Now, it’s time to review creative ways to teach about
Virginia in the American Revolution. If you’ve followed me for any length of
time, you know that I am a HUGE history nerd. Of all the American history
topics to teach, the American Revolution is my absolute favorite. That means
this post is packed with LOTS of fun ways to teach the Virginia Studies SOL
VS.5!
Complete Simulation Activities
One of the challenges with teaching Virginia Studies (or any
history topic for that matter) is getting students to understand the lives and
mindsets of people who lived during a time that is completely different from
today. To overcome this challenge, I like to use simulation activities.
Simulation activities are not only a great way to get students up and moving,
but they also get them really thinking about life during other time periods.
When teaching Virginia in the American Revolution, I like to use a Stamp Act
simulation activity to help my students better understand the reasoning for
declaring independence.
Memorize the Declaration of Independence
The Declaration of Independence is one of the most important
documents in American history and still has a significant influence on American
government today. Therefore, I think it is important to take time when teaching
SOL VS.5 to make sure students understand the meaning of the document and what
makes it so unique. Throughout my Virginia in the American Revolution unit, I
use activities to help students memorize the preamble of the Declaration of
Independence. Some of my activities include a craftivity that involves writing
out part of the Declaration of Independence and a memorization game.
Create a Foldable of Famous Virginians During the American Revolution
SOL VS.5 requires students to learn about several famous
Virginians who played active roles in the American Revolution. For students who
have trouble memorizing information, this can be a challenge. One of my
favorite ways to review these famous Virginians is by having students create
foldables.
Visit Revolutionary War Sites in Virginia
Virginia played a key role in the American Revolution. That
means there are lots of places to take students on a field trip as they
learn about SOL VS.5. A few places that do a great job of covering topics
related to the American Revolution include:
- Yorktown Victory Center (Yorktown): The site where the final battle of the Revolutionary War took place.
- Monticello (Charlottesville): The home of Thomas Jefferson.
- St. John's Church (Richmond): The location where Patrick Henry gave his famous "Give me liberty or give me death" speech.
- Mount Vernon (Mount Vernon): The home of George Washington.
Read American Revolution Books
- George vs. George: The American Revolution as Seen from Both Sides by Rosalyn Schanzer
- Let It Begin Here! by Dennis Brindell Fradin
- John, Paul, George, & Ben by Lane Smith
- Paul Revere's Ride by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
- Woods Runner by Gary Paulsen
- George Washington's Socks by Elvira Wodruff
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| You can find this pre-made George Washington's Socks Novel Study by clicking HERE. |
Sing Songs about Virginia's Capitals
Since Virginia’s capital city was moved during the
Revolutionary War, SOL VS.5 requires students to examine why the capital was
moved from Williamsburg to Richmond. I love incorporating music into my
teaching and writing songs for my students about Virginia Studies is always a
lot of fun. One of my student’s favorite Virginia Studies songs has to do with
the reasons why the capital was moved.
Make a Fun Virginia Studies Review
I always conclude my Virginia Studies units with a day of
fun review activities before students take their summative assessment. Taking
time to review not only helps students prepare for their unit test, but it also
helps students retain the information they have learned. For my Virginia in the
American Revolution review, I like to use a task card scavenger hunt. Students
select a number from a bucket and must go find the task card with the matching
number. Then, they record their answer to the task card question on a response
worksheet and pull another number from the bucket. Students continue this
process until they have found and responded to all the task cards. This is a
great way to get students up and moving in the middle of school year when it
too cold for them to go outside. Even you do not do a task card scavenger hunt, there are lots of ways to use task cards to review.
Conclusion
So often, I have heard teachers say that teaching history
cannot be fun or hands-on. Hopefully, the activities listed here prove this statement
wrong. There are so many fun ways to engage students when teaching Virginia in
the American Revolution!
The activities described in this post can easily be
replicated in your classroom, but if you are short on time, I’ve got you
covered! My Virginia in the American Revolution Unit and Virginia Studies Bundle each have the activities listed here and LOTS more. My Virginia in the American Revolution Task Cards can also cut down on the amount of time it takes
to plan your review activity.
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I am passionate about helping teachers make history fun!
Here on Virginia is for Teachers, I share lots of Virginia Studies activities
and tips. Make sure to check back next month. I plan to share strategies for
teaching a Virginia Studies unit about the new American government. Until then,
be sure to check out these other hands-on history posts!
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