Learning Plan for ____DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE ___(Day 5/U.S.

HISTORY 8TH GRADE)

Lesson Objective(s):

Assessment(s):

Objective A:
1. The students will 2. analyze the
Declaration of Independence 3.
according to the texts given, 4.
with 75% accuracy.

Activity:
The students will coral read
the Preamble and Bill of
Rights in groups of three.
After reading the
documents the group will
discuss what they read and
then they will re-write the
first ten Amendments in
their own words.
Adjustments to the
assessment:
Allow resource students extra
time to read when needed.

Materials:
Chalk
Chalkboard
A timer
PowerPoint file and Projector
Preamble to the Constitution (1 copy per student)
Textbook (The Declaration of Independence and Bill of Rights is in the
students books).
Worksheet for the students to be able to rewrite the first ten
Amendments in their own words, for better understanding.
Content Core Standards, Objectives, Indicators:
STANDARD 6 Objective 4
Analyze the rights, liberties, and responsibilities of citizens.
a.
Identify the responsibilities of citizenship to secure liberties;
e.g., vote, perform jury duty, obey laws.
b.
Examine the Bill of Rights and its specific guarantees.
Purpose: Mastery Conceptual Interpersonal Selfexpression

Students will re-write the first ten Amendments in their own wording
from the in class PowerPoint lecture and the classroom textbook, to
help students further their understanding of the Declaration of
Independence and its relevance today.
Strategy: Students will re-call facts and information that they have
learned from the in class PowerPoint and demonstrate the
understanding of the Declaration of Independence lesson by having
students rewrite the first ten Amendments in their own words.
will be a language and cognition review that will help each student
review important facts from the Declaration of Independence that were
taught in class using the PowerPoint and textbook. Students will work
with peers to promote civil discussion and propel conversation by
posing and responding to questions that probe each team member to
give evidence.
Time

Learning Activities (including technology).

45
Use strategy steps.
minut
e class
period
12
Lecture: On a PowerPoint
minut (PPT) slide (See attachment).
es
Slide 1:
Ask the class what lead
to the Declaration of
Independence being
created.
Talk to the class about
the Declaration of
Independence and who
it was written by and
why it was written.
Why was the
declaration created?
What rights does the
Declaration give us?
Were the rights for all
people?

Adaptations

Movie Clips: The

addresses for video clips
on the Declaration of
Independence will be
given out to an ELL to
watch before starting
class so that they have
some background
information to help get
them started.

Taped class sessionThe class session could

be taped and given to
the student to be
watched and reviewed
as needed to
understand the

25
minut
es

Slide 2
the Declaration of
Independence was
written in response to
King George and Britain.
Discuss each act and
how it was an attack on
Parliament.
Discuss why King
George wanted to limit
migration.
Slide 3
1.Discuss the colonies
response to the acts
placed by parliament.

Discuss the Boston

Massacre

Slide 4
Discuss why it means to
be free and
independent in a nation.
Discus cutting ties with
Britain
What did the colonies
gain?
Slide 5
Ask class what a
preamble is.
Have the entire class
read out loud the
preamble.
Ask class what the
preamble is saying.
Slide 6
Discuss Constitution law
and how it governs us.
Discuss how
constitution can be
changed

material.

Word cards in Spanish

as well as English will be
available so students
can match
corresponding
vocabulary terms with
their visual meanings.
The vocabulary terms
selected will be based
on anatomy, body
movements and weight
training equipment.

This will be introduction

to Bill of Rights and the
activity.

Re-write of First Ten

Amendments
The class will be
grouped into threes.
Each group will coral
read the Preamble and
Bill of Rights.
Give students five
minutes to discuss the
reading
The group will re-write
the first ten
Amendments by putting
the language into their
own words
8
Closure:
Minute
Hand out 3x5 card at end of class. Review the concepts from
s
the PowerPoint, the Preamble and the Bill of Rights by
asking the following critical thinking questions on the
board:
1. After reading the beginning introduction to the Declaration
of Independence, how do you think the living constitution
applies to you in todays world?
2. What were some advantages and disadvantages of
declaring America as Independent from Britain?
3. What is a preamble?

Ask students if they have any questions.

Evaluation:
Students will be evaluated on the answers the group comes up
with. The rewrite of the Amendments is designed to review
student's knowledge about main ideas from the Bill of Rights.
Participation points will be awarded to students who put worth an

effort.