Instructional Software

Lesson Idea Name: Thomas Jefferson and the Declaration of Independence

Content Area: Social Studies and Technology
Grade Level(s): 1st Grade

Content Standard Addressed: See https://www.georgiastandards.org/Pages/default.aspx

SS1H1 The student will read about and describe the life of historical figures in American history. a.
Identify the contributions made by these figures: Benjamin Franklin (inventor/author/ statesman),
Thomas Jefferson (Declaration of Independence), Meriwether Lewis and William Clark with
Sacagawea (exploration), Harriet Tubman (Underground Railroad), Theodore Roosevelt (National
Parks and the environment), George Washington Carver (science).
Technology Standard Addressed: 1. Empowered Learner- Students leverage technology to take
an active role in choosing, achieving and demonstrating competency in their learning goals, informed
by the learning sciences. Students will:
c. use technology to seek feedback that informs and improves their practice and to demonstrate their
learning in a variety of ways.

Selected Technology Tool: BrainPOP

URL(s) to support the lesson (if applicable):

https://www.brainpop.com/socialstudies/famoushistoricalfigures/thomasjefferson/

Type of Instructional Software:

Drill and Practice Tutorial Simulation Instructional Game e-books/e-

references

Features of this software (check all that apply):

Assessment Monitoring/Reporting
Allows teacher to create customized lessons for students
Multi-user or collaborative functions with others in the class
Multi-user or collaborative with others outside the class
Accessible to students beyond the school day
Accessible via mobile devices
Multiple languages
Safety, security and/or privacy features

Blooms Taxonomy Level(s):

Remembering Understanding Applying Analyzing Evaluating

Creating

Levels of Technology Integration (LoTi Level):

Summer 2017_SJB
 Instructional Software
Level 1: Awareness Level 2: Exploration Level 3: Infusion Level 4:
Integration

Level 5: Expansion Level 6: Refinement

Lesson idea implementation: The teacher will first ask the class does any of them know what a
historical document is. After a brief discussion with the students about what they believe a historical
document is, the teacher will than ask them have they heard about the Declaration of Independence.
Than we will have a discussion about the significance of the Declaration of Independence and who
wrote it. That is when we will begin to talk about Thomas Jefferson and his role in the writing of the
Declaration of Independence. The teacher will than show the BrainPOP video about Thomas Jefferson
and the Declaration of Independence.

After the conclusion of the video, students will then be required to write two facts about the video
they learned about the Declaration of Independence and Thomas Jefferson than we will share that
information with their group members. As the students are sharing with their groups the teacher will
be walking around facilitating the conversations and answering any questions the students might have.
After everyone shares their information with their groups, we will use the information we learned to
determine some of the causes and effects the Declaration of Independence has had on American
history. The students will make a cause and effect chart with their information than they will turn it in
to be graded to make sure they understood the video and they were paying attention. The teacher will
provide feedback on their charts and answer any questions the students might still have.

A great extension with this activity to challenge their young minds is for the students to use the
information they learned today to make their own Declaration of Independence. They will get into
groups and collaborate their ideas as well as use the BrainPOP video to help them come up with ideas.
Afterwards, each group can share with the class their new versions of this very important document
and also explain why they choose to use the words they did in their new Declaration of Independence.

Summer 2017_SJB