American Revolution Grade Level: 8

Subject: Social Studies Overview and Purpose: The purpose of this lesson is analyze the events that led up the the Revolutionary War, why the war began, who was fighting, and who won. Educational Standards NCSCOS

2.01 Trace the events leading up to the Revolutionary War and evaluate their relative significance in the onset of hostilities. 2.02 Describe the contributions of key North Carolina and national personalities from the Revolutionary War era and assess their influence on the outcome of the war. 2.03 Examine the role of North Carolina in the Revolutionary War. 2.04 Examine the reasons for the colonists' victory over the British, and evaluate the impact of military successes and failures, the role of foreign interventions, and on-going political and economic domestic issues.

Objectives: Specify skills/information that will be learned

Given a website each student will be able to identify the events that led to the Revolutionary War without error. Given a website each students will be able to understand why Colonists were rebelling against the British Crown and explain each event with its justification.

Materials Needed: 25 Computers (access to Internet) 25 Headsets Other Resources: (websites, videos, books, etc.)

http://www.pbs.org/ktca/liberty/chronicle_boston1774.html http://havefunwithhistory.com/movies/revWar3.html http://www.history.com/topics/american-revolution/videos#declaration-of-independence http://www.history.com/topics/american-revolution/videos#boston-massacre http://www.newton.k12.ks.us/tech/arfling.html http://library.thinkquest.org/10966/data/flames.shtml http://www.pbs.org/ktca/liberty/road.html

Information: Give and/or demonstration necessary information

1. Log into http://www.blogger.com/home using student gmail accounts. 2. Click on new blog 3. Blog title will be American Revolution
Verification: Steps to check for student understanding

1. Ask students to log into their blogs 2. Check to see that all students have an American Revolution Blog 3. Have students share their blogs with classmates using Google+
Activity: To better understand the causes and major events of the American Revolution students will be using a game lab to help them gain more knowledge and a better understanding of the American Revolution. Students will be able to complete each lesson on their own and at their own pace, and when they finish each lesson the students will blog about their experience and what they learned or how they have a different understanding of what happened. Students can pull websites and assignments from my blog to complete. http://www.pbs.org/ktca/liberty/chronicle_boston1774.html During this lesson students will be asked look at a variety of sources that covers events before the war, during the war, and after the war. Students will be required to blog about their experience and what new knowledge they have gained. http://www.history.com/topics/american-revolution/videos#declaration-of-independence During this lesson students will be asked to look at a video that depicts key information about the Declaration of Independence, such as why it was written, who wrote it, and who signed it. Students will be required to blog about their experience and what new knowledge they have gained. http://www.history.com/topics/american-revolution/videos#yorktown During this lesson students will be asked to watch a video that shows the major battles and events that happened during the American Revolution. Students will be required to blog about their experience and what new knowledge they have gained. Students will also be asked to summarize the clip that they watched. http://library.thinkquest.org/10966/data/flames.shtml The Flames of Rebellion is a strategy/war game playable by two users on the internet or at one computer. Players choose either the British or the Colonials as they simulate the Revolutionary War. The object of the game is to take control of all thirteen colonies. To achieve this goal you can produce ships to blockade enemy trade and participate in naval battles, recruit armies forcibly take enemy land, and appoint your military aids such as Washington or Cornwallis to lead your men to victory. After student play the game for one class period they will be asked to reflect

on their experience by creating a blog about what they thought of the game, what side they choose, why they choose that side, and information that they learned while playing the game. http://www.pbs.org/ktca/liberty/road_q1_1.html In this lesson students will complete a Road to Revolution game using their prior knowledge of what events led to the American Revolution. When finished students will blog about their experience. Students will explain how well they did and what if any new ideas or concepts did they learn.

Notes All website links and instructions can be viewed on my school website and blog under the American Revolution tabs. Students will log into their blog account using their school gmail account.