and the Constitution FREE -- The American Bar Association's Division for Public Education helps teach the basic concepts of our legal system. Grades K-3 Topic Contracts Dispute Resolution Due Process: People Who Make Courts Work (judicial independence) Due Process: Seeking Facts to Solve Mysteries (K-3 version) Equal Treatment: A Famous Kansas Child Equal Treatment: A Girl Named Linda Fairness (see also: Equal Treatment) Juries: Choosing an Impartial Jury Responsibility and Community Service Grades 4-6 Topic Contracts Due Process: Yertle the Turtle Mock Trial Due Process: Does the Constitution Protect Your Right to Free Play? Due Process: Dramatization of Salem Witch Trial Due Process: Seeking Facts to Solve Mysteries, 4-6 Equal Protection: Lesson and Activity Guide Equal Protection: A Famous Kansas Child First Amendment Judicial Branch Juries: Choosing an Impartial Jury Mediation and the Adversary Process Public Policy Separation of Powers: Connecting the Separate Powers See ABA Lesson Plans FREE -- Educational Resource Center of the National Park Service presents lesson plans for all grade levels K-12 Honored Places is the National Park Service Teacher’s Guide to the American Revolution The National Park System has been called “America’s greatest university without walls.” It contains magnificent landscapes, the finest examples of American culture, and historic objects and places that reflect the most important events in American history. Parks are powerful places which contain information that does not exist anywhere else. These powerful resources offer unique learning opportunities. Honored Places invites teachers to visit National Park sites and discover firsthand the rich resources that help connect your learners with our nation’s stories of independence and freedom. The link above leads to a page from which you may download PDF files of these sections of the Teacher's Guide: Front Pages (Cover, Title Pages, Introduction, Goals, etc.) Lesson 1: Prelude to the Revolutionary War Lesson 2: Words and Action Lesson 3: Making Choices Lesson 4: The Power of Remembrance Lesson 5: The Legacy Back Pages (Primary Source Documents, Related NPS Sites, Park Education Programs, Bibliography, etc.) COST -- Lesson Planet describes and lists over 400 lesson plans on the American Revolution -- reviewed and rated by credentialed K-12 teachers. A brief free trial is available if you register with your credit card number. Individual membership is $25/year (2007).

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Curricula for Grades 6-8 

FREE -- America's Heritage: An Adventure in Liberty is a curriculum support resource offered by and for teachers, with lesson plans and resource material. The middle school lessons correlate with national curriculum standards, including thematic strands and performance expectations, of the National Council for the Social Studies. Each unit lists relevant or correlating resources including books, articles, and websites. The lessons develop four underlying philosophical themes -- Freedom Unity Progress Responsibility and include related quotes by well-known figures, think-aloud activities, posters, and writing assignments for personal application. Middle School Level Lesson Plans from the 2007 edition Topic Theme(s) Forward: The Miracle of America Foreword From Oppression to Freedom Preface American Heritage Themes Introduction 1776 - The Monarchy Game Freedom, Progress 1776 - Lives, Fortunes, Sacred Honor Freedom 1776 - The Declaration of Independence Freedom 1787 - U. S. Constitution Freedom 1789 - Thanksgiving Unity 1791 - Bill of Rights: Rights and Responsibilities Responsibility 1776-1791 - Our National Documents Progress 1792 - The United States Flag Freedom, Unity 1814 - The Star-Spangled Banner Unity 1861 - The Gettysburg Address Responsibility 1864 - The National Motto Progress 1886 - The Statue of Liberty Freedom 1892 - The Pledge of Allegiance Unity 2000 - What is an American? Responsibility, Unity Teachers: Click here to request -- from the Sons of the American Revolution -- a free CD containing the lesson plans and teaching aids Further information and the rationale for the curriculum are available through The American Heritage Education Foundation FREE -- The American Village located in Montevallo AL (30 miles south of Birmingham), is not only a place to visit, but also provides a 169-page teacher's resource package which you can view or download and print at no charge. This helps teach how our Nation was born and how its Constitution is framed. Learn how the words "We the People" have come to include all Americans. The table of contents is shown below: See the American Village Lesson Plans [PDF, 1 M in size]. FREE -- We the People: The Citizen and the Constitution The Center for Civic Education provides educational resources at three grade levels for civic/citizenship education and developing democracies. Programs focus on the U.S. Constitution and Bill of Rights; American political traditions and institutions at the federal, state, and local levels; constitutionalism; civic participation; and the rights and responsibilities of citizens. Grades 6-8    "What is the Federal System Created by the Constitution?"    "Who Should Get the Job?"    "Why do We Need a Government?"    "How Can Citizens Participate?"    "Why Do We Need Authority?"    "What Are the Possible Consequences of Privacy?"    "How Can You Decide Among Competing Responsibilities?"    "What Intellectual Tools Are Useful in Making Decisions About Issues of Corrective Justice?"    "How can Jackson Middle School meet its responsibility to deal with the problem of substance abuse?" FREE -- The American Bar Association's Division for Public Education helps teach the basic concepts of our legal system. Grades 7-9 Topic Drug Testing in Schools Due Process: Battle for Truth/It's Your Witness Due Process: Voir Dire Simulation Equal Protection: What Does It Mean to Have Equal    Protection of the Laws? Equal Protection: Different Treatment for Different Folks? Equal Protection: Background for Teaching about Fairness     / Equality under the Law Equality under Law First Amendment First Amendment: Residential Property Signs Judicial Independence/Judicial Accountability    (See also: What Is Judicial Independence?) What Juries Should Hear and See Juvenile Justice Right to Counsel Separation of Powers: Understanding Checks & Balances Voting: How the Law Regulates Who May Vote Voting: Expansion of Voting Rights See ABA Lesson Plans FREE -- Educational Resource Center of the National Park Service presents lesson plans for all grade levels K-12 COST -- Values through History is an integrated multi-disciplinary program for upper elementary school (Grades 6-8). Through attractive programming and effective content youth learn and adopt the civic and behavioral values without which a democratic republic cannot function. The Society of the Cincinnati and the Mt. Vernon Ladies Association sponsored the development of this program. COST -- The Revolutionary War History Chart and the American Revolution History Chart and Teacher's Guide on CD [from Learning With Ease] presenty 21 years of cause and effect, politics, publications, conflicts, battles, and even troop movements associated with the birth of our nation using 60 famous Rev War images and a color-coded system which breaks the facts down into easily consumable bite sized chunks. COST -- Lesson Planet describes and lists over 400 lesson plans on the American Revolution -- reviewed and rated by credentialed K-12 teachers. A brief free trial is available if you register with your credit card number. Individual membership is $25/year (2007).

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Curricula for Grades 9-12 

FREE -- America's Heritage: An Adventure in Liberty is a curriculum support resource offered by and for teachers, with lesson plans and resource material. The middle school lessons correlate with national curriculum standards, including thematic strands and performance expectations, of the National Council for the Social Studies. Each unit lists relevant or correlating resources including books, articles, and websites. The lessons develop four underlying philosophical themes -- Freedom, Unity, Progress, and Responsibility -- and include related quotes by well-known figures, think-aloud activities, posters, and writing assignments for personal application. High School Level Lesson Plans from the 2007 edition Topic Theme(s) Forward: The Miracle of America Foreword From Oppression to Freedom Preface American Heritage Themes Introduction 1622 - The Mayflower Compact Responsibility 1776 - The Declaration of Independence Freedom 1787 - Federalist 47 Responsibility 1787 - U. S. Constitution Freedom 1791 - Bill of Rights: Rights and Responsibilities Responsibility 1791 - The First Amendment Unity 1776-1791 - Our National Documents Progress 1794 - Entrepreneurs in History       Cornelius Vanderbilt, Andrew Carnegie       James Hill, John D. Rockefeller Progress 1916 - American’s Creed Responsibility 1792 - The United States Flag Freedom, Unity 1814 - The Star-Spangled Banner Unity 1916 - American's Creeed Responsibility 1976 - U. S. Flag / Federal Flag Code Freedom 1998 - Religious Expression in Public Schools Unity 2000 - What is an American? Responsibility Teachers: Click here to request -- from the Sons of the American Revolution -- a free CD containing the lesson plans and teaching aids Further information and the rationale for the curriculum are available through The American Heritage Education Foundation FREE -- PBS Lesson Plans for Grades 9-12: Rediscovering George Washington [Public Broadcasting System] has material on the following topics: Father of His Country Timeline of Washington's Life Milestones: Key Events in His Life Document Collection (Letters from and to Washington) Multimedia: Charleton Heston reads five      of Washington's writings Washington in the Classroom Washington as a Military Leader Washington and Religious Liberty Washington and the Problem of Slavery Washington and the Rule of Law Washington and Civic Virtue Theory of the American Constitution Why Government? Why Government by Consent? Why Equal Protection of the Law? The Idea of Compromise Why Celebrate Constitution Day? FREE -- EDSITEment is a huge educational Web site sponsored by the National Endowment for the Humanities, with illustrated discussions, lesson plans, web links, and reading lists. Some of the topics related to the American Revolution are       Plan 576: The Monroe Doctrine:            President Monroe and the Independence Movement in South America.       Plan 718: Choosing Sides:            The Native Americans' Role in the American Revolution. FREE -- The Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History has posted teaching modules that take into consideration the history standards -- both required and advanced -- to which high school students are held. Each module includes a succinct historical overview, learning tools -- including lesson plans, quizzes, and activities -- and files with the recommended documents, films, and historic images. The Revolutionary War module has sections on Introduction Why should we care about the American Revolution? Why did the American Revolution take place? The Road to Revolution The Revolution Begins Why did the colonists rebel and the British resist? Declaring Independence Was the Revolution justified? The Revolutionary War How were the colonies able to win independence? Who were the loyalists? How revolutionary was the American Revolution? Creating New State Governments The modules on The Constitution, The New Nation, and The Jeffersonian Era include auto-scoring, multiple-choice quizzes. FREE -- Educational Resource Center of the National Park Service presents lesson plans for all grade levels K-12 FREE -- We the People: The Citizen and the Constitution The Center for Civic Education provides educational resources at three grade levels for civic/citizenship education and developing democracies. Programs focus on the U.S. Constitution and Bill of Rights; American political traditions and institutions at the federal, state, and local levels; constitutionalism; civic participation; and the rights and responsibilities of citizens. Grades 9-12    "How Was the Constitution Used to Organize the New Government?"    "What Might Be Some Benefits and Costs of the Government Keeping a Secret?"    "How Does Government Secure Natural Rights?"    "What Conflicting Opinions Did the Framers Have About the Completed Constitution?"    "What Is Meant by Returning to Fundamental Principles?" FREE -- Teachers' Features from Massachusetts Moments has several units related to the Revolution: Free But Far From Equal: The African American Experience in Massachusetts, 1780–1863" Women's Struggle for Equal Rights, 1825 - 1930 FREE -- History Matters: The U.S. Survey Course on the Web is a gateway to Web resources as well as a repository of unique teaching materials, first-person primary documents, and guides to analyzing historical evidence for high school and college students and for teachers of American history. FREE -- The American Bar Association's Division for Public Education helps teach the basic concepts of our legal system. Grades 10-12 Drug Testing in Schools Due Process: Teaching about Due Process Due Process: Conversations with Leaders in the Law Human Rights: Teaching about Human Rights and Legal Rights Human Rights: Life in a New Country: What Rights Would You Choose? Equal Protection: Dialogue on Brown v. Board of Education (.pdf) Equal Protection: Additional discussion topics on Brown    v. Board of Education (.pdf) Equal Protection: Can a Legal Decision Bring About Rapid Social Change? Equal Protection: Color Conscious Or Colorblind:    A Factor in Political Representation Equal Protection: Does a Curfew Discriminate against Young People? Equal Protection: Defining Equal Education Opportunity for Women Equal Protection: Background for Teaching about    Fairness /Equality under the Law Ex Post Facto and Double Jeopardy Federalism, School Safety, and Congress First Amendment: Residential Property Signs Freedom of Speech on the Internet Judicial Independence/Judicial Accountability    (See also: What Is Judicial Independence?) The Jury: Juries: Cornerstone of Democracy The Jury: Trial by Jury Separation of Powers: Understanding Separation of Powers Voting: Expansion of Voting Rights See ABA Lesson Plans FREE -- Becoming American (in Virginia) provides a teacher's guide and class activities. It explores how the question "Where does the consent of the governed lie, and who is entitled to rule?" arose, was debated, and was resolved by the colonists. [Virginia Historical Society] COST -- Lesson Planet describes and lists lesson plans that have been reviewed and rated by credentialed K-12 teachers. A brief free trial is available if you register with your credit card number. Individual membership is $25/year (2007). They have over 400 lesson plans on the American Revolution.

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