Teaching the American Revolution can be a lot of fun. Kids love learning about history, especially when there's a power struggle between two sides, but how do we find time to teach Social Studies? Here are three ideas for kicking off your American Revolution unit.
1. Engage Students with Book Clubs
Book clubs are a great way to get kids engaged in a topic. I Survived the American Revolution and Time Travel are historical fiction books that take place during the American Revolution. Liberty is a nonfiction text. Allow your students to choose which book they want to read.
I Survived the American Revolution, 1776
Liberty! How the Revolutionary War Began
The Thrifty Guide to the American Revolution
2. Assign Independent Reading and Activities
Integrate Social Studies into your ELA block. This packet addresses the causes of the American Revolution. Your students will read about the following:
French and Indian War
Proclamation of 1763
Taxes
Boston Massacre
Boston Tea Party
Intolerable Acts
The good thing about a packet is that there are comprehension questions and graphic organizers on each page. Also, there is a quiz at the end to check understanding.
3. Engage your students with Liberty Kids videos
I LOVE Liberty Kids!! If you haven't watched the episodes, you have to check it out. The episodes addresses taxation, loyalists, patriots, mail, the Boston Tea Party, and everything kids love about the American Revolution.
It's always hard to get everything in. If you're looking for more Social Studies ideas, check out some of my other blogs here or visit my White's Workshop store.
