Colonial America - George Washington & The French-Indian War

This lesson explores George Washington’s role in the French-Indian War, also known as the Seven Years’ War, and its impact on American history. Students will learn about the causes, key events, and consequences of the war. Activities include analyzing primary sources, creating a timeline, and writing a PEEKA paragraph on the significance of Washington’s experiences. The lesson concludes with a discussion on how this war set the stage for the American Revolution.

Lesson Content and Activities:

Introduction:
Discuss the historical context of the French-Indian War (Seven Years’ War) and its significance in North American history.
Introduce today’s keywords: Ohio River Valley, Fort Necessity, George Washington, Treaty of Paris.

Video Analysis:
Watch a video on the French-Indian War and its context within the broader Seven Years’ War.
Write a 50-word summary using the provided keywords.

Timeline Activity:
Sort timeline cards into the correct chronological order, covering key events like the Battle of Jumonville Glen, Fort Necessity, Braddock’s Expedition, and the Treaty of Paris.

Primary Source Analysis:
Read and analyze primary sources related to George Washington’s involvement in the French-Indian War.
Discuss the significance of Washington’s experiences and how they shaped his future leadership.

Guided Reading:
Complete a guided reading activity, subtitling each paragraph and noting three key facts.
Highlight any unknown words and look up their meanings.

Writing Task:
Write a PEEKA paragraph explaining the significance of George Washington’s experiences in the French-Indian War.
Use today’s keywords and the PEEKA planning sheet for guidance.

Class Discussion:
Share and discuss the PEEKA paragraphs.
Reflect on the long-term consequences of the French-Indian War, including its role in leading to the American Revolution.

Resources:
Video link on the French-Indian War
Timeline cards
Primary source documents
Guided reading text
PEEKA paragraph guidelines and planning sheet

From a series of over 30 lessons made by Wolsey Academy on the history of Colonial America. They provide a thorough foundation of knowledge in this vital period in American history and each lesson looks to focus on a range of historical skills and exam techniques to equip students with knowledge and transferable research, analysis and study skills.
To find the complete bundle search on the Wolsey Academy website.

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