Meet the Founding Fathers

Curriculum Alignment

Subject: History
Key Stage: KS2
Year Group: Year 3
Curriculum Area: The study of a significant society or issue in world history and its impact on the wider world

Lesson Objectives

By the end of this session, students will be able to:

• Identify key figures known as the Founding Fathers of the United States.
• Describe the contributions of at least three Founding Fathers.
• Discuss the core ideas behind America’s founding in an age-appropriate manner.
• Develop critical thinking by considering how these leaders’ values shaped the nation’s early days.

Lesson Duration

60 minutes

Materials Needed

• Printed portraits of the Founding Fathers
• Flashcards with key facts
• A soft toy (or similar object) to use in group discussions
• Whiteboard and markers
• Colouring pencils and paper for an activity

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Lesson Structure

1. Starter Activity – Who Starts a Country? (10 minutes)

Objective: Activate prior knowledge and spark curiosity.

• Begin with a question: “What do you think a country needs in order to be created?”
• Allow the student to brainstorm ideas (e.g. laws, a leader, people living there).
• Introduce today’s topic by explaining that “Just like in stories where heroes form great adventures, a group of important people helped create the United States of America. We call them the Founding Fathers.”
• Briefly outline that they lived in the 1700s and had big ideas about freedom and laws.

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2. Meet the Founding Fathers (15 minutes)

Objective: Introduce key historical figures.

• Show printed portraits of George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, and Benjamin Franklin.
• For each, introduce:
  • Who they were
  • Their role in forming America
  • Something interesting (e.g. Did you know Benjamin Franklin loved inventing things?).
• Use storytelling to make their roles engaging. For example:
  • “Imagine you are Thomas Jefferson. You are writing something very important – a document that tells Britain the American colonies want their own country!”

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3. A Founding Father’s Bag (15 minutes)

Objective: Reinforce learning through an interactive guessing game.

• Prepare a ‘bag’ (or a small box) with symbolic objects that represent each Founding Father. Example items:
  • A toy sword ➝ Represents George Washington as a military leader
  • A ‘scroll’ of paper ➝ Represents Thomas Jefferson writing the Declaration of Independence
  • A pair of ‘glasses’ ➝ Represents Benjamin Franklin’s love for inventions and learning
• The student pulls an item from the bag and guesses which Founding Father it might relate to.
• Discussion: Why do you think this object was important to this person?

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4. What Would They Say? Group Discussion (10 minutes)

Objective: Encourage critical thinking by imagining the Founding Fathers’ perspectives.

• Introduce key ideas from the Founding Fathers using simple language:
  • Fairness (all people should have rights)
  • Freedom (people should choose how to live)
  • Leadership (good leaders should listen and help people)
• Pass a soft toy around (if applicable, or use the student’s own hand) and let the student pretend to be a Founding Father. Ask questions like:
  • “If you were George Washington, what would you tell people about being a good leader?”
  • “Thomas Jefferson, what do you think about writing important documents?”
• Encourage creativity while reinforcing historical facts.

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5. Creative Task – My Own Declaration (10 minutes)

Objective: Personal engagement by allowing the student to express their own ‘big idea.’

• Ask: “If you were creating a new country, what rules or ideas would you write down?”
• The student writes or draws their own ‘mini declaration’ stating what they think is important in a fair country (e.g. “Everyone should be kind to each other”).
• Share and discuss their declaration briefly.

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Plenary – Quick Recap (5 minutes)

Objective: Reinforce the lesson’s key themes in a memorable way.

• Ask:
  • “Can you name one of the Founding Fathers we talked about today?”
  • “What big idea did they have?”
  • “What did you write in your mini declaration?”
• End on a reflective note: “The Founding Fathers had ideas that helped create a new country. Do you think ideas today can still change the world?”

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Assessment & Differentiation

Assessment Options:

• Informal questioning throughout the lesson
• Observing engagement in the guessing game
• Reviewing the student’s ‘mini declaration’

Differentiation:

• For more support: Use simpler language, provide additional visual aids, and give sentence starters for discussion.
• For more challenge: Introduce an additional Founding Father (e.g. John Adams) and encourage deeper discussion about leadership and fairness.

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Reflection for Next Lesson

• Did the student recall key facts about at least two Founding Fathers?
• Were they able to express their own ideas about leadership and fairness?
• Did they engage with the storytelling and activity elements?

Next lesson: Understanding the American Revolution and why the colonies wanted independence.

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This plan ensures the lesson is interactive, engaging, and tailored to a UK-based Year 3 student while meeting historical curriculum standards. It blends history with creative thinking in an age-appropriate way. The teacher will be equipped to deliver a lesson that is both educational and exciting! 🌟