Colonists Choose Sides
1 Warm Up: Highlight quotes from the text that explain colonists’ reasons for either supporting or opposing British authority.
Have students go to their Google Classroom class page and click on the Nearpod link.
Students will log-in to the Nearpod lesson using the unique lesson code.
Have students read the excerpt from My Brother Sam is Dead.
Highlight quotes from the text that explain colonists’ reasons for either supporting or opposing British authority.
2 Hook: Which side do you agree with the most?
Have students decide which opinion from the reading they agree with through a multiple choice question.
Based on the Warm Up, which side do you agree with most?
A) Patriot; we are free to govern ourselves and should drive out the British because they don't listen to us.
B) Loyalist; as British colonists, we must follow and support the King and follow the law.
C) Neutral; should be a part of Great Britain, but must decide a government for ourselves.
3 Direct Instruction: Patriots vs. Loyalists
Loyalists, also known as Tories, Royalists, or King’s Men, were American colonists who remained loyal to the British monarchy during the American Revolutionary War.
Patriots, also known as Rebels, Revolutionaries, Continentals, or American Whigs, were those American colonists who rebelled against British control during the American Revolution.
Although there were many that did not openly state which side they supported, know that there were two main opposing sides.
4 Determining Why Colonists Chose Sides
Have students highlight 1 important reason from each section in order to enable students to differentiate and determine the strongest reason (in their opinion) for each side.
Highlight 1 important reason from each section.
After you are done, take 30 seconds to turn and talk to your neighbor about what you chose for each section and why.
5 Activity - Mentimeter - Colonists' Perspectives
Have students log in to Mentimeter.com, using the unique class code provided. Have students determine whether you believe each of the 8 colonists would be a Loyalist, a Patriot, or remain neutral. Students will use a scales feature to determine where the colonists fits on a spectrum (left: Loyalist; middle: Neutral; right: Patriot). Students will also work in small groups to discuss and justify their responses. However, they must vote in a majority. Students will be able to see overall class averages of each colonists after the activity has ended.
Log in to Menti.com. Use the class code provided for you.
Determine whether you believe each of the 8 colonists would be a Loyalist, a Patriot, or remain neutral. Use the scale to make that decision. Before you do so, discuss why they would be a member of a side with your classmates.
Hint: Use prior knowledge (ex. If they worked by the harbor, they would not approve of Britain because the Coercive Acts shut down the Boston Harbor).
6 Exit Slip
Have students go back to the former tab with Google Classroom. Have students complete the Exit Slip assessment.
Exit Slip: Why did some colonists decide to remain loyal to England while others began to oppose England's rule?