Classroom Resource

Declaration of Independence/Civics 101

Subject Area

Social Studies

Grade(s)

2, 3, 5

Overview

This video from PBSLearningMedia explains that the Declaration of Independence was the first formal statement by a nation's people asserting their right to choose their own government. The document was approved by the Continental Congress on July 4, 1776, and announced the separation of 13 North American British colonies from Great Britain

Social Studies (2010) Grade(s): 2

SS10.2.1

Relate principles of American democracy to the founding of the nation.

Unpacked Content

UP:SS10.2.1

Vocabulary

  • relate
  • American
  • democracy
  • identify
  • settlement
  • recognize
  • principles
  • executive
  • legislative
  • judicial
  • demonstrate
  • political parties
  • utilize
  • democratic values

Knowledge

Students know:
  • Reasons for the settlement of the thirteen colonies the voting process.
  • The three branches of government and how they were established.
  • The roles of major political parties within the voting process. School and classroom rules.
  • Democratic values as expressed in documents such as the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution, and the Emancipation Proclamation.
  • Vocabulary: American democracy, founding of the nation, settlement, thirteen colonies, Declaration of Independence, Constitution of the United States, government, executive branch, legislative branch, judicial branch, voting process, election, political parties, Democrat, Republican, Independent, Libertarian, rules, democratic values

Skills

Students are able to:
  • Analyze a primary document.
  • Relate the founding of our nation to American democracy.
  • Identify the basic principles of democracy found in the Declaration of Independence.
  • Identify the basic principles of democracy found in the Constitution of the United States.
  • Describe the establishment of the three branches of government.
  • Recognize the roles of the major political parties in the voting process.
  • Utilize school and classroom rules.

Understanding

Students understand that:
  • Democracy is the principle on which our nation was founded.
Social Studies (2010) Grade(s): 3

SS10.3.10

Recognize functions of the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution of the United States.

Unpacked Content

UP:SS10.3.10

Vocabulary

  • identify
  • human environment
  • physical environment
  • compare
  • physical features
  • regions of the United States
  • recognize benefits
  • recreation
  • tourism
  • state parks
  • national parks

Knowledge

Students know:
  • Difference between human and physical environments the physical regions of the United States and the features of each.
  • Affects of environment on human behavior and ways of life.
  • Positive and negative affects of humans on the environment.
  • Examples of types of tourism and recreation and the affects of each, including state and national parks.

Skills

Students are able to:
  • List examples of the ways human and physical environments affect people and the ways they live.
  • Differentiate between regions of the United States based upon their physical features.
  • Differentiate between positive and negative effects that people have on the environment.
  • Explain the benefits of recreation and tourism, including at state and national parks.

Understanding

Students understand that:
  • There are various ways that people are affected by their human and physical environments, as well as the effects, both positive and negative, that humans have on the environment.
Social Studies (2010) Grade(s): 5

SS10.5.8

Identify major events of the American Revolution, including the battles of Lexington and Concord, Bunker Hill, Saratoga, and Yorktown.

Unpacked Content

UP:SS10.5.8

Vocabulary

  • identify
  • evaluate
  • contributions
  • principles
  • mobilize
  • Committees of Correspondence
  • Liberty
  • boycott
  • Continental Congress
  • ordinary citizens
  • American Revolution
  • declaration
  • financier
  • popular sovereignty
  • limited government
  • bicameral
  • unicameral
  • Great Compromise
  • Annapolis Convention

Knowledge

Students know:
  • The major events of the American Revolution as it relates to the battles and other events.
  • The principles contained in the Declaration of Independence.
  • The contributions of significant people and supporters of the American Revolution.
  • The contributions of African Americans, women, merchants and farmers.
  • The efforts used to gain support for the American Revolution by the Minutemen, Committees of Correspondence, First Continental Congress, Sons of Liberty, boycotts, and the Second Continental Congress.
  • The location on a map of major battles during the American Revolution.
  • The reasons for colonial victory in the American Revolution.
  • The effect of the Treaty of Paris of 1783 on the development of the United States.

Skills

Students are able to:
  • Identify, describe, and evaluate events, individuals, and groups important in historic events.
  • Examine and interpret historic documents. Compare and contrast the contributions of significant people and events.
  • Identify the contribution ordinary people such as Haym Solomon.
  • Describe the contributions of Thomas Jefferson, Samuel Adams, Paul Revere, Patrick Henry, Thomas Paine, George Washington, and supporters from other countries to the American Revolution.

Understanding

Students understand that:
  • Through the events of the American Revolution and the contributions of many people, the United States gained independence from Great Britain.
Link to Resource
https://aptv.pbslearningmedia.org/resource/d5f71833-4f9f-4d29-895b-4d50f023f240…

CR Resource Type

Audio/Video

Resource Provider

PBS
Accessibility

Accessibility

Video resources: includes closed captioning or subtitles
License

License Type

Custom

Custom License Type (URL)

https://aptv.pbslearningmedia.org/help/terms-of-use/#permitted

Comments or Notes

PBSLearningMedia is free for teachers. Teachers need to create a free account to access all available resources. 

Approved Date

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