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History

Antitextbook

American Revolution

At AntiTextbook.org, we have curated the best active learning lesson plans for American History Teachers. We have sifted through the resources on amazing free sites like Digital Inquiry Group (formerly S.H.E.G.), Gilder Lehrman, and Facing History and Ourselves. We’ve picked the best activities and given you a brief description. You could skim through these sites yourself and read each of the 15-page activity descriptions. Or you can let us do the work of searching and synthesizing for you.

Each box below contains a lesson. The icons under each image tell you if the lesson contains primary sources, secondary sources, research, group work, a writing assignment, videos, or games. The description tells you which free site the lesson comes from, what grade levels it is intended for, how much class time it will take, and how much reading is required. We've added a word or two about the remote-readiness of each lesson. Click the orange button at the bottom of each box for more information on the lesson.

Lessons on this page are about the American Revolution. We have divided the into 4 categories:

Washington's_Inauguration_edited.jpg

American Rev:

The People

American Revolution: The People

Each of the teaching ideas below pertain to those people involved in the American Revolution. Each teaching idea appears in its own box. And each box indicates where the resources if from, the recommended grade level, whether it's remote ready, how long it will take, the length of the reading, and the link to the resource. To learn more about it, click the box.

George Washington

Game

Be Washington

From: George Washington's Mount Vernon

Grade Level: MS, HS, (College)

Remote Ready: Yes!

Time: 1 Class Period

Length of Reading: None

Link: Be Washington

Choose to be George Washington in 1 of 4 interactive scenarios: The Battle of Second Trenton, The Newburgh Conspiracy, The Genet Affair, or The Whiskey Rebellion. In each scenario, players assess the situation, listen to advice, and make decisions. Each scenario takes about 20 minutes. You can elect to play "Host" style where the teacher controls the game and students vote on which decisions to make. Or you can let students play individually in single player mode. Because the game does not give much background, teachers should consider the supplentary materials. Click on the question mark at the beginning to find teacher materials, background info, primary sources, and lesson plans for each scenario. The game has beautiful graphics, though the acting leaves something to be desired.

Lesson: Primary Source

George Washington's Manners

From: Gilder Lehrman

Grade Level: MS, HS, College

Remote Ready: With Modifications

Time: 1 Class Period or Less

Length of Reading: Paragraph

Link: George Washington's Rules of Civility

Here's a short, easy, fun activity. Read the list of manners George Washington copied down as a young man. Act them out. Which manners are still relevant? Discuss them as a class. Gilder Lehrman resources are free but you must log in.

Lesson: Primary Sources

What Made George Washington a Good Military Leader?

From: EDSITEment!

Grade Level: HS, (College)

Remote Ready: Yes!

Time: 1 Class Period

Length of Reading: Pages

Link: What Made George Washington a Good Military Leader?

There are 8 activities spread over 4 Lessons here. That's a lot. We like lesson 3, though you may want to check these out on your own. Lesson 3 involves giving each group a separate set of primary sources (written by GW) and a few secondary sources. Groups answer questions and then the class discusses the overarching question.

Movie: YouTube

Lives Bound Together: Slavery at George Washington's Mount Vernon

From: MountVernon.org

Grade Level: (MS), (HS), (College)

Remote Ready: Yes!

Time: 7 min, 20 sec

Length of Reading: None

Link: Lives Bound Together

The film provides a brief overview of slavery. Then it discusses the number of slaves living on Washington's plantation as well as the work that they did there. The films brilliance comes in its discussion of individual slaves and their stories. On the same page, you will find other short videos telling the stories of Washington's individual slaves.

People Not Named George Washington

Hear From AI Benjamin Franklin

Game

Mission US Interactive Game: Mission 1

From: Mission US on PBS

Grade Level: MS, HS, (College)

Remote Ready: Yes!

Time: 1 Class Period

Length of Reading: Paragraphs

Link: For Crown or Colony

This immersive, interactive game is a hoot. In "Mission 1: For Crown or Colony," students become the avatar of a young apprentice as he does his job and observes revolutionary activities in Boston in 1770. Students will each need to sign up and log-on if playing online. An iPad app is also available. Teachers might just let students play and discuss afterward; this game has sneaky ways of teaching students history. More teaching activities based on the game can be found by clicking on "Educators" then "All EDUCATOR MATERIALS."

Catchy Tunes

Hamilton the Musical

From: Hamilton

Grade Level: (MS), (HS), (College)

Remote Ready: With Modifications

Time: 1-3 Class Periods

Length of Reading: None

Link: None

You can watch a recording of the complete Hamilton Musical if you have a subscription to Disney Plus. If you have a subscription to PBS, you might be able to watch "Hamilton's America" on Great Performances about the making of the musical. Or if you're short on time you can pull up a few songs from the musical on YouTube and work them into your lecture surrounding the Early Republic. Click on the picture above for a few recommended songs.

Lesson: Jigsaw

"Remember the Ladies"

From: Gilder Lehrman

Grade Level: (HS), (College)

Remote Ready: With Modifications

Time: 1 Class Period

Length of Reading: Pages

Link: "Contagious Liberty": Women in the Revolutionary Age

Meets Common Core standards. Break your class into groups of 3. Ideally, you should have 8 groups though you can have more groups. Give EACH group ONE of the 8 provided primary sources (1-2 pages each). These docs are written by women. Each group seeks to answer the 2 essential questions and the questions unique to each document. Each student in the group is tasked with searching for a particular aspect of the document (the link will tell you more about these). Finally, the groups explain their docs to the class. Gilder Lehrman resources are free but you must log in.

Lesson: Graphic Organizer

Loyalists

From: Digital Inquiry Group

Grade Level: (MS), (HS)

Remote Ready: With Modifications

Time: 1 Class Period or Less

Length of Reading: Paragraphs

Link: Loyalists

Students check out 2 primary source snippets from loyalists and fill out a graphic organizer.

American Rev: Acts and the Declaration

American Revolution: Taxes, Acts and the Declaration of Independence

Each of the teaching ideas below pertain to Acts (like the Stamp Act) and the Declaration of Independence. Each teaching idea appears in its own box. And each box indicates where the resources if from, the recommended grade level, whether it's remote ready, how long it will take, the length of the reading, and the link to the resource. To learn more about it, click the box.

Lesson: Primary Sources

Stamp Act

From: Digital Inquiry Group

Grade Level: (MS), (HS)

Remote Ready: With Modifications

Time: 1 Class Period or Less

Length of Reading: Paragraphs

Link: Stamp Act

Students read 3 primary sources (1 page each) about reactions to the Stamp Act then answer provided questions.

Lesson: Primary Sources

The Stamp Act Protests

From: Investigating US History

Grade Level: (HS), College

Remote Ready: With Modifications

Time: Each of 3 activities should take 45-60 min

Length of Reading: Pages

Link: The Stamp Act Protests

Three activities are featured here. Students read primary sources about the Stamp Act and post on discussion boards in the persona of someone who was there then they create a political cartoon or editorial.

Lesson: Declaration of Independence

Declaration of Independence

From: Digital Inquiry Group

Grade Level: (MS), (HS), (College)

Remote Ready: With Modifications

Time: 1 Class Period or Less

Length of Reading: Paragraphs

Link: Declaration of Independence

First, students read 2 historian's (Bailyn and Zinn) interpretations on the question of weather colonial leaders were motivated by selfish or ideological reasons (this totals 4 short paragraphs). Students fill-out a worksheet. Secondly, students re-write the preamble of the Declaration of Independence in their own words. Finally, students go through the grievances listed in Declaration and categorize them as grievances that would affect only the rich and powerful or all the colonists.

lexington. loc.jpg

American Rev: The Fight

American Revolution: The Fight

Each of the teaching ideas below pertain to the American colonies. Each teaching idea appears in its own box. And each box indicates where the resources if from, the recommended grade level, whether it's remote ready, how long it will take, the length of the reading, and the link to the resource. To learn more about it, click the box.

Lesson: Graphic Organizers

Boston Massacre (Medium Difficulty)

From: Slavevoyages.org

Grade Level: MS, HS, College

Remote Ready: With Modifications

Time: Depends upon which lesson(s) you choose

Length of Reading: Paragraphs

Link: slavevoyages.org

Students view 2 primary source images of the Boston Massacre. They read 2 short primary source descriptions of the Boston Massacre. And they answer questions in 2 excellent graphic organizers, which have important questions about perspective and reliability. This lesson is available translated into Spanish as well.

Lesson: Jigsaw

Boston Massacre (Advanced)

From: Slavevoyages.org

Grade Level: MS, HS, College

Remote Ready: With Modifications

Time: Depends upon which lesson(s) you choose

Length of Reading: Paragraphs

Link: slavevoyages.org

This activity utilizes the Jigsaw method. Put students in groups of 5 (this number is modified from the original lesson). All students read the secondary source and view the engraving of the Boston Massacre. But each student in the group reads a different primary document. Students can re-group and discuss the primary source with others who read the same source, if necessary. Then each student goes back to their original group and explains their primary source to others who did not read it. The groups and/or the class then discuss what happened in the Boston Massacre based on the differing perspectives expressed in the sources. Gilder Lehrman resources are free but you must log in.

Lesson: Graphic Organizers

Battle of Lexington

From: Slavevoyages.org

Grade Level: MS, HS, College

Remote Ready: With Modifications

Time: Depends upon which lesson(s) you choose

Length of Reading: Paragraphs

Link: slavevoyages.org

Notes and slides for a mini-lecture are included. Then students view 2 images and read 2 short primary sources (1 paragraph each). With that information, they complete 3 Graphic organizers.

Washington_Crossing_the_Delaware_by_Emanuel_Leutze,_MMA-NYC,_1851.jpg

American Rev: General

American Revolution: General

Each of the teaching ideas below pertain to the American colonies. Each teaching idea appears in its own box. And each box indicates where the resources if from, the recommended grade level, whether it's remote ready, how long it will take, the length of the reading, and the link to the resource. To learn more about it, click the box.

Lesson: Primary Sources

Compare Patriot and Loyalist Songs from the Revolution

From: Digital History

Grade Level: (MS), (HS), (College)

Remote Ready: With Modifications

Time: 1 Class Period

Length of Reading: Paragraphs

Link: Music and the American Revolution

Students read lyrics from patriot and loyalist songs. They choose 2 from a list of 17. Then they analyze the songs' different arguments and ideologies.

Lesson: Graphic Organizers

French and Indian War (7 Years War)

From: Gilder Lehrman

Grade Level: HS, College

Remote Ready: With Modifications

Time: Depends upon which lesson(s) you choose

Length of Reading: Paragraphs

Link: The French and Indian War

There are 4 short primary sources spread across 3 separate lessons. But each involves reading the primary source(s), answering questions, and/or filling out the graphic organizer(s). The primary sources are bite-sized and excellent; you get the perspective of Native Americans and colonists. Gilder Lehrman resources are free but you must log in.

Lesson: Many Options

Slavery

From: SPLC Learning for Justice

Grade Level: MS, HS, (College)

Remote Ready: With Modifications

Time: Depends Upon Lesson

Length of Reading: Pages

Link: Teaching Hard History

After clicking on the link above, scroll to the "We the People" artwork and the "The American Revolution and the Constitution (1763-1787)" Heading. And then choose the Summary Objective that most interest you. Also see "Summary Objective 7" below the "Slavery in the Early Republic (1787-1808)" heading and brick flag artwork. You will be linked to a short list of wonderful online resources and their descriptions.

Lesson: Primary Source

Analyze a 1775 Newspaper

From: History Matters

Grade Level: (MS), (HS), (College)

Remote Ready: With Modifications

Time: 1 Class Period

Length of Reading: Paragraphs

Link: Analyze a Colonial Newspaper

Read this 1775 newspaper article about a protest in Rhode Island during the Revolution where patriots burned British tea. What makes this resource so special is the link to five short 1-5 minute audio clips from a Smithsonian historian who is analyzing the same article.

Citations for Transition Images:

Elorriaga, Ramon. Oil painting of George Washington's inauguration as the first President of the United States which took place on April 30, 1789. Wikimedia Commons, 19 August 2025, https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Washington%27s_Inauguration.jpg

Signing the Declaration of Independence. [United States:publisher not transcribed] Photograph. Retrieved from the Library of Congress, <www.loc.gov/item/2018757153/>.

The battle of Lexington. Boston: Published by John H. Daniels & Son, Jan. 15. Photograph. Retrieved from the Library of Congress, <www.loc.gov/item/2004669976/>.

Savage, Edward, Artist. The Washington family--George Washington, his lady, and her two grandchildren by the name of Custis / painted & engraved by E. Savage. Philadelphia: Published by E. Savage & Robert Wilkinson, London. Photograph. Retrieved from the Library of Congress, <www.loc.gov/item/96512002/>.

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