Lesson Planet
Search educational resources
  • Sign In Try It Free
  • AI Teacher Tools
    • Discover Resources Search reviewed educational resources by keyword, subject, grade, type, and more
    • Curriculum Manager (My Content) Manage saved and uploaded resources and folders To Access the Curriculum Manager Sign In or Join Now
    • Browse Resource Directory Browse educational resources by subject and topic
    • Curriculum Calendar Explore curriculum resources by date
    • Lesson Planning Articles Timely and inspiring teaching ideas that you can apply in your classroom
    • Our Story
    • Frequently Asked Questions
    • Testimonials
    • Contact Us
  • Pricing
  • School Access
    • Your school or district can sign up for Lesson Planet — with no cost to teachers
      Learn More
  • Sign In
  • Try It Free
Why is John Adams Standing on Thomas Jefferson's Foot? Lesson PlanWhy is John Adams Standing on Thomas Jefferson's Foot? Lesson Plan
Publisher
Center for History Education
Resource Details
Curator Rating
Educator Rating
Not yet Rated
Grade
3rd - 5th
Subjects
Social Studies & History
2 more...
Resource Type
Lesson Plans
Audience
For Teacher Use
Duration
1 hr 30 mins
Instructional Strategies
Direct Instruction
2 more...
Usage Permissions
Fine Print: Educational Use
Lesson Plan

Why is John Adams Standing on Thomas Jefferson's Foot?

Curated and Reviewed by Lesson Planet
This Why is John Adams Standing on Thomas Jefferson's Foot? lesson plan also includes:
  • Why is John Adams Standing on Thomas Jefferson's Foot? (.html)
  • Resource Sheet #1: Painting (.pdf)
  • Resource Sheet #2: Venn Diagram (.pdf)
  • Resource Sheet #3: The Five W's and H for Why is John Adams Standing on Thomas Jefferson's Foot? (.pdf)
  • Resource Sheet #4: Letter from John Adams to Abigail Adams, 1 March 1796 (.pdf)
  • Resource Sheet #5: Letter from John Adams to Abigail Adams, 25 March 1796 (.pdf)
  • Resource Sheet #6: Letter from John Adams to Abigail Adams, 27 November 1796 (.pdf)
  • Resource Sheet #7: Letter from Abigail Adams to John Adams, 4 December 1796 (.pdf)
  • Resource Sheet #8: Thomas Jefferson to James Madison, December 17, 1796 (.pdf)
  • Resource Sheet #9: Thomas Jefferson to John Adams, December 28, 1796 (.pdf)
  • Resource Sheet #10: Why is John Adams standing on Thomas Jefferson's foot? (.pdf)
  • Activity
  • Informational Text
  • Vocabulary
  • Join to access all included materials

Was it a bromance, or were they frenemies? Young historians use a controversial portrait and letters between Thomas Jefferson, John Adams, and others to evaluate the relationship between the two Founding Fathers. Examining the primary sources, they unravel a relationship that was sometimes hot and sometimes cold. 

13 Views 4 Downloads
CCSS: Adaptable

Concepts

john adams, thomas jefferson, the founding fathers, the federalists and anti-federalists, early american history, primary source analysis, primary source images, primary sources, political parties

Instructional Ideas

  • Use the included essay prompt to stimulate a debate
  • Offer the activity as an introduction to a unit on the debates over the Constitution

Classroom Considerations

  • Class needs access to an image of a painting

Pros

  • Subject matter of friendship is easily relatable
  • Lesson includes art and written primary sources

Cons

  • None

Common Core

RI.3.1 RI.3.2 RI.3.3 RI.3.4 RI.3.6 RI.3.7 RI.3.10 RI.4.1 RI.4.2 RI.4.3 RI.4.4 RI.4.6 RI.4.7 RI.4.10 RI.5.1 RI.5.2 RI.5.3 RI.5.4 RI.5.6 RI.5.7 RI.5.10

View 23,510 other resources for 3rd - 5th Grade Social Studies & History

© 1999-2026 Learning Explorer, Inc.
Teacher Lesson Plans, Worksheets and Resources

Sign up for the Lesson Planet Monthly Newsletter

Open Educational Resources (OER)

  • Health
  • Language Arts
  • Languages
  • Math
  • Physical Education
  • Science
  • Social Studies
  • Special Education
  • Visual and Performing Arts
View All Lesson Plans

Discover Resources

  • Our Review Process
  • How it Works
  • How to Search
  • Create a Collection

Manage Curriculum

  • Edit a Collection
  • Assign to Students
  • Manage My Content
Contact Us Site Map Privacy Policy Terms of Use