The Declaration of Independence
Rationale
The Declaration of Independence is one of the
most important documents in the history of our nation. It is the
goal of this website to help children gain a better understanding of the
Declaration of Independence, to recognize the importance of the document,
and to identify the important historical figures associated with the time
period.
The three lesson plans are structured in sequential
order, and are meant to be followed accordingly. They include different
areas of the curriculum such as art, geography, and dramatics. Cooperative
learning will also be used, where students will be grouped together, thereby
helping each other to learn and to reach common goals. Also
incorporated in these plans, you will find that technology is used, as
students will be browsing certain websites regarding the topic that are
both helpful and informative. Studies have shown that computer-assisted
instruction can be an effective supplement to the classroom, and it is
particularly helpful to those low achieving students. Many students
benefit from this type of instruction, since it is more visual, and it
is increasingly being used in the classrooms today.
Finally, these lesson plans will make use of
dramatics and the arts. The project in which the students are involved
with will call upon their creativity, which is extremely important in education
today. Robert J. Sternberg, an IBM Professor of Psychology and Education
at Yale University, encourages teachers to use creativity in the classroom.
He urges them to serve as role models and he stresses the fact that time
needs to be given in order for the students to be able to think creatively.
In doing so, the students will broaden their imagination and, in many cases,
be more willing to learn. It is my hope that teachers will use these
lesson plans in their classrooms, and it is my ultimate goal that students
will benefit from them by gaining a better knowledge of the subject matter.
.
Lesson Plan 1: Teaching the basics of the Declaration of Independence.
Lesson Plan 2: Teaching the geographical elements ot the thirteen
colonies.
Lesson Plan 3: Teaching the Declaration of Independence through dramatics
and the arts.
Art Gallery
Signers Page
Full
text of the Declaration of Independence