War in the Northeast and the Declaration of Independence

Note on this week: A lot of this will be over younger students heads, but great for middle and high school students. For younger students, if all you did was the activities listed under "extras" (including watching the Liberty's Kids videos) that would be more than sufficient. 

Common Sense-
Read the Sparks Notes on Common Sense written by Thomas Paine. Older children might want to read the full text. Older students can practice analyzing a primary source in this activity.


Watch this video:

British Evacuation of Boston (March 17, 1776)-

Read about it here.

Watch this short video:

The Declaration of Independence (July 4, 1776)-

Listen to the Declaration of Independence:

Read about The Declaration of Independence. Then follow the links for the reading comprehension activities.

Students can make their own declaration.


The Fight for New York (August-October, 1776)-

Scroll down and read the events that took place between August and October in 1776 (or read the entire thing as a review).

Extras:

Watch Liberty's Kids Episodes 12-19.

Spies date back even to Bible times. Read the spy story in Joshua Chapter 2. Then students can make their own secret message like a spy!

Ben Franklin had his own newspaper, the Pennsylvania Gazette. Students can make their own newspaper about their family.

Check out Franklin's inventions.

Check out Jefferson's inventions.