Overview: You will examine "artifacts" - such as a letter and an invitation - on Thomas Jefferson's "desk" to learn about the Declaration of Independence and the events that led to it. You will also read about these events and paraphrase key excerpts or part of the actual Declaration of Independence.

Assignments to hand in:
Artifact Fill-In-The-Blank Handout
Paraphrasing the Declaration Handout
Historical Plaque Handout

 

Step 1: Visual - Signing of the Declaration - Look at the picture below (click to enlarge) of the signing of the Declaration of Independence (Journal response here?)

John Trumbull's painting of the Signing of the Declaration of Independence.

 

Step 2: Introduction Reading - Read Section 12.1 History Alive! America's Past

 

Step 3: Thomas Jefferson's Desk - Look at the picture of Thomas Jefferson's desk below and and read Sections 12.2 - 12.5 History Alive! America's Past about the significance of each artifact on his desk.

Graphic of Thomas Jefferson's Desk

 

Step 4: Examining the Artifacts on Thomas Jefferson's Desk - Complete the Artifact Fill-in-the-Blank Handout by using the Sections 12.2 - 12.5 History Alive! America's Past.

 

Step 5: Paraphrasing the Declaration of Independence - Complete the Paraphrasing the Declaration Handout by reading Section 12.6 History Alive! America's Past that includes FIVE excerpts from the Declaration of Independence. Use the Glossary for the Declaration of Independence to help your interpret and re-write the FIVE excerpts in your own words. (Give example of paraphrasing here?)

 

Step 6: Historical Plaque Honoring Thomas Jefferson - Complete the Thomas Jefferson Historical Plaque Handout by using the text you've read and the activities you've completed from above.

 

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