Lesson Plan

Founding Documents

Curated and Reviewed by Lesson Planet

Teach the class about the predecessor to Declaration of Independence—the Virginia Declaration of Rights. Using the foundational documents, scholars examine the two writings to consider how they are similar and how they are different. A PowerPoint that includes discussion questions guides class members through their quest.

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CCSS: Adaptable
Instructional Ideas
  • Ask pupils to compare founding documents using prompts
  • Extend learning by including other founding documents in the discussion and activities
Classroom Considerations
  • Language of the documents may be difficult for younger students
Pros
  • PowerPoint is well done, with images and discussion prompts
  • Lesson builds analytical skills using primary sources
Cons
  • Not all the links work, but documents are easily available
Common Core