Lesson Plan

Who Fired the Shot Heard Round the World?

Curated and Reviewed by Lesson Planet

Take a closer look. Young academics become detectives in an engaging lesson on the American Revolution. Scholars work in groups to analyze documents to uncover whether the American colonists or British soldiers fired the first shot at the Battle of Lexington and Concord that started the American Revolution. The lesson uses graphic organizers and group discussion to help historians form a conclusion about the battle and defend their arguments with evidence. 

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Instructional Ideas
  • Read the Concord Hymn poem as a group 
  • Have pupils create a visual representation of who they think fired the first shot
Classroom Considerations
  • Younger learners may need additional help with vocabulary terms 
Pros
  • Lesson uses primary sources to enhance learning
  • Includes detailed background knowledge to assist instructors implement the lesson 
Cons
  • None