Causes of the American Revolution: Lesson 4

I. General Information:
Grade Level: 5th
Discipline: Social Studies
Unit Topic: Causes of the American Revolution
Time Frame: one 50 minute period
Text: For Liberty: The Story of the Boston Massacre by Timothy Decker
Other Materials: George vs. George by Rosalyn Schanzer,
http://hsionline.org/cases/boston/boston_student.html, picture worksheet (other worksheet).

II. Essential Understanding/Questions:

What were the factors leading up to the American Revolution?
What happened at the Boston Massacre?

III. Standards/Indicators:
Maryland Content Standard:
Standard 5.0 History
Topic C. Conflict between Ideas and Institutions
Indicator 1. Analyze the causes of the American Revolution
Objective a. Identify and sequence key events between the French and Indian War and the
American Revolution

Common Core ELA Standards:

Grade: 05
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RI.5.3
Explain the relationships or interactions between two or more individuals, events, ideas, or
concepts in a historical, scientific, or technical text based on specific information in the text.
R4: Interpret words and phrases as they are used in text, including determining technical,
connotative and figurative meanings; and analyze how specific word choices shape
meaning and tone Determine the meaning of general academic and domain-specific words and
phrases in a text relevant to a grade 5 topic or subject area.
R6: Assess how point of view or purpose shapes the content and style of a text Analyze
multiple accounts of the same event or topic, noting important similarities and differences in the
point of view they represent.
R9: Analyze how two or more texts address similar themes or topics in order to build
knowledge or to compare the approaches authors take. Integrate information from several
texts on the same topic in order to write or speak about the topic knowledgeably

W1: Write arguments to support claims in an analysis of substantive topics or texts, using
valid reasoning and relevant and sufficient evidence Write opinion pieces on topics or texts,
supporting a point of view with reasons and information. (see items a-d for specific sub-standard
expectations)
W3: Write narratives to develop real or imagined experiences or events using effective
technique, well-chosen details, and well-structured event sequences Write narratives to
 Causes of the American Revolution: Lesson 4

develop real or imagined experiences or events using effective technique, descriptive details, and
clear event sequences. (see items a-d for specific sub-standard expectations)

IV. Lesson Objectives:

Students will be able to describe the Boston Massacre.
Students will be able to list the Boston Massacre as a cause of the American Revolution.

V. Evaluation/Assessment:
Assessment of Objectives
Post-It Note Exit ticket
Colonial Journal
Observation and Discussions

VI. Procedures:
Introduction
Show the students this picture: (make bigger for all to see)

Ask them if they have ever seen it before. Ask if they know what the picture depicts.
Then show the students this picture: (make bigger for all to see)

Ask the students if the pictures look like they would have the same story. Discuss what makes
the pictures look different.

Teaching/Activities
1. Explain that both are about the Boston Massacre. Talk about how these show different
perspectives that is normal in History to have different views of a situation. Ask the
students for an example.
2. Read George vs. George pg. 22. What point of view is this?
 Causes of the American Revolution: Lesson 4

3. Talk about how the title of the event Boston Massacre could lead to propaganda (define
this word for the word wall).
4. Read together For Liberty. In the first pages, recap the information that we already know.
Define difficult vocabulary as it comes.
5. The students will look through this online case files website:
http://hsionline.org/cases/boston/boston_student.html note the points that are made on
the website about looking at who the creator or author was. Have the students look
through Documents D, E, and F; high-level students may look through a written
document that is on the website. The students will write down the point of view, how the
picture is perceived, first impressions, and any other notes they feel is important on the
attached worksheet.

Closure
Discuss what has been explored on the website and some notes they have taken down.
Add to the classroom timeline and ask the students if there is anything to add to any other
papers on the unit wall (the causes paper)
Colonial Journal - Write your reaction to the Boston Massacre either as: your character,
as one of the soldiers, or a rioting patriot.

Post-It Note Exit ticket - what have been some causes of the revolutionary war that we
have learned about so far?

References:

H.S.I.: Historical Scene Investigation (n.d.) The Boston Massacre Retrieved from
http://hsionline.org/cases/boston/boston_student.html

Decker, T. (2009) For Liberty: The Story of the Boston Massacre. Honesdale, PA: Calkins Creek

Schanzer, R. (2004) George vs. George: The American Revolution as seen from Both Sides.
Washington, D.C: National Geographic.