Battles of Lexington, Concord, & Bunker Hill - American War of Independence

This lesson examines key battles of the American War of Independence, including Lexington and Concord, Bunker Hill, Saratoga, Trenton, and Yorktown. Students will learn about the significance of each battle and their impact on the war. Activities include analyzing primary sources, creating timelines, and writing PEEKA paragraphs. The lesson concludes with a discussion on the importance of these battles in achieving American independence.

Lesson Content and Activities:

Introduction:
Discuss the American War of Independence and the importance of understanding its major battles.
Introduce today’s keywords: Lexington, Concord, Bunker Hill, Saratoga, Trenton, Yorktown.

Quick Note on Flags:
Compare the flags used during the War of Independence with their modern equivalents.
Discuss the significance of the 13 stars and stripes representing the original colonies and the British flag’s evolution.

Video Analysis:
Watch a video overview of the major battles of the American War of Independence.
Write a 50-word summary using the provided keywords.

Timeline Activity:
Sort the timeline cards into the correct chronological order for battles: Lexington and Concord (April 1775), Bunker Hill (June 1775), Trenton (December 1776), Saratoga (September-October 1777), Yorktown (September-October 1781).

Battle Analysis:
Divide the class into groups, each assigned a different battle to research: Lexington and Concord, Bunker Hill, Saratoga, Trenton, Yorktown.
Research and answer the questions: What happened? Who won? Why was it significant?
Complete the ‘Notable Effects’ later in the lesson.

Learn from the Experts:
Move around the classroom to learn from peers about each battle.
Ask and record answers to: What happened? Who won? Why was it significant?

Notable Figures and Events:
Add notes to a spider diagram while discussing Minutemen, Paul Revere, Washington’s Crossing of the Delaware, African-Americans’ roles, and French assistance.

Writing Task:
Write a PEEKA paragraph on the significance of one battle.
Use sentence starters and provide detailed evidence.

Class Discussion:
Share and discuss the PEEKA paragraphs.
Reflect on the cumulative impact of these battles on the war’s outcome.

Resources:
Video link on the battles
Timeline cards
Primary source documents
Spider diagram template
PEEKA paragraph guidelines