Grade 5 Lesson at a Glance: Chapter 3, Lesson 1

Houghton Mifflin Social Studies
America Will Be

Lesson at a Glance
Chapter 3, Lesson 1: What Is History? (pp. 58-61)

The Big Idea
Framework Concept: Continuity People learn about the past by looking at historical events and interpreting evidence.

Begin by discussing why students think history is important. Then ask them how they think historians, or people who study history, investigate events that happen in the past.

Present students with an important historical event, such as the first Thanksgiving. Ask students how they think we found out about what happened at that event.

Lesson Outline
Use the Lesson Outline to preview the content of the lesson. You may wish to print it for your students as a guide during reading.

Check for Understanding

Have students imagine what it may have been like for John Adams as he defended the British soldiers before a jury. Have them write an opening speech for the trial.
Have students imagine that they were reporters on the scene of the Boston Massacre. Ask them to create a sketch of the event such as would be printed in a newspaper or magazine from that time.

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