Unit Accommodations

Unit Accommodations

Subject Area: Social Studies

Grade Level and Course Title: Fifth Grade/Michigan and Other States

Unit of Study: The American Revolution

Word Cards

1. These word cards correspond to each lesson.

2. The word cards are coded in the bottom left corner. For example, a word card coded SS050601 means it is for Lesson 1 of Unit 6

3. Hand the cards out as words are introduced in the lesson or at the end of the lesson.

4. Review the words and definitions with the student.

5. Provide a labeled envelope in which the cards can be kept.

Big Idea Cards

These cards summarize the concepts, or big ideas, of each lesson.
Hand the cards out at the end of the lesson and go over the concepts with the student.
Provide a labeled envelope in which the cards can be kept.

Questions Chart

This chart summarizes important questions from the unit.
The chart can be cut apart and made into question and answer cards to be used for review or games.
Use this chart at the end of the unit.

Graphic Organizer

1. This summarizes the main ideas of the entire unit.

2. Use the organizer at the end of the unit. As an optional activity, you can cut the pieces of the organizer apart and have the student(s) re-construct it.

3. It is recommended that you provide a folder for this organizer as well as those that go with specific lessons.

1
revolution
the overthrow of one government and its replacement with another
Example: The American Revolution took place in the late 1700s.
SS050601 / 2
epitaph
words written on a grave marker or gravestone.
Example: Epitaphs are an example of a primary source.
SS050601
3
primary sources
records ma de by people who saw or took place in an event
Example: Photographs, diaries, newspaper articles and letters are primary sources.
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secondary
sources
records written by someone who was not there at the time
Example: Textbooks are secondary sources.
SS050601
5
loyalists
Colonists who remained loyal to the king
Example: Loyalists felt the King and Parliament should have full authority over the colonies.
SS050601 / 6
congress
an official meeting of a large group of representatives
Example: The Second Continental Congress appointed a committee to write a Declaration of Independence.
SS050601
7
perspective
how a person looks at a problem or an event
Example: Point of view and perspective mean about the same thing.
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independence
gaining freedom from another country and becoming your own country
Example: The Colonies fought against Britain to win their independence.
SS050601
9
militia
units of soldiers that began in towns and villages
Example: Members of the militia were often farmers who came together to train and practice.
SS050601 / 10
petition
a written request or complaint to an authority
Example: The Second Continental Congress sent the Olive Branch Petition to the King.
SS050601
11
mercenary
a soldier who works for pay in the army of a foreign government
Example: German mercenaries fought for the British.
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public opinion
the point of view held by most people
Example: Public opinion in the colonies began to change in favor of declaring independence from Britain.
SS050602
13
patriots
colonists who protested against the British and favored Independence
Example: Patriots opposed British actions such as the Stamp Act and the Townshend Acts.
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slavery
a system that forced people to work and treated enslaved people as property
Example: Some African Americans joined the British forces hoping to escape slavery.
SS050602
15
consequences
outcomes of decisions or events
Example: The decision to declare independence from Britain had many long term consequences.
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document
a written paper that is important
Example: The Declaration of Independence is one of our most important documents.
SS050603
17
natural rights
individual rights the Founders thought all people should have
Example: The three natural rights were life, liberty and property.
SS050603 / 18
equality
equal treatment and equal protection
Example: The core democratic value of equality is found in the Declaration of Independence.
SS050603
19
unalienable rights
rights that cannot be taken away
Example: Life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness are unalienable rights according to the Declaration of independence.
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grievances
complaints
Example: The colonists had many grievances against Britain including Britain’s taxing of the colonists.
SS050603
21
advantage
a positive and helpful factor
Example: One advantage of the Continental Army was that it had George Washington as its leader.
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disadvantage
a negative factor that causes problems
Example: One disadvantage of the Continental army was that it often lacked supplies.
SS050604
23
historical empathy
trying to understand the actions and thoughts of people in the past
Example: Historical empathy can help us understand why people did certain things in the past.
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neutral
not taking either one side or another
Example: Many Native Americans stayed neutral during the American Revolution.
SS050605
25
victory
winning a battle, game or event
Example: The Americans had an important victory over the British at the Battle of Saratoga.
SS050606 / 26
defeat
to lose a battle, game or event
Example: The British were defeated at Saratoga and Yorktown.
SS050606
27
turning point
a single event that causes important and dramatic change
Example: The Battle of Saratoga was an important turning point in the American Revolution.
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treaty
a signed agreement between two countries
Example: A peace treaty between the Americans and Britain ended the Revolutionary War.
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29
traitor
someone who betrays their country
Example: Benedict Arnold was a traitor during the American Revolution.
SS050607 / 30
surrender
to give up
Example: The British surrendered at Yorktown.
SS050607

Unit: The American Revolution

Lesson / Big Ideas
1 / 1. At the end of the First Continental Congress members agreed to meet again if their concerns weren’t taken seriously by the King and Parliament.
2. Therefore, a Second Continental Congress was called in May, 1775.
3. One of the first things the Congress did was form an army. They chose George Washington to lead it.
4. While the Congress was meeting one of the first major battles of the American Revolution occurred. It happened near Boston and was known as the Battle of Bunker Hill. Although the American forces lost they put up a strong fight against the British.
5. In July of 1775 the Congress sent the Olive Branch Petition to the King. This was a final attempt at a peaceful resolution of the problems between the colonies and Britain.
6. The King refused to accept the Petition. In August of 1775 he declared the Colonies to be in a state of rebellion.
Lesson / Big Ideas
2 / 1. In 1776 Thomas Paine published a booklet called Common Sense. It urged the colonists to seek independence.
2. In June of 1776, the Second Continental Congress appointed a committee to draft a Declaration of Independence.
3. Thomas Jefferson became the main author of the document.
4. The Declaration included a list of grievances the colonists had against the King and Parliament.
5. On July 4, 1776 the Declaration was adopted by the Second Continental Congress.
Lesson / Big Ideas
3 / 1. The Declaration of Independence is one of the most important documents in American History.
2. The Declaration included ideas colonial leaders had about government. For example, Thomas Jefferson use ideas about natural rights from John Locke in the Declaration.
3. He also used ideas that had been written down in previous documents such as the resolution of the Stamp Act Congress.
4. The Declaration included a list of grievances against the King and Parliament.
5. Important ideas included equality, unalienable rights and consent of the governed.
Lesson / Big Ideas
4 / 1. Advantages of the British army included their wealth, their experienced army and their excellent navy.
2. Advantages of the American, or Continental, army included having George Washington as the leader, help from countries like France and the fact that Americans were fighting for freedom on their own land.
3. Disadvantages of the British included having to fight far from Britain, having to fight over a large area and having to adjust to new ways of fighting.
4. Disadvantages of the Americans included inexperienced soldiers, lack of supplies and a small navy.
Lesson / Big Ideas
5 / 1. Different people living in the Colonies had different points of view about the American Revolution.
2. Loyalists felt the Colonies should not have declared independence. Many fought with the British and many moved to places like Canada.
3. Some enslaved African Americans fought with the British hoping to gain freedom. Others including many free African Americans fought with the Continental army.
4. Native Americans were divided in their loyalty. Some like the Iroquois fought with the British. Others helped the Americans. Still others remained neutral.
Lesson / Big Ideas
6 / 1. George Washington and the Continental Army lost many battles at the beginning of the war. Most of these were fought in New England and the Middle Colonies.
2. An important turning point in the war was the Battle of Saratoga which was won by the Americans.
3. As a result of the American victory at Saratoga, the French sent money, supplies and soldiers to help the fight against the British.
4. After the Battle of Saratoga, Washington and his army spent a harsh winter camped at Valley Forge.
Lesson / Big Ideas
7 / 1. After their defeat at Saratoga, the British decided to shift their attention to the Southern Colonies. This was partly due to their hope of gaining more loyalist support in the South.
2. George Washington, with the help of French troops, moved south also.
3. The last major battle took place at Yorktown. There the French blockaded the harbor and cut off supplies to the British.
4. Washington began a siege of Yorktown and eventually the British surrendered.
Lesson / Big Ideas
8 / 1. The British and Americans signed the Treaty of Paris in 1783. This officially ended the war.
2. As a result of the treaty, Britain recognized the United States as an independent country.
3. The treaty also set the boundaries of the United States. The young country stretched all the way to the Mississippi River.
4. The decision to fight a war for independence ended up being one of the most important decisions in our country’s history.

UNIT 6 – QUESTIONS CHART

Question / Answer
What was one important thing the Second Continental Congress did? / Answers will vary but could include: sent the Olive Branch Petition to the King, formed an army, adopted a Declaration of Independence
Who was the main author of the Declaration of Independence? / Thomas Jefferson was the main author of the Declaration of Independence.
What is one important political idea included in the Declaration? / Answers will vary but could include equality, consent of the governed, unalienable rights, etc.
What was one advantage the British army had? / Answers will vary but could include wealth, an experienced army, a great navy
What was one advantage the Americans had? / Answers will vary but could include George Washington as leader, fighting on their own land and fighting for freedom
What battle was considered the ‘turning point’ of the war? / The Battle of Saratoga was considered the turning point of the war?
As a result of the Battle of Saratoga, what did the French do? / As a result of the Battle of Saratoga the French send money, supplies and troops to help the Americans.
What was the last major battle of the Revolution? / The last major battle was the Battle of Yorktown.
What was one important part of the Treaty of Paris? / Answers will vary but could include it set the boundaries of the U.S., the U.S. was recognized as a country by Britain and that it ended the Revolutionary War.

THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION

UNIT 6 - GRAPHIC ORGANIZER

CAUSES
· Colonists desire for self-government.
· British desire to hold on to their colonies and benefit from them.
· Colonists hatred of taxation without representation.
· British desire to make money off the colonies.
EVENTS
· Battle of Bunker Hill
· Adoption of the Declaration of Independence
· Early American defeats in the North.
· American victory at Saratoga
· Washington’s winter at Valley Forge
· A shift of fighting to the South
· The Battle of Yorktown and surrender of the British
· The Treaty of Paris
EFFECTS
· The United States became an independent country.
· The U.S. stretched all the way to the Mississippi River.
· The U.S. could now trade with anybody country they wanted to
· Other countries fought their own revolutions to become free.

SCoPE SS050600 Unit Accommodations Page 6 of 12