Last updated: December 27, 2021
Lesson Plan
"Loyal to Whom?" Distance Learning - GRADE 4-7
- Grade Level:
- Upper Elementary: Third Grade through Fifth Grade
- Subject:
- Social Studies
- Lesson Duration:
- 60 Minutes
- Common Core Standards:
- 4.L.1, 4.L.3, 4.L.6, 7.L.1, 7.L.2, 7.L.6, 4.RF.4, 6-8.RH.1, 6-8.RH.2, 6-8.RH.8, 4.RI.1, 4.RI.3, 4.RI.4, 4.RI.7, 7.RI.1, 7.RI.2, 7.RI.3, 7.RI.7, 7.RI.8, 7.RI.9, 4.SL.1, 4.SL.2, 4.SL.3, 4.SL.4, 7.SL.1, 7.SL.2, 7.SL.3, 4.W.1, 4.W.2, 4.W.3, 4.W.4, 4.W.8, 4.W.9, 4.W.10, 7.W.1, 7.W.2, 7.W.3, 7.W.6, 7.W.9, 7.W.10, 6-8.WHST.1, 6-8.WHST.2, 6-8.WHST.6, 6-8.WHST.9, 6-8.WHST.10
- State Standards:
- Full list of New York State Social Studies Practices &Key Ideas, for Grade 4 & Grade 7, included in the Lesson Plan downloadable document.
Briefly: Geography of NYS, Native Americans, Colonial/Revolutionary Period, Citizenry, freedom & Independence. - Thinking Skills:
- Remembering: Recalling or recognizing information ideas, and principles. Understanding: Understand the main idea of material heard, viewed, or read. Interpret or summarize the ideas in own words. Applying: Apply an abstract idea in a concrete situation to solve a problem or relate it to a prior experience. Analyzing: Break down a concept or idea into parts and show the relationships among the parts. Creating: Bring together parts (elements, compounds) of knowledge to form a whole and build relationships for NEW situations. Evaluating: Make informed judgements about the value of ideas or materials. Use standards and criteria to support opinions and views.
Essential Question
What does loyalty mean to you? To whom are you loyal?
Objective
1. Students will be able to list/name the three main responses to/perspectives on American Independence in the US during that period in history.
2. Students will be able to describe/explain each of these perspectives.
3. Students will be able to analyze and explain pros and cons of these perspectives
4. Students will be able to formulate their own responses to these perspectives and related issues.
Background
"Loyal to Whom?" is designed as an asynchronous, 5-part video-based Distance Learning lesson. The final video and lesson component culminates in a virtual, full-class session and small group activity.
The lesson is intended for Grades 4-7 to meet the needs of NYS educators. If your school is studying the American War for Inidependence in Grade 8, the lesson should still work just fine!
Options exist for doing parts or the entire lesson in-class, and notations for this are included in the Lesson Plan downloadable document.
Preparation
Preparation is anticipated to take roughly 2 hours, with all instructions provided in the downloadable Lesson Plan document and including reading / familiarization with the downloadable students' Activity Packet.
Materials
Complete Lesson Plan document for educator use. Includes Common Core and New York State Social Studies Standards addressed, notes on options for in-person use, workarounds for spotty internet connectivity, and information regarding on-site visits to the park.
Download Downloadable Complete Lesson Plan
Complete Activity Packet for student use. Includes suggestions for additional learning and enrichment activities, including planning an on-site visit to Saratoga National Historical Park.
Download Downloadable Complete Activity Packet
First of five video clips for the "Loyal to Whom?" lesson. Video contains Audio Descriptions.
Download Loyal to Whom Video 1 - Introduction
Second of five video clips for the "Loyal to Whom?" lesson. Video contains Audio Descriptions.
Download Loyal to Whom Video 2 - John Neilson
Third of five video clips for the "Loyal to Whom?" lesson. Video contains Audio Descriptions.
Download Loyal to Whom Video 3 - Jotham Bemus
Fourth of five video clips for the "Loyal to Whom?" lesson. Video contains Audio Descriptions.
Download Loyal to Whom Video 4 - John Freeman
Fifth of five video clips for the "Loyal to Whom?" lesson. Video contains Audio Descriptions.
Download Loyal to Whom Video 5 - Summary
Lesson Hook/Preview
Question: what does loyalty mean to you?
Looking at the American War for Independence, it's easy to think, "Well of COURSE we would become our own country!" If we put on the glasses, so to speak, of those who lived at that time, we may find the decisions, including to whom we may be loyal, were not necessarily as clear to see!
Procedure
- Download Lesson Plan and Activity Packet
- Read through both documents
- Determine grading approach for your use, i.e. formative, summative, or both
- Watch the 5 videos while referring back to both documents as needed
- Set up small groups and whole-class virtual sessions for final activity
- Introduce and use lesson
Vocabulary
Royalist: one who remained in support of Great Britain during the American War for Independence.
Neutral: someone who tried to avoid choosing a side during the American War for Independence.
Supporter of Independence: sometimes called "Patriot," this was someone who favored American Independence.
NOTE: "Patriot" is not used simply because those remaining in support of Great Britain did in fact consider themselves patriotic, i.e. supporting king and country.
Assessment Materials
For Assessments, see Lesson Plan downloadable document"Loyal to Whom?" Assessment guidelines are included in the downloadable Lesson Plan document. They are highly flexible for varied educator needs.
"Loyal to Whom?" Assessment guidelines are included in the downloadable Lesson Plan document. Great flexibility is included in the Lesson Plan, so educators are free to use "Loyal to Whom?" as a participation grade, a quiz, a group activity, homework, etc.
Assessments are formative, comprising 1-2 questions for each of the 5 component videos. A final summative assessment is part of the Summar activity.
Supports for Struggling Learners
For students who are unsure how to understand some of the concepts like loyalty or disloyalty while going through the lesson components, additional instructions are provided as part of the videos and the Activity Packet.
Enrichment Activities
Included as part of the Activity Packet downloadable document. These are intended not just for the excelling learner, but for all learners, as engaging multiple learning styles and fields improves and deepens the learning experience for any student.