Stanley British Primary School Teacher Preparation Program
Intern Lesson Planning
Intern: C. Travis
Lesson:
Date: 4/5/2013
The Declaration of Independence- Greatest Break-Up Letter Ever
Standards Addressed: Colorado Academic Standards
Writing and Composition Standard 3.2.a.4: Students will organize relevant ideas and
details to convey a central idea or prove a point
Purpose:
The purpose of this lesson is to familiarize students with the structure and
importance of the Declaration of Independence, and allow them to write their own
declarations in a modern form.
Learning Objective(s):
Students will be able to write a letter explaining why it’s time for the American
Colonies to break-up with Great Britain.
Setting:

This lesson will be in the classroom, 203. The meeting area will be used for
the mini-lesson on the Declaration of Independence. The students will then
transition to working on their own declarations in pairs at the clustered
desks.

Meeting area centered around projector and screen.

There is a 24:2 student to teacher ratio.
Materials and Preparation:

Have colonial props out (candles, hats, quills, tax jar, tea jar, time machine set
to the year 1776)
1

Blown up original declaration of independence to sign

Blown up text of the Declaration of Independence
o Split into the different sections

Introduction

Natural Rights

List of Grievances

Conclusion
o Highlight the important parts

Student Journal pages with expectations and lines

“To Late to Apologize” youtube video

“Viva la Vida-King George” youtube video

Break-up songs
Introduction:

So you’ve decided you want to sever ties with your mother country… What
now?
o Have you guys ever had someone in your life who wasn’t a very good
friend for you? They didn’t treat you very well or didn’t listen to what
you said?
o At a certain point, you have to say… you know what, we can’t be
friends anymore.
o How did you let them know that you weren’t going to be hanging out
with them anymore?

The Colonies didn’t have as many options as we do. They had
to write a letter.

The Declaration of Independence was essentially the most famous and
eloquent break-up letter of all time. They were telling Great Britain that it
was all over. That is the perspective we are going to look at that document
from.

Go into the importance of the Declaration of Independence
2
o States our country’s beliefs and rights
o Inspired other countries
o Meant we did not want to be part of Great Britain anymore, but be our
own country.

You can divide the Declaration of Independence into four different parts. For
each part, highlight important sentences or phrases and talk about the
purpose of that section. Use turn-and-talks.
o Introduction or Preamble
o Natural Rights
o List of Grievances
o Conclusion

To inspire you when writing your letters, we are going to watch a video from
the colonist to Great Britain
o Show them “Apologize, a Declaration” video
Activity Procedure:

You are going to be writing your own Declaration of Independence, but a bit
shorter an with modern language.

You will be writing a letter as if you are the Colonies breaking off you
relationship with Great Britain.

Your structure is going to mirror the original Declaration, but we aren’t going
to be quite so wordy with it.

Go through rubric/outline with the necessary components.

Read my sample letter
o Go through rubric and my letter and have them identify each
component in my letter.

Check to make sure they understand what they need to do.

Release them to work individually or in pairs to write their letter.
o Walk around helping students who are stuck.

Warn them when they have 5 minutes left to write.
3

When students finish they may sign the Declaration of Independence.

Clean up everything but their Journals

Bring them back to the meeting area for closure.
o Share their letters
o Talk again about the importance of the Declaration of Independence
o Talk about what is coming up next in history

Now that they have Declared Independence and made
themselves publicly traitors, they must win the war.
o Play “Viva la Vida King George” video

Line up and dismiss to snack recess.
Differentiation (be specific about 2 or 3 children):

Melody and Zayra work with Tiffany. She records their ideas on a white
boards for them to see and help guide their wiritng.

Check on Maddie and Roberto frequently.
Assessment (Checklist/Anecdotal Notes/Graphic Organizer, etc.):

Student Break-up Letter to Great Britain
o Look for:

Introduction (What is the purpose of the letter?)


They mention something about wanting to be
independent or ending their relationship with Great
Britain
Natural Rights

Many possible options related to freedom, democracy,
equality, etc.

At least three (accurate) reasons for independence

Conclusion
o Graded using standards-based grading scale
4
Extensions:

Write Haikus about:
o Lexington and Concord
o The Second Continental Congress
o The Declaration of Independence
5