American War of Independence - US History, British Empire, KS3 Resource or GCSE Primer Intro Lesson

The aim of the lesson is for the students to understand how America achieved independence. It looks at life in colonial British America , the events leading up to the war and the war itself .

It is useful as a stand-alone lesson on America , as part of a scheme of work on America, slavery or the British Empire . It is also useful as introduction lesson to test prior knowledge and set up future classes for the Edexcel GCSE British America, 1713 - 1783: empire and revolution module .

• Lesson begins with a low-stakes knowledge check on US presidents.

• Literacy is focused on with definitions of key words given followed by a comprehension reading task on life in British America before the revolution.

• Students then are given a card sort on the events leading up to the war, and the events of the war.

• The PowerPoint then goes through the order of the cards with paintings and other visual representations for the events that each card shows. Each slide has detailed notes on each event given to add context to class discussion and stretch and challenge all learners.

• Students will then consolidate this new learning by writing the narrative of how America achieved independence. This is a British America GCSE module style question .

• The students will be introduced to the Betsy Ross flag with a task around it.

• The lesson concludes with a quiz to reinforce learning.

This is a fully resourced lesson including a PowerPoint, with detailed explanatory notes, reading activity, worksheet, card sort (mixed and correct order), as well as two American flag colouring resources