Lesson Plan - Shoeless Soldiers. Spy Rings. Sneak Attacks.

Build Background Knowledge

Invite students to play a game called “Two Truths and a Lie.” Give these guidelines: Work with a partner to create two true statements and one false statement about the American Revolution. Present the statements to the class to see if your peers can differentiate between the true statements and the lie. Use Words to Know to preteach domain-specific terms.  

Read the Article

Read the article aloud or have students read it independently or in pairs. As students read, direct them to circle or highlight any words whose meanings they are unsure of.

Answer Close-Reading Questions

Have students write their responses, or use the Close-Reading Questions to guide a discussion. 

• What is the purpose of paragraphs 1-4? How do they support the article? (Author’s Purpose) 
The purpose of paragraphs 1-4 is to summarize how the American Revolution began. They describe how and why tension grew between Great Britain and American colonists. They support the article because the rest of the article explains key events that took place during the American Revolution as a result of the tension. 

• Describe how the Continental Army differed from the British troops. (Compare and Contrast) 
The British troops were well-trained professional soldiers equipped with uniforms and supplies. Many soldiers in the Continental Army had no combat experience, used their own weapons, and didn’t have uniforms until later in the war. 

• How did fighting for representation in Britain’s government lead the colonists to fight for independence? (Cause and Effect) 
At first, the colonists wanted a say in laws affecting them. But when they were denied representation in Britain’s government, they decided to fight for independence instead. 

Your Turn: Create Your Own Challenge

Direct students to the “Your Turn” activity at the end of the article. Students will conduct research and come up with at least one statement—either true or false—about the American Revolution, writing an explanation to go with it. Then students can quiz one another. 

Analyze a Map: The 13 Colonies

Direct students to the skill builder The 13 Colonies, which asks them to respond to questions using a map.  

Assess Comprehension

Use Quiz Wizard to assess comprehension of this article and others from the issue.