Activity Title - Declaring Independence

Goal/Objective

Summarize the three parts of the Declaration of Independence.

Lesson Outline/Introduction

Play the audio of "I Have a Dream" speech by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Stress the importance of the Declaration of Indepedence as a statement of ideas and principals for all Americans as opposed to its original purpose.

Activity

Divide students into groups and provide them with a copy of the Declaration of Independence - Preamble, Grievances, and Conclusion.

Debriefing/Evaluation Activity

Students can evaluate other needed expenses that can occur each month.

Materials, Texts, Realia, Handouts

Extension Activity

Have students take a sentence from a section of the Declaration and put in his or her own words.

ESE Accommodations

Real-Life Connection

Discuss the importance of the Declaration of Independence in American History and how its purpose has changed through the years.

Activity Title - Declaring Independence

Introduction

Write unanimous, declaration, independence, self-evident, endowed, unalienable on an overhead or the board.

Say : Have them listen to "I Have a Dream" speech by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Listen carefully to the words.

Ask: What is the meaning of the following statement: "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal." This statement was taken from the Declaration of Independence "All men" referred to white men who were property owners. Who would have this included in the 1700s? The 1960s? Today?

Main Activity

Say: We are going to discuss important documents in American History. The Declaration of Independence. Discuss with students. Sometimes reading historical documents can be difficult. We are going to put historical documents into your own words. Each of your groups will be given a part of the Declaration to read-(Preamble, Grievance, Conclusion)

Closure/Conclusion

After they have finished, have students read their summaries to the class.

Follow-up lessons/Activities

Provide students with current newspapers and have them find articles that support specific ideas found in the Declaration of Independence.