Alief ISD
Social Studies Lesson Plans
5th Grade Unit 1
Exploration and Colonization
Date: _______________
Time Allotted: _______________
Desired Results: (Unit Understanding)
Assessment:
Student Friendly TEKS:
The English colonists brought democratic ideas Raft writing
5.15A compare the systems of government of early
and institutions with them to the new world.
assignment
European colonists;
Unit Questions: Was self-government an
5.15B identify examples of representative government
original idea that developed in the Colonies?
in the colonies, including the Mayflower Compact
Anticipatory Set: (Universal Generalization) (Hook) When creating something new, people tend to
Topics/Concepts:
follow familiar examples.
Have pairs discuss the following scenario: Pretend that you and the rest of the members of this class are History and
abandoned on an island in the middle of the ocean. No teacher or other adults are present. You have
Government
some food and water and there are materials to build shelter. “What do you think would be the best
 Colonial
ways for the group decide how to deal with the following difficult problems?” (Not what they should
Institutions
decide, but how.)
 Historic
 Deciding how to distribute the limited amount of food
Documents
 Deciding who will build the shelters
 Self-Government
 Deciding who will grow more food
vocabulary:
 Deciding how to keep the people safe from members of the class who might be bullies
democracy,
 Deciding who should lead a party to seek rescue for the group.
institution, self
 Decide what rules the group will follow and how to enforce them
government,
Have some of the pairs share their responses and make a list on a transparency. They may include
representative
things like:
government,
 The whole group voting to decide how to deal with each problem
Mayflower Compact,
 The group voting to elect a leader to make and enforce the decisions
House of Burgesses
 Making sure people get an equal say when decisions are made.
 Having a judges or a jury settle disputes regarding the problems
Have the pairs discuss this question: “Why do you think most of you suggested similar ways to make
decisions on the islands. Have the pairs share their responses and discuss as a class?” Try to reach
consensus that most people suggested voting, equality, leaders, rules, judges, etc., because those are the
ways we solve problems in our society. End the hook by sharing that the English colonists also formed
their governments in the New World based on ideas they brought with them from England. These ideas
and the governments they created from them helped for all the ideas about government we still use
today.
Instructional Input: (Line) Modeled/Guided Practice
Have students work in table groups. Create a transparency of the graphic organizer and have them create
it in their notebooks. Distribute several sheets of self-government icons and provide scissors and paste.
Distribute the enclosed reading sheet to each student. Read from the beginning through the Magna
Carta section with students and model your thinking as you decide which of the icons are appropriate to
place in the Magna Carta section of the organizer. Answer any questions from students about how to
complete the assignment. Allow the tables to complete the reading and paste the icons onto the
organizer, writing captions to justify their work.
Independent Practice: (Sinker)
How will you check
Have students assume the role of a colonist who has settled in one of the 13 colonies in the 1600’s.
for understanding?
Have them write a postcard to a friend in England describing what kind of government they have in their The teacher will
colony. They should describe both how the government operates and the rights them people have. They monitor students’
should discuss similarities between their government and the government in England. On the reverse
conversations and
side of the card, have them create images (perhaps using the icons as models) that show how their
ask guiding questions
government works.
to check for
understanding
Modifications/Extensions: Students who need modifications may be placed together and work with
throughout the
more guidance from the teacher. The reading selection may be recorded on an audiotape or cd for
lesson.
students who need additional support.
Grade 5
Exploration & Colonization
Alief ISD
Closure: The teacher will again ask the students the guiding question for the lesson. Was selfgovernment an original idea that developed in the Colonies? The teacher will facilitate a discussion
about the impacts on government today.
Grade 5
Exploration & Colonization
Alief ISD
How Self-Government Came to the 13 Colonies
English Traditions of Democracy
It is often said that we “go with what we know.” When people have an opportunity to create new
things, they will usually use ideas and experiences they are familiar with. When it came to ideas
about how government should work, the English colonists certainly knew about many English
political traditions and ideas. Here are a few of them.
Magna Carta
In 1215, the English king agreed to sign this document. In it, he promised not to take away any free
man’s life or property without a trial that would be decided by a jury. It also limited the king’s
power by forcing him to get the approval of a council of nobles before creating any new taxes. It
also protected his people from cruel and unusual punishment.
Parliament
Parliament was the national assembly of lawmakers made up of nobles and representatives elected
by the property-owners in England. Only Parliament had the power to make laws in England. Any
new taxes the king wanted had to be approved by Parliament. The Parliament became more
powerful than the king.
The English Bill of Rights
In 1689, The English king and queen agreed to accept the Bill of Rights. This document established
the Parliament as more powerful than the king. It also guaranteed a number of individual rights,
including freedom of speech in Parliament and protection from cruel and unusual punishment,
excessive bail, right of petition, and trial by jury.
Self-Government in the 13 Colonies
When the colonies were founded, it is not surprising that their own documents and institutions
contained many of the same ideas as those from England.
The Mayflower Compact
In 1620, Pilgrims crossing the Atlantic signed the Mayflower compact. In this document, the
Pilgrim colonists agreed that they would form a government where elected representatives of the
people would make the laws for the good of the colony.
The Virginia House of Burgesses
In 1619, the Virginia House of Burgesses was established in Virginia to represent the settlers.
Members were elected by the people. Eventually, all the colonies created assemblies like this one
that made laws for the colony and protect individual rights.
Massachusetts Bay, 1641
The puritans in Massachusetts Bay included a bill of rights in their constitution. The constitution
guaranteed that the government could not take away anyone’s life, liberty or property without a jury
trial. It also prohibited cruel and unusual punishment. All government leaders, including the
assembly that passed laws, were to be elected by the people.
Grade 5
Exploration & Colonization
Alief ISD
Directions: Cut out the pictures from the other sheet and paste them in the boxes below if they fit
with that government document or institution. Write a caption below the picture describing why
they fit in that box. When you are finished, write a summary sentence in the box at the bottom.
How Democracy Came to the 13 Colonies
ENGLISH GOVERNMENT (1215-1689)
Magna Carta
Limit
Power
Magna Carta
limited the
king’s power
Rights
Must have a trial
before taking
property – no
cruel or unusual
punishment
GOVERNMENT IN THE 13 COLONIES
(1607-1776)
Mayflower Compact
Magna Carta
guaranteed a
trial by jury
JURY
English Bill of Rights
Massachusetts Bay Constitution, 1641
Parliament
Virginia House of Burgesses
Summary Sentence- Answer this: Did the 13 Colonies get their ideas about government from
England? Why or why not?
Grade 5
Exploration & Colonization
Alief ISD
Limit
Power
Limit
Power
JURY
JURY
Rights
Rights
Limit
Power
Limit
Power
JURY
Rights
Grade 5
Exploration & Colonization
JURY
Rights
Alief ISD
What do these icons mean?
There is an assembly of representatives
that makes all the laws for the people to
follow
JURY
The people have a right to a jury trial
before their lives or property can be taken
away.
The people vote for representatives who
make their laws.
Limit
Power
The power of government is limited either
by documents, laws, or an assembly of the
people’s representatives.
Rights
Grade 5
Exploration & Colonization
The people have some individual rights
guaranteed to them (no cruel punishment,
freedom of speech, petition, etc.)