The Declaration of Independence Children’s
Book
You will create an illustrated children’s version of the Declaration of
Independence that rephrases key excerpts from the real document.
Your versions should be written in simple, clear language that a child
in early elementary school could understand.
Your book should include:
1. A cover featuring an appropriate illustration, a unique title and
your full name.
2. This brief introduction to the story:
Once upon a time, a group of people left their homeland to live in a faraway land ruled by
Britain. The people were called colonists. The colonists loved their new homeland but many
were unhappy with the British government. They thought the king was a selfish, mean ruler.
Eventually, the colonists became angry with the king and fought against him because they
wanted to be free. They said…
3. Eight pages each with a typed, rephrased excerpt from the
Declaration and a color illustration.
4. Details to make your book visually appealing. For example, you
could create borders for your pages, decorate some letters etc.
5. Language that is free of spelling and grammatical errors.
6. A copy of the Declaration of Independence or some other
creative back cover.
7. An optional “About the Author” page inside the back cover that
might include a brief description of you and why you wrote the
book or even a picture.
 Your introduction can go inside the front cover or on its own
page. If your introduction has its own page, your book will have
nine pages.
 Don’t change your words from “people” even if you know you
are using cats or bees in your book.
Children’s Book Rubric
10
9-8
7
6
5-0
Words
The book
accurately
rephrases the
Declaration.
The story is
very clear,
flows well
together and
uses words that
a young child
could easily
understand.
The book
mostly
accurately
rephrases
the Decl.
There may
be a lack of
flow to the
story or 1
unclear or
inaccurate
page or 1
page with
difficult
words.
The book
rephrases the
Declaration.
There may be 2
pages with
unclear or
inaccurate
wording or
difficult words.
The book
attempts to
rephrase
the Decl.
The story is
not very
clear or
there are 3
or more
pages with
unclear or
inaccurate
wording or 3
pages with
difficult
words.
The book
does not
rephrase
the
Declaration
accurately.
The words
are too
difficult,
very
unclear or
very
inaccurate.
Design &
Illustrations
The illustrations
are detailed,
creative and
very attractive.
Each picture
relates clearly
to the text on
the page. The
overall design
and illustrations
in this book are
very visually
appealing. This
is a WOW
product.
The
illustrations
are neat
and
attractive.
The
pictures
relate to
the text.
The overall
design and
illustrations
in this book
are visually
appealing.
The illustrations
are mostly neat
and attractive.
The book is
visually
appealing.
Overall, the
design and
illustrations
may lack
creativity or
detail.
The book
is not
visually
appealing.
5
Exceeded the
minimum
requirements.
4
All req.
have been
met.
3
Missing one of
the required
elements.
Some
illustrations
are not neat
or attractive.
The book
has some
visually
appealing
elements
but as a
whole it is
lacking in
creativity,
neatness,
attractivene
ss or detail.
2
Missing two
of the
required
elements.
Grammar and
spelling errors
Grammar
and
Grammar and
spelling errors
X2
Requirements
Spelling &
There are 3
or 4 pages
1-0
Missing
more than
2 of the
required
elements
There are
many
Grammar
do not interfere
with
understanding
the book at all.
adapted from History Alive!
spelling
errors
interfere
very little.
There is at
least 1
page with
an error.
interfere with
understanding
the book. There
may be 2 or
more pages
with errors.
with errors
on them.
errors in
grammar
and
spelling.