Dear Founders

Teaching Theme of the Week

from Education World®

After reading short biographies of the men who signed of the Declaration of Independence, students write letters to some of the signers.

Subject: Social Studies, Language Arts, Education Technology

Grade Levels: 6-8

Objectives
Students will:

• learn about the men who signed the Declaration of Independence,
• demonstrate critical and creative thinking skills, and
• write letters.

Keywords
Founders, biography, Declaration of Independence, letter, signer

Materials Needed

• paper
• pens or pencils
• computers with Internet access or printouts of biographies from Biographies of the Founding Fathers

Procedure

1. Review with students some of the important points about the Declaration of Independence. Have students view the document at the site The Declaration of Independence or on an overhead projector. Ask students to closely view the signature section. Tell students that 56 men signed this document.
    
2. Have students look up the site noted in the Materials Needed section, or if Internet access is not available to everyone, print out the main page and distribute copies to students.
    
3. Assign each student one name from the list. Have students look up that person via the hyperlinks on the site, or print out the biographies you choose.
    
4. Have students read the biographies and then write letters to their assigned signers. Tell students to include questions and/or comments about the individual's life or his work on the Declaration of Independence.

Assessment
Group the class into pairs. Have students exchange letters with their partners; they can offer comments and gentle critique about the letters.

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