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5th grade · Social Studies · Unit 4 of 13

The American Revolution

Independence and the war

What your child practices

The Declaration of Independence and its ideals, key battles from Lexington to Yorktown, help from France and others, and the people of many backgrounds who shaped the war.

Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS) teks student expectation: 5.2(B); 5.2(C); 5.14(A) · the Declaration of Independence, the people and battles of the Revolution, and its results

How we explain it

Children can open this short lesson before they practice.

  1. The Declaration of Independence was adopted July 4, 1776. It says governments get power from the consent of the governed.
  2. George Washington led the army; Franklin won France as an ally. Bunker Hill showed colonists could stand up to the British.
  3. Women ran farms and businesses and made supplies.

Example: Where does the Declaration say governments get their power? It says the people choose to be governed. That agreement is called consent. Answer: from the consent of the governed

The American Revolution in Texas

In the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS), this is unit 4 of 13 in 5th grade Social Studies, after Road to Revolution and before Building a Government.

Gradelings describes a child's practice on this unit as Beginning, Approaching, Meeting or Exceeding (Four practice steps). That reflects practice, not a report-card mark: the teacher decides the mark.

Source: Texas Education Agency (TEA)

Sample questions

A taste of this unit. In the app, questions change every time and get easier or harder to match your child.

  1. Question 1

    What does "unalienable" mean?

    • Cannot be taken away
    • Only for soldiers
    • Belongs to the king
    • Can be sold

  2. Question 2

    Put in order: Boston Tea Party, Declaration of Independence, Battle of Yorktown. Which came first?

    • Declaration of Independence
    • Boston Tea Party
    • They all happened the same year
    • Battle of Yorktown

  3. Question 3

    About how many Black soldiers served on the Patriot side?

    • About 5 million
    • Exactly 13
    • About 5000
    • None

  4. Question 4

    Why could the Continental Army win against a stronger British army?

    • The British agreed to lose
    • The British had no soldiers
    • Help from France, knowledge of the land and fighting for their homes
    • The war lasted one day

  5. Question 5

    Bunker Hill (1775) showed that…

    • Colonial soldiers could stand up to the British army
    • The Americans had a navy
    • The war was over
    • France had joined

  6. Question 6

    How did the Revolution affect many Loyalists?

    • They became the new government
    • Many left for Britain or other British lands
    • Nothing changed for them
    • They all became generals

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