Examining Our History: American Revolution

Defend if the actions of the French and Indian War support the idea that America was the land of liberty.

Liberty! pp. 1–5

Standards

RI.4.3

Defend if the colonies really were a land of liberty and equality.

A Young People's History of the United States pp. 43–55

Standards

RI.4.3RI.4.6

Describe the relationship between the colonists and the British after the French and Indian War.

Liberty! pp. 6–11

Standards

RI.4.2RI.4.3

Summarize what happened during the Boston Massacre.

Liberty! pp. 12–15
Black Heroes of... pp. 26–35

Standards

RI.4.2RI.4.3RI.4.6

Writing

Summarize what happened during the Boston Massacre. Use subordinating conjunctions to write more interesting and complex sentences in summaries.

Liberty!
Black Heroes of...

Standards

RI.4.2W.4.2.aW.4.2.bW.4.9

Analyze and explain the unrest felt by colonists in the lead up to the Revolutionary War.

A Young People's History of the United States pp. 57–66

Standards

RI.4.3

Summarize what happened during the Boston Tea Party.

Liberty! pp. 16–21

Standards

RI.4.2RI.4.3

Discussion & Writing

Discuss and analyze unit-essential questions by preparing for and participating in a class discussion using evidence from the text.

Liberty!
A Young People's History of the United States

Standards

SL.4.1

Writing

Use subordinating conjunctions to write more interesting and complex sentences.

Liberty!

Standards

L.4.1.fL.4.2.cW.4.9

Describe what happened at the First Continental Congress.

Liberty! pp. 22–25

Standards

RI.4.2RI.4.3

Discussion & Writing

Defend whether one should side with the Loyalists or the Patriots.

All unit texts

Standards

SL.4.1SL.4.3W.4.1

Summarize the events in the days leading up to the start of the American Revolutionary War.

Liberty! pp. 26–29

Standards

RI.4.2RI.4.3

Summarize how the Battle of Bunker Hill showed both sides how terrible war would be.

Liberty! pp. 30–33

Standards

RI.4.2RI.4.3

Analyze why the Declaration of Independence was written and who it represented.

A Young People's History of the United States pp. 67–70
Liberty! pp. 34–37

Standards

RI.4.2RI.4.3SL.4.1

Describe the role poor people, Indigenous people and black people played in the Revolution.

A Young People's History of the United States pp. 71–79

Standards

RI.4.3

Explain the role of Indigenous people in the colonies once the European colonists arrived.

“Native Americans in Colonial America”

Standards

RI.4.2RI.4.3SL.4.3SL.4.4

Analyze the role women played in the American Revolution and why they were referred to as everyday heroines.

Great Women of...
“Just Say No: The Daughters of Liberty”

Standards

RI.4.3SL.4.1SL.4.3SL.4.4W.4.9

Analyze the role of a few individual heroines in the American Revolution and why they were referred to as heroines.

Great Women of...

Standards

RI.4.3SL.4.1SL.4.3SL.4.4W.4.9

Analyze the role of Black people during the American Revolution.

Black Heroes of... — pages vii-viii and 1-2
“Betwixt & Between: Growing up African American in Revolutionary Times” — CommonLit

Standards

RI.4.2RI.4.3SL.4.3SL.4.4W.4.9

Analyze the role of Black heroes in the American Revolution and why they were important.

Black Heroes of...

Standards

RI.4.2RI.4.3SL.4.3SL.4.4W.4.9

Discussion & Writing

Discuss and analyze unit-essential questions by preparing for and participating in a class discussion using evidence from the text.

All unit texts

Standards

SL.4.1

Informative Writing

4 days

Write an informational report about a person that participated in the American Revolution, describing their cause, action, obstacle, and outcome.

All unit texts
Single Paragraph Outline
American Revolution Research Note-Taker
Informational Writing Rubric (G4)
Various websites for research

Standards

SL.4.4W.4.2W.4.2.aW.4.2.bW.4.2.dW.4.5W.4.6W.4.7W.4.8

Assessment

Gauge student understanding of unit content and skills with one of Fishtank's unit assessments.

Opinion Writing

4 days

Write an essay defending if the colonists were or were not justified in declaring independence and fighting the Revolutionary War.