TDS Lesson Plan

Teacher: Isaiah Brito

Title: Declaration of Independence (United State Version)

Subject: United States History until 1877

Grade Level: 8th grade

§113.20 (1) History. The student understands traditional historical points of reference in U.S.
history through 1877. The student is expected to: (B) explain the significance of the
TEKS: following dates: 1607, founding of Jamestown; 1620, arrival of the Pilgrims and signing of
the Mayflower Compact; 1776, adoption of the Declaration of Independence; 1787, writing
of the U.S. Constitution; 1803, Louisiana Purchase; and 1861-1865, Civil War.
 Understand the importance of English - American relations that eventually lead to
the singing and passage of the Declaration if Independence
 Connect past events to current events in media/pop culture as well as to students
own personal life
Learning Objectives:  Analyze the Declaration to see how the colonist were feeling as they were
finalizing their separation from the English King
 Analyze the how the Declaration was written to understand the colonists need for
separation
 Understand emotions and how to effectively communicate them in a healthy way

1. How did the declaration of independence play a significant role in the success of
the US?
Essential Question(s):
2. Why did the colonists want to “break up” with England?
3. What grievances did the colonists have with the King?

King, colonists, Declaration of Independence, emotions, communication,

Essential Vocabulary: connect/connection,

 YouTube Video of Taylor Swifts hit song “Bad Blood”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QcIy9NiNbmo
 YouTube Video of Kim and Kortney Kardashian infamous and viral fight
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ASL4LvcCXIc
Resources/Materials:
 Worksheet (provided) to analyze the Declaration of Independence
 PowerPoint with instructions for worksheets and Break – up letter
 Lined paper (provided) to write break – up letters

Introduction to the Declaration of Independence with background on what Time: 5

was leading up to the Declaration minutes

Procedures:
Students write their hypothetical breakup letter to Time: 10
boyfriends/girlfriends/wife/husbands/partners minutes

Time: 20
Students work on the analysis worksheet that I have provided to understand minutes
TDS Lesson Plan
how the Declaration was essentially a breakup letter.

We go over the answers on the worksheet to see what they came up as a Time: 5
class minutes

Students rewrite their breakup letter, this time as colonists having to address
Assessment: their grievances towards the king of England. Time: 10