Declaration of Independence Close Read for Civics & American Government
- PDF
- Easel Activity
What educators are saying
Also included in
This bundle contains 4 resources for teaching Thomas Jefferson's Declaration of Independence: an Understanding the Declaration article, a primary source matching activity, and two annotated close reads, one of the Declaration of Independence itself, and one that compares the Declaration to John LockPrice $12.20Original Price $15.25Save $3.05
This Full Store Civics Bundle includes everything Civics-related in the Happy Teacher Resources TPT store. With over 80 products so far, this bundle offers a wide-range of resources covering so much of your Civics curriculum: everything from articles to board games, station activities to escape roomPrice $250.00Original Price $372.75Save $122.75
Description
In this Declaration of Independence Close-Read, students work through three pages of excerpts from Thomas Jefferson's Declaration, answering questions in the margins to define key terms, analyze the text, and determine the big ideas behind this foundational document. (If you've enjoyed the Influential Documents Annotated Close Read or the John Locke & Thomas Jefferson | Social Contract Close-Read & Comparison, this is designed to match!) Perfect for middle and high school students in Civics, American History, or American Government!
Aligned to the Florida State Standard for Middle School Civics, SS.7.CG.1.6 The Declaration of Independence, this resource guides students through the main ideas of the Declaration of Independence, analyzing excerpts for key ideas and comprehension. The margins are lined with close-read questions that ask students to define words, interpret chunks of the text, and think critically about what they're reading.
Questions include:
- What are the three unalienable rights Jefferson believes all men are born with?
- Quote the line that relates to the phrase “no taxation without representation”.
- What does it mean to ”petition for redress”?
Students are also asked to address two Big Idea Questions:
- What are the four truths Thomas Jefferson holds to be self-evident?
- How did Thomas Jefferson apply the theories of natural rights and the social contract to explain to the world why the American colonists were seeking independence from Great Britain?
This resource comes as a non-editable, printable PDF and includes an Answer Key. There is also a digital version available through TPT Easel, which can be assigned directly to Google Classroom or shared with your students via a link!
If you enjoy this resource, leave a review! Go to “My Purchases” on your TPT account to leave feedback. You can rate the product, leave a review, and collect TPT credits that you can use on other purchases!
Other Happy Teacher Products you might enjoy:
✩ Declaration of Independence BUNDLE of Resources! | Civics & American Government
✩ The Colonists' Library | Foundations of Government: Influential Documents
✩ Road to Revolution Review | 4-Page Review for Civics & American History
✩ Standards-Based Bell Ringers for Civics & American Government | Quarter One
Follow Happy Teacher Resources so you're the first to find out about new products!
You can also follow my social media: Instagram | Pinterest | Facebook
