Module 29: America's Beginnings- Social Studies 3 - Course Guide

Module Overview:

In this module, students will learn to identify the factors of conflict and cooperation around the Thanksgiving holiday and identify how the Thanksgiving celebration has developed in America. They will determine how ideas about freedom changed America during colonial times and identify the impact that Benjamin Franklin had on the development of the United States. Students will also identify the impact that Abigail Adams had on the foundational beliefs of the United States and identify the political contributions of the writers of the US Constitution.

Module Materials:

  • Pencils
  • Crayons or colored pencils
  • Notebook
  • Scissors
  • Glue
  • Highlighter
  • Markers
  • Blank paper

Module Objectives:

Lesson # Lesson Title Objective(s)
1 Thanksgiving Past and Present
  1. Identify the factors of conflict and cooperation around the Thanksgiving holiday.
  2. Identify how the Thanksgiving celebration has developed in America.
2 Becoming a Country
  1. Determine how ideas about freedom changed America during colonial times.
3 Benjamin Franklin
  1. Identify the impact that Benjamin Franklin had on the development of the United States.
4 Abigail Adams
  1. Identify the impact that Abigail Adams had on the foundational beliefs of the United States.
5 Writers of the Constitution
  1. Identify the political contributions of the writers of the US Constitution.

Module Key Words:

Key Words
Thanksgiving
holiday
celebration
colonists
freedom
Benjamin Franklin
United States
Abigail Adams
US Constitution
Founding Fathers
primary source

Module Assignments:

Lesson # Lesson Title Page # Assignment Title
1 Thanksgiving Past and Present 6 Thanksgiving Similarities and Differences Assignment
3 Benjamin Franklin 5 Letter to Ben Franklin Assignment
5 Writers of the Constitution 6 A Letter Home Assignment

Learning Coach Notes:

Lesson # Lesson Title Notes
1 Thanksgiving Past and Present After completing this lesson, ask your student to explain the conflict and cooperation around the Thanksgiving holiday and how it has changed over time.
2 Becoming a Country After completing this lesson, ask your student to explain the relationship between the colonies and England and why the colonies did not want to be a part of England anymore.
3 Benjamin Franklin After completing this lesson, ask your student who Benjamin Franklin was and how he helped form the United States of America.
4 Abigail Adams After completing this lesson, ask your student to explain three things they learned about Abigail Adams and how she helped to shape the beliefs of The United States.
5 Writers of the Constitution

Module Guiding Questions:

When a student starts a lesson ask them questions to check for prior knowledge and understanding and to review concepts being taught. At the end of the lesson ask the questions again to see if their answer changes.

Lesson Title Question
Thanksgiving Past and Present
  1. What was Thanksgiving like in the past, and how is it different now?
Becoming a Country
  1. Why did the colonists want freedom?
Benjamin Franklin
  1. Who was Benjamin Franklin?
Abigail Adams
  1. Who was Abigail Adams?
Writers of the Constitution
  1. Who helped America become a country by writing the US Constitution?

Module Video Questions:

When a student watches a video take time to ask them questions about what they watched. Suggested questions for the videos in this module are listed here. Suggestion: Have the student watch the entire video first all the way through. Then have them watch the video a second time, as they watch it pause the video and ask the questions.

Lesson Title Video Question

Module Suggested Read Aloud Books:

Take time to read to your student or have them read aloud to you. Read a different book each day. While reading the book point out concepts being taught. You may purchase these books or find them at your local library. Suggested things to discuss while reading the book:

  • What is the main idea?
  • What are three things new you learned?
  • How does this book relate to what you are learning about?

# Book Author Lexile Level
1 The Story of the Pilgrims Katharine Ross and Carolyn Croll
2 The Remarkable Benjamin Franklin Cheryl Harness
3 Leave It to Abigail!: The Revolutionary Life of Abigail Adams Barb Rosenstock and Elizabeth Baddeley

Module Outing:

Take some time to apply what your student is learning to the real world. Suggested outings are below.

# Outing