What were the virtues and values that helped form America? Pupils watch and discuss a video, read biographies of early Americans, chart the differences between early American religious movements, write journals and letters, draw, and create a multimedia presentation. To finish the lesson, learners also complete a problem-based learning project.

Concepts

benjamin franklin, american history, transcendentalism, ralph waldo emerson, individuality, thomas jefferson, the declaration of independence, nationalism

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Additional Tags

social studies

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Instructional Ideas

• Have scholars compare the differences and similarities between the Puritans' Mayflower Compact and the Declaration of Independence
• Invite small groups to assemble collages to depict symbolism from Emerson's writings

Classroom Considerations

• Print the timeline and biographies for learners in advance 

Pros

• Each biography concludes with a series of higher-order thinking questions
• There is a lot of variety in the teaching tips and activities 
• Includes a glossary of key terms for reference, as well as additional resources

Cons

• None