Lesson Plan | Teachy Methodology | Thirteen Colonies

Objectives

Duration: (10 - 15 minutes)

This stage of the lesson plan aims to establish the main objectives so that students can contextualize and deepen their understanding of the initial formation of the United States, including aspects such as the relationship with Indigenous peoples, slavery, and regional disparities. By clearly defining these objectives, the teacher ensures that students will focus on the crucial aspects of the topic throughout practical activities and subsequent discussions.

Main Objectives

1. Understand the formation of the United States from the creation of the thirteen colonies.

2. Analyze the relationship of the colonists with Indigenous peoples and the practice of slavery in the colonies.

3. Identify the economic, social, and cultural differences between the northern and southern colonies.

Introduction

Duration: (15 - 20 minutes)

The purpose of this stage is to engage students from the beginning of the lesson, leveraging the technology they use daily to research and share information. This not only makes the lesson more dynamic but also allows students to start reflecting on the topic and contextualizing the knowledge they already have, promoting an exchange of ideas and setting the stage for the subsequent practical activities.

Warming Up

To start the lesson on the Thirteen Colonies, briefly explain to the students that the Thirteen Colonies were a group of British colonies on the east coast of North America that came together to form the United States. Then, ask students to use their phones to find an interesting fact about the Thirteen Colonies that they will share with the class. This will help connect the historical content with the familiarity they have with technology and the use of mobile devices.

Initial Reflections

1. What were the main reasons that led colonists to settle in the Thirteen Colonies?

2. What was the relationship between colonists and Indigenous peoples during the colonial period?

3. How did slavery influence the development of the colonies?

4. What were the main economic and cultural differences between the northern and southern colonies?

Development

Duration: (65 - 70 minutes)

This stage aims to engage students in practical and interactive activities that use technology to deepen their understanding of the Thirteen Colonies. The proposed activities allow students to explore and contextualize the acquired knowledge, promoting a more dynamic, relevant, and engaging learning experience.

Activity Suggestions

It is recommended that only one of the suggested activities be carried out

Activity 1 - Creating an Interactive Digital Timeline

> Duration: (65 - 70 minutes)

- Objective: Reinforce the chronological understanding of events related to the Thirteen Colonies and facilitate a clear visualization of relationships and differences through digital resources.

- Description: Students will work in groups to create an interactive digital timeline of the Thirteen Colonies using online tools like Tiki-Toki or Sutori. The timeline should highlight key events, the relationship with Indigenous peoples, practices of slavery, and the differences between the north and south of the colonies.

- Instructions:

• Form groups of up to 5 students.

• Access the Tiki-Toki or Sutori website on a computer or phone.

• Create an account or log in.

• Start building the timeline, adding the following elements:

• Important dates of the formation of the Thirteen Colonies.

• Notable events that show the relationship between colonists and Indigenous peoples.

• Information on the practice of slavery in the colonies.

• Main economic, social, and cultural differences between the north and south.

• Each event should have a detailed description, images, and, if possible, videos.

• Once completed, each group should present their timeline to the class.

Activity 2 - Instagram Storyboard

> Duration: (65 - 70 minutes)

- Objective: Integrate historical knowledge with students' creativity and familiarity with social media, facilitating the contextualization of the past in a modern and visual format.

- Description: Students must create a storyboard as if they were digital influencers on Instagram during the time of the Thirteen Colonies. They should create fictional posts and stories that recount historical events, relationships with Indigenous peoples, the practice of slavery, and regional differences between north and south using graphic design apps like Canva or directly on Instagram.

- Instructions:

• Form groups of up to 5 students.

• Assign specific themes to be addressed (e.g., life in a southern colony, confrontation with Indigenous peoples, etc.).

• Use Canva or other graphic design tools to create the posts.

• Include explanatory texts, images, and even short videos as if they were posts and stories on Instagram.

• Each group creates a series of posts and stories that should be presented as a coherent set about life in the Thirteen Colonies.

• Present the creations to the class, explaining the concept of each post and the historical context.

Activity 3 - Virtual Escape Room: The Journey of the Thirteen Colonies

> Duration: (65 - 70 minutes)

- Objective: Promote learning in a playful and collaborative manner, encouraging teamwork and problem-solving while reinforcing the historical content learned.

- Description: Create and access a virtual escape room using platforms like Google Forms or Breakout EDU. Students must solve puzzles and challenges related to the history of the Thirteen Colonies, including the relationship with Indigenous peoples, the practice of slavery, and regional differences between north and south.

- Instructions:

• Form groups of up to 5 students.

• Access the virtual escape room previously created by the teacher (or create a new one if there is time).

• Each group will have a link to the escape room and must work together to solve the puzzles.

• The puzzles should be related to the following topics:

• Important dates and events.

• Descriptions of interactions and conflicts with Indigenous peoples.

• Questions about the practice of slavery and its impact on the colonies.

• Differentiation between northern and southern colonies in economic, social, and cultural terms.

• Each correct answer will lead to a new challenge, and the first group to complete all challenges wins.

• At the end, hold a reflection on what they learned during the escape room, highlighting the main points discussed in each puzzle.

Feedback

Duration: (15 - 20 minutes)

The purpose of this stage is to promote reflection on learning, encourage critical thinking, and develop communication and collaboration skills among students. The group discussion allows different perspectives to be shared, while the 360° feedback helps students understand their own strengths and areas for improvement, increasing group cohesion and self-awareness.

Group Discussion

[Group Discussion] Promote a group discussion with all students, where groups share what they learned while performing the experience and their conclusions. Suggest the following script to introduce this discussion:

1. Introduction: 'Today, we will share our discoveries and reflections on the Thirteen Colonies. We want to hear what each group learned and observe the different perspectives presented.'
2. Open Questions: 'What were the main challenges you faced while performing your activities? How did you resolve these challenges?'
3. Critical Reflection: 'What new information surprised you? How did the use of digital tools help or hinder your understanding of the topic?'
4. Closure: 'Let's close the discussion by reflecting on how we can apply this knowledge in the current context and in future studies.'

Reflections

1. How did the use of digital tools and social media facilitate the understanding of the history of the Thirteen Colonies? 2. What were the main differences observed between the northern and southern colonies, and how did this influence the development of the USA? 3. How did the relationships with Indigenous peoples and slavery impact the initial formation of the colonies?

360° Feedback

[360° Feedback] Instruct students to conduct a 360° feedback stage where each student must receive feedback from group members. Guide the class to ensure that the feedback is constructive and respectful. Use the following script:

1. Introduction to Feedback: 'Now, we will practice 360° feedback. Each of you will have the opportunity to receive comments from the other group members.'
2. Feedback Rules:
   • Be specific: 'Clearly state what was positive and what could be improved.'
   • Be respectful: 'Choose words that do not offend and that help someone grow.'
   • Be constructive: 'Provide suggestions that can really help your peer improve.'
3. Conducting the Feedback: 'Each student should share their impressions and suggestions for their peers, following the established rules.'
4. Final Reflection: 'After the feedback, reflect on what was said and how you can use that information to improve in future activities.'

Conclusion

Duration: (10 - 15 minutes)

 Purpose  The conclusion stage aims to synthesize the main points addressed during the lesson clearly and engagingly, reinforcing the acquired knowledge. Additionally, it connects learning to the current context, demonstrating the ongoing relevance of the topic in our daily lives and encouraging critical reflection.

Summary

 Dynamic Review!  Let's do a quick interactive quiz! What important dates were the Thirteen Colonies formed? Who remembers the relationship between colonists and Indigenous peoples? What was the impact of slavery on the colonies? And the differences between the north and south? Whoever gets it right first will earn a special emoji in the comments! 

World Connection

 Connection to the Current  Just like the Thirteen Colonies, we live in a world of constant cultural and economic interaction. Understanding these historical events helps us recognize patterns that still influence our society. Issues like inequality, ethnic relationships, and economic development are as relevant today as they were in the colonial era.

Practical Application

 Importance in Daily Life  Understanding the formation and challenges of the Thirteen Colonies allows us to reflect on current issues of social integration, cultural diversity, and economic development. This historical understanding provides us with tools to interpret and improve our modern society.