3. Show the image of the Declaration of Independence. Ask students to identify this document. 4. Discuss what students know about the Declaration of Independence. Possible questions include: Why was it written? When was it written? Who wrote it? 5. Explain that students will learn more about the Declaration of Independence in this activity On July 4, 1776, during the American Revolution, the Second Continental Congress adopted the famed document drafted by Thomas Jefferson that pronounced the independence of the thirteen states, previously the Thirteen Colonies. Keep reading below for 7 Declaration of Independence Activities! Need help with Test Prep? Check out this FREE Pack of 3 Test Prep Activities to help students achieve success on standardized tests! 1. Examine American Revolution Film Clips as a Pre-Reading Activity. 2. Listen to a Dramatic Reading. 3. Annotate for a Purpose. 4. How would it feel to have your Declaration of Independence unit completely planned out for the next 3 weeks? I’m talking 15 lessons, worksheets, and answer keys completely ready to go. The Declaration of Independence, adopted in 1776, marked the nation's formal break from British rule and established the foundational principles of individual rights, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. It articulated the colonies' grievances and declared their independence. This activity will explore the impact of these words by building a timeline of significant events, historical documents, and moments in time when the American Declaration of Independence has been used to advocate for the expansion of human rights. Your task is to read the Declaration of Independence below and complete the activities that go along with it: 1. Read the text aloud and identify who or what is being referred to in the words in red. 2. Use thesaurus.com to look up and write down an a synonym for each word in . bold. 3. Use the text to answer the questions that follow each section. Write a short play about Jefferson's dinner conversation with any two of his historical influencers. Write an essay or build a presentation that shows which of Jefferson's ideas in the Declaration of Independence came from these great thinkers. Consider using Google Docs or Slideshare. In this activity, explore the Declaration of Independence by having your child pretend to be a member of the group that signed it. This is a great activity to help kids start to identify the personal and collective values in our nation and can be the start of an important, life-long discussion. “We just gloss over the Declaration of Independence at our school. The words are just too hard for my 5th graders to understand.” I’m sure you can imagine the look on my face. It was a mixture of shock and sadness. The Declaration of Independence is more than a dusty old document. It’s a time [] Unit 1: The Foundations of American Government Reading: Declaration of Independence Activities: Declaration Scavenger Hunt and The Structure of the Declaration Handout A: Declaration of Independence IN CONGRESS, July 4, 1776. The unanimous Declaration of the thirteen united States of America, When in the Course of human events, it becomes Have students research specific grievances listed in the Declaration. Have students research an individual who signed the Declaration of Independence and write a one- to two-page biography. Have students complete Thomas Jefferson Looks Back on the Declaration of Independence. The Unanimous Declaration of the Thirteen United States of America The Declaration of Independence was created in an atmosphere of complaints about the treatment of the colonies under British rule. In this unit, students will be given the opportunity to compose a document based on their own complaints; however, the resulting "declarations The following activities were developed to assist teachers and parents managing a shift to remote learning during COVID-19. They include a fact checking activity for the movie National Treasure (currently available on Netflix), a Declaration of Independence word search (adapted from our "Which Words are in the Declaration of Independence?" Students gain an appreciation of Thomas Jefferson's efforts to deal with the complex issues of equality and slavery in the Declaration of Independence. Students will be able to: develop a rationale for Jefferson's usage of the phrase based on his life and historical context. 3-4 class periods. Declaring independence is something most adolescents can get their heads around and this can lead into exploring when and why this might happen and how one might frame such a declaration to win supporters. Related Article: Declaration of Independence Activities for 8th Grade . Creating and/or using engaging and effective lesson plans on the Declaration of Independence is an essential part of teaching American history to middle school and 5th grade social studies students. Use a variety of teaching resources, including primary source documents and Declaration of Independence game. July 4th. The Declaration (what it says) Comparison: Declaration and the Magna Carta. The Declaration of Independence (Ted-Ed, video) Matt Damon reads and discusses the Declaration of Independence (video) Choose a Pen and Sign the Declaration of Independence. User Guide to the Declaration of Independence On Friday, July 4, 2025, the National Archives will hold its annual Fourth of July program on the steps on Constitution Avenue, featuring family-friendly activities, historical reenactments—including a reading of the Declaration of Independence—and a salute to 250 years of the United States Military—the Army, Navy, and Marine Corps all turn 250 in 2025—with special performances by The Declaration of Independence | | Over the course of five lessons the students will be asked to “read like a detective” to discover the meaning and significance of what is explicitly stated in the Declaration of Independence (primarily written by Thomas Jefferson) and draw logical inferences and conclusions from its text.
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