Social Studies 8th Grade

Lesson: Beginning of the American Revolution: The Revolution Begins and The Siege of Boston

Standards:
F1.1 Describe the ideas, experiences, and interactions that influenced the colonists decisions to
declare independence by analyzing changing interactions with the royal government of Great
Britain after the French and Indian War.

Objectives:
1. Students will be able to analyze the differences between the British army and Colonial
army by comparing numbers, strategies, and the preparation of armies at the start of the
Revolutionary War.
2. Students will be able to interpret the geography and sequence of events at the start of the
Revolutionary War by taking notes, answering questions, and discussing battles.

Time:
2-3 class periods

Materials:
The Revolution Begins fill in the blank notes
Paul Revere poem with questions
The Revolution Begins note questions
Siege of Boston fill in the blank notes
Siege of Boston note questions
Beginning of Revolution map
Film

Anticipatory Set:
Begin by having students brainstorm what led to the start of the Revolution. This will be
a review of the content we just covered.
Have the students talk with their table partners, then come up to the board to write down
at least one cause of revolution that they talked about.
After students write these out, go over them all quickly, having students elaborate if
necessary.

Steps in Lesson:
1. Pass out The Revolution Begins fill in notes.
2. Begin PowerPoint, have students fill in all of the blanks for one slide, and then go over
each point on the slide in detail.
3. Make sure to focus on how small the colonial militia was and how large and powerful the
British army was. Make sure students understand the significance of numbers between
armies.
4. After the PowerPoint and notes are finished, explain the significance of the Paul Revere
poem and what we will be doing with it.
 5. Pass out the poem and play the YouTube version of the poem aloud. Students should
follow along.
6. After this, students should silently answer the questions after the poem. This shouldnt
take long.
7. When everyone is finished, grade the questions as a class, going over each answer.
8. When finished with the poem, pass out The Revolution Begins note questions.
9. When finished with the questions, grade as a class and go over each answer in detail.
10. Then (probably the next day), begin Siege of Boston fill in notes. Pass them out.
11. Go over the PowerPoint, having students fill in the blanks for a slide before going over it.
12. Again, focus on the numbers of soldiers/wounded and killed for each army. Also, ask
students why they think congress wrote the Olive Branch Petition. Why would the
colonists ask the king to restore harmony between Britain and the colonies if they were
already so upset at the King and set on beginning the Revolution?
13. After the notes are finished, pass out the Siege of Boston notes questions.
14. When everyone is finished, grade as a class, going over each answer in detail.
15. Then, pass out the map activity. On the map, students will label the sequence of events
that happened, starting with #1. They will be able to look at their notes to do this.
16. Partner students up into groups of 2 to complete this.
17. Walk around to each group to make sure everyone is on the right track. Have students
walk you through their thought process in sequencing the events the way that they do.
18. Give hints if necessary.
19. When everyone is finished, go over the map by using the document camera.
20. Students may correct their answers but every number will be described in detail. Any
confusion about the sequence will be addressed to the class to clear up.
21. When finished with this activity, any questions about The Revolution Begins and The
Siege of Boston will be cleared up.
22. Students will then watch Johnny Tremain, a Disney Movie that covers life in the
colonies at the start of the Revolution.

Formative:
Brainstorming the start of the Revolution, assessing what students already know.
Paul Revere Poem activity
Discussion questions during notes
Map Activity

Summative:
Beginning of the Revolution notes questions
Siege of Boston notes questions

Differentiation:
Note taking
Reading (Paul Revere Poem)
Images in PowerPoint
Writing fill in the blanks and questions
Maps and number sequences
 Film
Accommodations:
Notes already filled in for both The Revolution Begins and The Siege of Boston for those
who struggle filling them in (also for those absent).
Those who need more time completing note questions may finish in the hallway and/or as
homework if not finished when we begin to grade. Students will still receive full credit.
Those who struggle with sequencing: place partners together strategically. Place
struggling students with those who will be able to walk them through the activity
effectively and offer more help.