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Unit Plan
Other

Left Justified: Founding Fathers

For Students 9th - 10th
Biographical accounts of fifty men who played a wide variety of roles in bringing about America's break with Great Britain, and in the creation of the documents and plans that created the new nation, like the Declaration of Independence,...
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Website
A&E Television

History.com: American Presidents: John Adams

For Students 9th - 10th
This easy-to-navigate site has John Adams' biography, a timeline detailing some of the significant events in his life, an image gallery, and several video clips.
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Website
A&E Television

History.com: American Presidents: Thomas Jefferson

For Students 9th - 10th
This easy-to-navigate site has Thomas Jefferson's biography, events in his life, an image gallery, several video clips.
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Activity
Thomson Reuters

Find Law: Founding Fathers

For Students 9th - 10th
This site provides a very brief description of three of the founding fathers of the Constitution: Benjamin Franklin, Alexander Hamilton, and George Washington. The site provides links to further biographies of all three men as well as...
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Handout
Other

American Revolution: Those Glorious "Principles of 1776": Confederate Perspective

For Students 9th - 10th
This site explains the Southern perspective on the voluntary union of states and the justification for the South seceding from the Union.
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Handout
Bill of Rights Institute

Bill of Rights Institute: George Mason

For Students 9th - 10th
George Mason's ideas helped to shape the Founding documents of the United States, but few Americans remember him today. The words he used when writing the Virginia Declaration of Rights and the Virginia Constitution of 1776 inspired the...
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Handout
Bill of Rights Institute

Bill of Rights Institute: John Witherspoon

For Students 9th - 10th
He was a father figure to America's Founders. A renowned theologian from Scotland, John Witherspoon educated many young men who became prominent leaders of the Founding generation. He went on to embrace the revolutionary cause. He signed...
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Unit Plan
The Dirksen Congressional Center

Congress for Kids: Delegates to the Constitutional Convention

For Students 3rd - 5th
The Constitutional Convention of May 1787 is explained in kid-friendly terms. Suggestions for research projects, resource links and some activities are included. The rest of the site has lots more information on the US government.
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Unit Plan
CommonLit

Common Lit: "The Founding of American Democracy" by Jessica Mc Birney

For Students 7th - 8th
A learning module that begins with "The Founding of American Democracy" by Jessica McBirney, accompanied by guided reading questions, assessment questions, and discussion questions. The text can be printed as a PDF or assigned online...
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Website
The Dirksen Congressional Center

Congress for Kids: Signing the Constitution

For Students 3rd - 8th
This site has a brief summary that describes the delegates to the Constitutional Convention. This group is sometimes called the "Founding Fathers."
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Lesson Plan
National Endowment for the Humanities

Neh: Edsit Ement: Jefferson vs. Franklin: Renaissance Men

For Teachers 6th - 8th
In this lesson plan, students will consider "Jefferson vs. Franklin: Renaissance Men." The plan includes worksheets and other student materials that can be found under the resource tab.
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Handout
CommonLit

Common Lit: Text Sets: Founding the United States

For Students 9th - 10th Standards
This is a collection of 15 Grade-Leveled texts (5-12) on the topic The Founding of America. Once the Revolutionary War was over, America's Founding Fathers had to develop a nation. Learn about the founding of American democracy, from the...
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Unit Plan
CommonLit

Common Lit: Themes: Honor & Courage: What Makes a Hero?

For Students 9th - 10th
This is a collection of Grade-Leveled texts (3-12) to address the question, "What makes a hero?" Select a grade level and a collection of on grade-level reading passages on the topic comes up. [Free account registration required for...
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Handout
Other

University of Virginia: Jefferson on Agriculture

For Students 9th - 10th
This collection from the University of Virginia provides quotes and information on Jefferson's writings about Agriculture.
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Handout
Other

Historical Narratives of Early Canada: One Kingdom Divisible

For Students 9th - 10th
This web page examines Benjamin Franklin, the Boston Tea Party, First Continental Congress, and the Second Continental Congress in 1775, where Canadians were invited to attend. Learn more about the flow of revolution and loyalty on each...
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Unknown Type
Khan Academy

Khan Academy: Framing, Ratification and Amendment Quiz

For Students 9th - 10th
Quiz yourself over the framing, ratification, and amendments to the Constitution.
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Lesson Plan
iCivics

I Civics: Benjamin Franklin Mini Lesson

For Teachers 9th - 10th
"The First American", Benjamin Franklin, is the only Founding Father that signed all three major documents that founded the United States of America. Students explore the many roles he took during the founding of America.
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Handout
Wikimedia

Wikipedia: Alexander Martin

For Students 9th - 10th
An entry on the life of Alexander Martin, who served briefly in the Continental Army. He was later tried for cowardice, was acquitted but resigned shortly afterward. This did not hurt his political career, however. He was a delegate to...
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Lesson Plan
PBS

Pbs Teachers: George Washington and Civic Virtue (Lesson Plan)

For Teachers 9th - 10th
A lesson for gaining knowledge and insight into the founders' ideas of civic virtue - civic knowledge, self-restraint, self-assertion, and self-reliance. Includes an examination of an excerpt from a primary source document: George...
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Website
Independence Hall Association

U.s. History: George Washington

For Students 5th - 8th
A brief overview of George Washington and his importance to the success of the new nation, the United States.
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Unit Plan
Robin Chew

Lucid Cafe: Thomas Jefferson Brief Biography

For Students 9th - 10th
Brief biography on the third president of the United States. Links to related people/events as well as to books, videos, and other sites related to Jefferson.
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Article
Thomson Reuters

Find Law: Founding Fathers: New York: Alexander Hamilton

For Students 9th - 10th
A short biography of one of America's founding fathers, Alexander Hamilton.
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Article
Siteseen

Siteseen: Land of the Brave: Founding Fathers

For Students 9th - 10th
Article focuses on the seven Founding Fathers and their involvement in creating the United States of America.
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Lesson Plan
PBS

Pbs Teachers: Founding Fathers' Notions of Religious Liberty (Lesson Plan)

For Teachers 9th - 10th
Explore founders' views, particularly the views of George Washington, on the role of religion and religious liberty in public life. Includes excerpts from Washington's writings and speeches to give pupils opportunities to include primary...