Unit Plan Lesson Plan Template

Your Name: Brandon Coleman Name of Unit: The American Revolution

Subject Area: Government Grade Level: 12th Grade Instruction time: 130 p.m.

Lesson Summary Description

This lesson is about the British Monarchal rule over the colonies of the United States in the years immediately prior to the American Revolution. This lesson is a part of a bigger unit regarding the political conflict surrounding the American Revolution. This will be the first lesson in the Unit, and will be followed by a lesson on the response of the American rebels who wrote the Declaration of Independence and fought for freedom. Ideally, this lesson plan will be split up into 4-5 days, the first including some direct instruction and a reading of Common Sense, the second including some direct instruction, and the third including some direct instruction and the taxing simulation. The Direct Instruction of this lesson will cover specifically three main aspects: 1) Aspects of Monarchal-style governments. 2) Specific aspects unique to the British government (i.e. people, events and other colonies.) 3) Specific events regarding British tyrannical rule in the United States. Students will also be participating in a period-long activity in which they are taxed for participating in normal classroom activities. To give the money value, students will be aloud to buy a candy bar at the end of class, that is, if they have money left over. Students will also read and discuss a section of Common Sense by Thomas Paine, in a DBQ format.

Standard(s)
Understand how various political systems throughout the world define the rights and responsibilities of the individual. Understand the purpose and function of each of the three branches of government established by the constitution.

Enduring Understandings/Essential Question(s)

Is democracy the only proper way to govern? What are main aspects of Monarchies? What are some key differences between Monarchies and Democracies?

Lesson Plan Assignment

How did the British violate the colonists freedom?

Objective(s)
At the end of this lesson, students will know important people and events leading up to the revolutionary war. At the end of this lesson, students will understand why revolutionists desired a 3-branch system compared to a monarchy, specifically stating why a 3-branch system is democratic and why a monarchy is not. At the end of this lesson, students will understand the problem of taxation without representation, and be able to formulate ideas about gaining representation.

Differentiation
Content will be differentiated because we will talk about monarchal rule, democratic rule, and taxation without representation. The rapid change in content is for different interests amongst the students, as well as the fact that these three points fit perfectly together. Process will be differentiated by having direct instruction in the form of lecture as well as indirect instruction: DBQs on Common Sense and the taxing simulation, as well as indirect learning from the taxing simulation itself. The changes in process support different learning profiles.

Resources & Materials

Thomas Paines Common Sense Fake Money for Taxing Simulation A whiteboard/chalkboard and chalk or dry-erase markers. Quiz #1

Student Assessment(s)
-Quiz on people and events leading up to the American Revolution (Objective 1) - 3-4 sentence exit slip regarding the difference between a democracy and monarchy, including the 3-branch system vs. a 1-branch system. (Objective 2) -DBQ on the taxing activity (Objective 3) -Think Pair Share Activities

Instructional strategies/methods
1) Both direct and indirect instructions will be used during this lesson. I will give a lecture on a brief overview of Monarchies, summarizing Britain during the time of the revolution, and stating some key events that sparked the revolution.

Lesson Plan Assignment

2) For indirect instruction, students will each be given 5 fake dollar bills at the beginning of the class period. As students begin to do certain things in the classroom (eat a snack, drink some water, sharpen a pencil etc.) tax them a dollar when it seems fitting. This exercise is meant to put the students in the shoes of the colonists being taxed for their own goods. 3) As a class, we will read a section of Common Sense by Thomas Paine, analyzing his perspective as a colonist under the control of the British rule. This will be a DBQ.

Detailed Lesson Steps/Sequence

This lesson will be split up into three days: Day 1: 1) Make sure to welcome students to the classroom! (1) 2) Pass out excerpt from Thomas Paines Common Sense (1) 3) Introduce Unit, describe plan for 3 weeks: Week 1 British Rule, Week 2 The Revolution, Week 3 The Formation of a New Nation (5) 4) Begin first part of lecture for Week 1 People and events Regarding British Rule in America prior to the Revolution (15) 5) Read excerpt from Thomas Paines Common Sense (10) 6) Lead discussion on excerpt (15) 7) Remind the students about the quiz coming up this Friday! (1) Day 2: 1) Make sure to welcome students! (1) 2) THINK PAIR SHARE AND DRAW one specific person or event leading up to the American Revolution and its significance. Each pair will draw a picture on the board of their chosen event or person, then describe their significance. (15) 3) Begin lecture for day 2: Aspects of Monarchal Style Governments (25) 4) Students write a 3-4 sentence exit slip on what might be different effects of a 3-branch government vs a 1-branch government. (5) 5) Remind Students about the quiz this Friday! (1) Day 3: 1) Make sure to welcome the students, and this time give each student 5 fake dollars as they enter the classroom. Each time a student does some sort of common activity (eat a snack, drink water, sharpen pencil etc..) take on of their dollars, not hearing any arguments, simply answering with because Im youre teacher. (entire class, 2) 2) THINK INK PAIR SHARE one specific aspect of monarchal governments, and what it means for individuals. (5) 3) Begin lecture for day 3: British Monarchal Rule in America (20) 4) Lead DBQ on the taxing activity, focusing on how students were feeling about having to pay for common things, without the opportunity to have a say in their taxes. (15) 5) Remind students about the quiz Friday! (1)

Lesson Plan Assignment

Day 4/5: 1) Welcome students to class! (1) 2) THINK PAIR SHARE one specific aspect of British rule in the American colonies. (5-10) 3) Finish lecture on British rule in America, comparing taxing simulation with colonists frustration on taxing. (20) 4) Pass out Quiz #1 (20) 5) Have a great weekend! (1)