Trading Cards of the American Revolution

Learning Resource Type

Learning Activity

Subject Area

Social Studies

Grade(s)

10

Overview

In this learning activity, students will choose a key revolutionary leader from the American Revolution and research that leader. Using Canva or another graphic design platform, students will create an authentic-looking trading card of that person including his or her contributions to the American Revolution. It allows students to review material at the end of a unit of study.

Phase

After/Explain/Elaborate
Social Studies (2010) Grade(s): 10 - United States History I

SS10.US1.3

Trace the chronology of events leading to the American Revolution, including the French and Indian War, passage of the Stamp Act, the Boston Tea Party, the Boston Massacre, passage of the Intolerable Acts, the Battles of Lexington and Concord, the publication of Common Sense, and the signing of the Declaration of Independence. [A.1.a., A.1.b., A.1.d., A.1.g., A.1.i.]

UP:SS10.US1.3

Vocabulary

  • chronology
  • significance
  • theory
  • perspectives
  • provisions

Knowledge

Students know:
    Details of important events leading to the American Revolution, including the French and Indian War, passage of the Stamp Act, the Boston Tea Party, the Boston Massacre, passage of the Intolerable Acts, the Battle of Lexington and Concord, the publication of Common Sense, and the signing of the Declaration of Independence.
  • The role of key revolutionary leaders, including George Washington, John Adams, Thomas Jefferson, Patrick Henry, Samuel Adams, Paul Revere, Crispus Attucks, Gilbert du Motier, and Marquis de Lafayette.
  • The importance of key revolutionary battles, including Bunker Hill, Trenton, Saratoga, and Yorktown.
  • Influence of the theories of John Locke, Charles de Montesquieu, and Jean-Jacques Rousseau on the major ideas in the Declaration of the Declaration of Independence.
  • Perspectives of differing groups in society and their roles in the American Revolution including men, women, white settlers, free and enslaved African Americans, and American Indians.
  • Provisions of the Treaty of Paris of 1783.

Skills

Students are able to:
  • Trace the chronology of events leading up to the American Revolution by following the course, movement, and development of the event.
  • Analyze and explain the role of key revolutionary leaders by interpreting the significance of these individuals.
  • Trace the geographic locations of important Revolutionary battles and explain the significance of each. Summarize the major ideas of the Declaration of Independence .
  • Analyze the theories of John Locke, Charles de Montesquieu, and Jean-Jacques Rousseau and relate these to the major ideas within the Declaration of Independence.
  • Compare the perspectives of differing groups in society and their roles in the American Revolution by showing the similarities and differences in these groups.
  • Analyze the impact of the Treaty of Paris of 1783 on the United States' relationship with European nations and American Indians.

Understanding

Students understand that:
  • There were significant events, leaders, important battles, major political and social theories and philosophies, perspectives of different groups in society, and political documents that had an impact on the causes of the American Revolution, the course of the war, and the relationships of the United States with Europe and Native Americans after the war.
Social Studies (2010) Grade(s): 10 - United States History I

SS10.US1.3.1

Explaining the role of key revolutionary leaders, including George Washington; John Adams; Thomas Jefferson; Patrick Henry; Samuel Adams; Paul Revere; Crispus Attucks; and Gilbert du Motier, Marquis de Lafayette

Learning Objectives

Students will be able to explain the role of key revolutionary leaders during the American Revolution.

Activity Details

1. Prior to this activity, students should have already selected a key revolutionary leader, such as George Washington, John Adams, Thomas Jefferson, Patrick Henry, Samuel Adams, Paul Revere, Crispus Attucks, Gilbert du Motier, or Marquis de Lafayette, and researched information about their life including birth/death dates, important facts about his/her life, and how he/she was involved in the American Revolution. 

2. Students will use this research to design a trading card of their selected key revolutionary leader.

3. With the image and information, students will design a trading card. The front of the trading card will have the person's name and an image of the person. The back of the trading card will have birth/death dates, important facts about his/her life, and how he/she was involved in the American Revolution. 

5. Using Canva or another graphic design platform, students will create the trading card with the researched information and image(s). An example of the trading card template can be found here

6. Then, students will present their trading cards to the class and then have a time when all of the students could trade cards for others. 

Assessment Strategies

The trading cards activity could be used as a formative assessment or as a culminating activity to a unit on the American Revolution. 

The teacher will evaluate each student’s completed trading card to ensure they include the following information about their assigned revolutionary leader: 

  • The leader’s birth/death date
  • Important facts about the leader’s life
  • The leader’s role in the American Revolution

 

Acceleration

For students who are on an accelerated path, teachers could add more required information and/or elements. 

For students who are artistically gifted, they could draw the person's image instead of finding it online. Then, they could use their image and make trading cards on paper. 

 

Intervention

For students who might need more support, they could create the trading card on paper or on Google Docs/Slides, or use a blank Trading Card template.

Background / Preparation

Student Background/Preparation: Prior to beginning this activity, students should know why the American Revolution started and also be able to identify the two sides fighting in the war.

Teacher Background/Preparation: Teachers need to create a list of people from the American Revolution that they want students to choose from. Also, it would be helpful if teachers introduced Canva (or selected graphic design platform ) to their students (either giving a tutorial on how to use it or walking them through the initial outlining of the activity). 

Total Duration

46 to 60 Minutes

Materials and Resources

Students will need a device with internet access. 

Students will need to sign up for a free Canva account in order to use Canva. 

If students can't access Canva, there are other graphic design platforms including Google Slides or Adobe Spark.

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