Understanding By Design – Backwards Design Process
(Developed by Grant Wiggins and Jay McTighe, 2002)
Stage 1 – Desired Results
Lesson: AMERICAN REVOLUTION PROJECT
By: Kristin Stanton and Emily Mackie
Standards:
Historical Skills:
Tier 3: Using sophisticated inquiry and research, Tier 1: Building a Personal Connection,
Tier 2: Analyzing Causation and Consequence
Writing Standard:
5th grade
1.2
Create paragraph expository compositions: a. Establish a topic, important ideas, or events
in sequence or chronological order. b. Provide details and transitional expressions that link one
paragraph to another in a
clear line of thought. c. Offer a concluding paragraph that summarizes important ideas and
details.
CA SS Standard:
5.5 Students explain the causes of the American Revolution.
5.6 Students understand the course and consequences of the American
Revolution.
Understanding (s)/goals
Students will understand that:
1. There were several causes to the
American Revolution.
2. There were many different battles
and perspectives during the
American Revolution.
Historical Theme(s)
1. Cooperation and Conflict.
2. Continuity and Change.
Student objectives (outcomes):
Students will be able to:
Historical Skills:
Tier 3: Using sophisticated inquiry and research, Tier 1: Building a Personal Connection,
Tier 2: Analyzing Causation and Consequence
Writing Standard:
5th grade
1.2
Create paragraph expository compositions: a. Establish a topic, important ideas, or events
in sequence or chronological order. b. Provide details and transitional expressions that link one
paragraph to another in a
clear line of thought. c. Offer a concluding paragraph that summarizes important ideas and
details.
CA SS Standard:
5.5 Students explain the causes of the American Revolution.
5.6
Students understand the course and consequences of the American
Revolution.
Stage 2 – Assessment Evidence
Performance Task(s):
Other Evidence:
1. American Revolution portfolio
1.
project.
2.
Stage 3 – Learning Plan
Learning Activities:
Social Studies Alive Curriculum:
 Page 1-LOYALIST VS PATRIOTS. Research a famous loyalist and patriot from the
Revolutionary War era. Write up a document showing their perspectives side by
side to include: their argument for or against independence, actions for or
against independence, interesting facts/characteristics about them etc.

Page 2- DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE. Analyze different important
documents during the time of the Revolution and recreate documents to include
the big ideas of these documents in kid friendly language. (ex: Common Sense,
An Invitation to the Second Continental Congress, a Memo approving the dec of
independence, a letter to Thomas Jefferson’s wife, and the Declaration of
Independence).

Page 3: AMERICAN REVOLUTION SUMMARY. Read through the pages on the
American Revolution and watch videos, do internet research etc. to get a strong
understanding of the 5Ws and how. Take notes on the 5Ws and how about the
American Revolution. Write a summary about the American Revolution and
draw a picture for each of the 5 Ws and How to accompany the summary.
Other Lessons:
 Page 4: TIMELINE. Research 9 important events leading up to, during, and after
the revolutionary war and create a timeline with main idea captions. (possible
topics: Stamp Act, Committees of Correspondence Being Formed, Boston Tea
Party, Bunker Hill, Declaration of Independence, Battles of Lexington and
Concord, Battle of Philadelphia, Benedict Arnold’s Treason, the Treaty of Paris).

Page 5: MAJOR BATTLES OF THE REVOLUTION. Use the reading packet and
color and label the British and American movements and victories during the
American Revolution along with the names of the generals and the dates they
happened.

Page 6: YANKEE DOODLE DANDEE. Research the song Yankee Doodle Dandy.
Sing the song and rewrite it with your own lyrics using information about the
American Revolution showing a different perspective.

Page 7: FLAGS OF THE REVOLUTIONARY WAR. Research and color or create
the 4 flags being flown during the Revolutionary War (British Union Jack, St.
George’s Cross, Continental Colors, and the First American Flag). Write a caption
with each explaining its signaificance/use.