Title: Patriot or Loyalist, Lesson 10
Grade Level: 5th
Unit of Study: American Revolution, U3.1.3, U3.1.5, U3.1.8
Abstract: Students will explore the differences between Patriots and Loyalist and the decision
that colonists had to make.
Key Concepts: Personal beliefs influence government.
Sequence of Activities:
Introduction: Read aloud to the class a journal entry or letter from someone trying to explain to
another their reasons for becoming a Patriot or remaining a Loyalist (or read from your district’s
resources on patriots and loyalists).
1. Show the students the Join or Die Political Cartoon. Have them discuss with a partner what
they think it means in relation to the American Revolution. Report out to class, record and
discuss answers
Formative Assessment:
1. Write a letter to your brother pretending you are a Patriot and he has chosen to remain a
Loyalist (or vice versa)
OR
2. Draw a picture of a colonial family where one child has chosen to be a Patriot and another has
chosen to remain a Loyalist.
Connections:
English Language Arts
Friendly letter writing
Mathematics
Instructional Resources:
Equipment/Manipulative
Student Resources
Teacher Resources
Hands on History American Revolution by Michael Gravois ISBN# 0-439-07208-5
Book of plays: Revolutionary War by Dallas Murphy ISBN#0-590-03325-5
History Comes Alive Teaching Unit: The American Revolution by Jacqueline B. Glasthal
ISBN#0-590-31500-5
U.S. History Document-Based Activities by Charlotte S. Jaffe and Barbara T. Doherty ISBN#
978-1-56644-110-0
How Our Nation Was Born: The American Revolution by Carole Marsh ISBN#978-0-63502348-3
Primary Sources Teaching Kit Colonial America by Karen Baicker ISBN #0-590-37847-3
The Complete Book of United States History by McGraw-Hill ISBN# 1-56189-679-9