Revolutionary War: Fun Printables

Stamp Act Vitriol: The Emblem of the Effect of Homework:

This activity illustrates the famous Emblem of the Effects of the Stamp and requires students to make their own “dreaded” stamp that could serve as a protest to homework.

Rivalries

This French and Indian War activity explains the centuries-old rivalry between England and France that shaped America's early history and then challenges students to write about a rivalry in their life, or, in sports, movies, or literature.

The Worst Rule Ever

This fun prompt requires students to relate to how the colonists must have felt after the passage of the Royal Proclamation of 1763, by writing about the worst rule they've ever had to follow.

Fun With Acts and Taxes

This activity requires students to imagine their school institutes unjust acts against them such as the Homework Act and Cafeteria Act similar to the Stamp Act, Townshend Act, and Intolerable Acts. It then requires students to fill in the details of such acts before coming up with one of their own. Students get to play the bad guy!

Keeping the Acts Straight: An Icon Guide to the Sugar, Stamp, and Townshend Acts

This activity requires students to document the specifics of the Stamp Act and Townshend Act with icons.

The Tolerable Acts

Students play the role as a member of Parliament who has serious concerns about the Intolerable Acts. Instead, he or she argues that England should make immediate peace with the colonies by issuing a set of acts designed to reward them called the “Tolerable Acts.” Students must think of five acts that reward the colonists (such as Parliament erecting a statue of George Washington in front of Buckingham Palace).

A Signature to Remember

This American Revolution/Revolutionary War activity tells the story of the iconic John Hancock signature on the Declaration of Independence and then challenges students to come up with their own, creative signature.

The Summer Soldier and Sunshine Patriot - Figurative and Literal Meaning in Thomas Paine's The Crisis

This activity challenges students to explore the figurative vs literal language from Thomas Paine's The Crisis and to ultimately illustrate two versions of the "summer soldier" and "sunshine patriot."

What Were They Thinkng? - Soldiers Crossing the Icy Delaware River

This fun activities allows students to have a bit of fun with Leutze's famous depiction of Washington crossing the icy Delaware River in 1776.

Letters from Valley Forge

This activity requires students to play the role of a soldier camped during the dreadful winter of 1777-78 at Valley Forge. Students must use their knowledge of the conditions and morale at Valley Forge to pen a letter to a friend or family member describing the misery.

The Menu at Valley Forge

Food options were extremely limited at Valley Forge an included little more than firecake, hardtack, and salt beef or pork. This activity requires students to create a menu featuring Valley Forge options for visitors to the park who want an "authentic" experience.

George Washington Paralaugh

Create a hilarious story about George Washington by adding nouns, verbs, and adjectives. This is the Mr. Nussbaum version of a mad lib.

Ben Franklin's Quarter

This activity explains Franklin's preference for the wild turkey as America's national symbol and requires students to redesign the back of the quarter according to Franklin's wishes. Great Thanksgiving exercise!

The Last Conversation Between Benjamin and William Franklin

This activity requires students to pen dialogues between William (Ben's loyalist son and royal governor of New Jersey) and Benjamin (a Patriot). Students should demonstrate their knowledge of Loyalist and Patriot sentiments through the dialogue.

The Franklin Shield

This fun social studies activity requires students to create a Franklin family shield based on the many accomplishments of Benjamin.

Sayings From Poor Richard's Almanac

This activity requires students to investigate several of the many aphorisms or adages within Franklin's Poor Richard's Almanac.

Settling the Score

This prompt requires students to help Alexander Hamilton and Aaron Burr find a more productive way to settle their differences instead of staging a duel.

The Secret Rough Draft of the Declaration of Independence

This American Revolution/Revolutionary War parody on the Declaration of Independence require students to fix the spelling, grammar, and punctuation of the "rough" draft of Thomas Jefferson's declaration.

Is Recess an Unalienable Right?

This writing prompt requires students to understand the concept of unalienable rights and then to form a persuasive essay on whether recess is a right or privilege that teachers should be able to take away.

Revolutionary War Figures and Social Media

This fun activity challenges students to create a static social media page about their favorite revolutionary figure.

The Great Compromise

This Constitutional Convention writing prompt explains the Great Compromise, which led to the adoption of the United States Constitution, and challenges students to write about a compromise they've made.

Bill of Responsibilities

This is fun activity that requires students to think of a companion to James Madison's Bill of Rights - The Bill or Responsibilities. What responsibilities should citizens have to maintain our democracy?

The Federalist Papers - An Early Version of a Commercial

This fun exercise challenges students to relate to the Federalist Papers by thinking of three different commercials that they believe are effective in marketing a product. This activity combines art, description, and elaboration.