8th Grade Declaration Of Independence Lesson Plan (Social Studies)

Topic:Explain the basic ideas or principles found in the Declaration of Independence.

Objectives & Outcomes

• Students will be able to explain the basic ideas or principles found in the Declaration of Independence.

Materials

• Copies of the Declaration of Independence for each student
• Handouts with key phrases from the Declaration of Independence

Warm-up

• Ask students if they know what the Declaration of Independence is and what it is about. Allow a few students to answer and discuss their responses.

Direct Instruction

• Show the students a copy of the Declaration of Independence and discuss its main ideas or principles. These include the ideas that all people are created equal and have certain rights that cannot be taken away, that people have the right to rebel against a government that does not protect those rights, and that it is the responsibility of the people to ensure that their government does not become a tyranny.
• Use the text of the Declaration of Independence to support these ideas and discuss them in more detail.
• Ask students if they understand the main ideas of the Declaration of Independence and if there are any that are unclear.

Guided Practice

• Divide the students into small groups and give each group a copy of the Declaration of Independence.
• Ask the groups to reread the Declaration and identify the main ideas or principles discussed in the document. Have them write these ideas down on a chart or poster board.
• Bring the groups back together and have them share their findings with the class.

Independent Practice

• Have the students create a project that illustrates one of the main ideas or principles found in the Declaration of Independence.
• Possible projects could be a written essay, a painting, a skit, a song, or any other form of creative expression.
• Encourage the students to be creative and think outside the box as they work on their projects.

Closure

• Have the students share their projects with the class.
• Ask the students to explain the main ideas or principles found in the Declaration of Independence and how their projects illustrate those ideas.

Assessment

• Observe the students during independent practice and provide feedback on their understanding of the basic ideas or principles found in the Declaration of Independence.
• Evaluate the students' presentations or performances of their skits as a measure of their understanding of the principles found in the Declaration of Independence.