Contextualization

The American Revolution was an event that began in 1775 and culminated in 1776 with the United States Declaration of Independence. This is a very important landmark in world history, not only because it represents the break from the English colonies in America, but also because of the implementation of a new type of government, based on a written constitution, with principles of equality and liberty. Usually, this subject is approached from a political point of view, which highlights the fight for autonomy and the indignation of the population in the face of heavy taxes and British authoritarianism. However, this project goes further, seeking to also understand the economic, social and cultural factors involved. Our goal is to deepen our understanding of the reasons, development and consequences of the American Revolution. We hope that through this project, we can, together, learn more about this important historical period. We will be assisted on the journey by several resources. We recommend reading the book "The American People: The Formation of a Nation" by Gary B. Nash for a detailed view of the historical roots of the American Revolution. In addition, the documentary series "The History of the United States for People in Love with Freedom" available on the YouTube video platform, offers a fun and informative overview. Access the "Nova Escola" website, which contains articles and pedagogical activities related to the theme. Another recommended source is the British encyclopedia, which covers a wide range of topics on American history. We hope that, with these resources, the immersion in the theme will be richer and more complete, fostering debates that go beyond what is in history books.

Practical Activity

Title of the Activity: "Reliving the American Revolution"

Objective of the Project

The objective of this project is to allow students to deeply understand the context and consequences of the American Revolution through immersion and recreation of the historical circumstances that led to this significant event.

Detailed Description of the Project

Students will be divided into groups of 3 to 5 people, and each group will be responsible for representing a key aspect of the American Revolution. Aspects may include, but are not limited to: "British Taxes and Legislation", "Economic Reasons for Independence", "Revolutionary and Enlightenment Ideologies" and "War and Negotiation Processes". Each group will research the assigned topic in depth and create a 20-minute presentation that will narrate the history from the particular angle they were assigned to study. This may include a dramatization, a slide presentation, a handmade graphic representation or a combination of these elements.

Materials Needed

1. Computers with internet access
2. Books and articles on the American Revolution
3. Materials for creating presentations (e.g. paper, pencils, printer, presentation software, etc.)
4. Resources for dramatization (e.g. costumes, props, etc.), if necessary for the representation.

Detailed Step-by-Step to Carry Out the Activity

1. Students are divided into groups and each group is assigned an aspect of the American Revolution.
2. Each group conducts an in-depth research on the assigned aspect. This research should cover various sources, including books, academic articles, and documentaries. Students should take detailed notes during the research and select the most relevant information for their presentation.
3. The groups plan and prepare their presentation, which should last 20 minutes.
4. Each group presents their part of the history to the class, creating a complete overview of the American Revolution with all the presentations combined. After the completion of the practical activity, the groups must prepare a written document reporting on the work they carried out. The report should include the following topics:
5. Introduction: Contextualization of the theme, justification for the relevance and real application of the subject, and description of the objective of the project.
6. Development: Presentation of the theory that underpins the central theme, detailing the activities carried out, methodology used, and presentation and discussion of the results.
7. Conclusion: Resumption of the main points, explanation of the learning and conclusions drawn from the project.
8. Bibliography: Indication of the study sources (books, websites, videos, etc.). This written document should demonstrate the technical and socio-emotional skills acquired during the project, the students' understanding of the American Revolution process, and their skill in collaboration and teamwork.