TLTH LESSON ON THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE
Student will "share read" all of the following excerpts in the Declaration of Independence. “Share read” is a technique of having the students follow along silently while the teacher reads aloud the excerpt modeling prosody, inflection, and punctuation. Then, students identify unknown words and the teacher define the word while the student puts the definition above the word. Then, the teacher asks the class to join in to read the excerpt that they just listened the teacher read. The teacher leads the reading; with the students joining after a few words while the teacher continues to read along with the students, still serving as the model for the class.
DAY ONE
After "share reading" the following introduction to the Declaration of Independence, the whole class identify three key words.
The unanimous Declaration of the thirteen united States of America, When in the Course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another, and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature's God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation.
After "share reading," students will identify the three main principles Jefferson asserts. The students will write an answer to the following essential question:
Which of the three principles ("All Men are Created Equal," "Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness," and "Consent of the Governed") are the most important TODAY?
Which of the three principles ("All Men are Created Equal," "Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness," and "Consent of the Governed") are the most important TODAY?
We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.--That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed,
DAY TWO
After "share reading," the small groups of students will identify five key words. After sharing each group's key words, the whole class will negotiate the key words. Each student will then write a summary statement using the key words.
Note: Before writing the summary statement, the teacher leads a class discussion on Jefferson's quote "mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable, than to right themselves."
Note: Before writing the summary statement, the teacher leads a class discussion on Jefferson's quote "mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable, than to right themselves."
That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness. Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shewn, that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable, than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed. But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security.--Such has been the patient sufferance of these Colonies; and such is now the necessity which constrains them to alter their former Systems of Government. The history of the present King of Great Britain is a history of repeated injuries and usurpations, all having in direct object the establishment of an absolute Tyranny over these States. To prove this, let Facts be submitted to a candid world.