Last updated: April 9, 2026
Lesson Plan
A Different Kind of Childhood: Life during the American Revolution
When following the Continental Army, children were expected to help take care of their families and neigbors.
National Park Service/Dan U.
- Grade Level:
- Upper Elementary: Third Grade through Fifth Grade
- Subject:
- Literacy and Language Arts,Social Studies
- Lesson Duration:
- 30 Minutes
- Common Core Standards:
- 4.RI.1, 4.RI.5, 4.RI.6, 4.RI.7, 5.RI.3, 5.RI.5, 5.RI.6, 5.RI.7, 4.RL.5, 4.RL.6, 4.RL.7, 5.RL.3, 5.RL.5, 5.RL.6, 5.RL.7, 4.W.3, 4.W.3.a, 4.W.3.b, 4.W.3.c, 4.W.3.d, 4.W.3.e, 4.W.5, 5.W.1, 5.W.1.a, 5.W.1.b, 5.W.1.c, 5.W.1.d, 5.W.10
Essential Question
How is your life different from kids during the Revolutionary War? What do you think could be the same? Different?
Objective
Students will engage with this display and discuss similarities and differences they notice about children during this time period. Teachers will guide students to compare and contrast their lives with modern day lives and the life of a Revolutionary War child. Students will practice their compare and contrast skills to find out.
Background
Students will engage with this display and discuss similarities and differences they notice about children during this time period. Teachers will guide students to compare and contrast their lives with modern day lives and the life of a Revolutionary War child. Students will have a large worksheet with a triple Venn Diagram that will have information printed into it (to save kids taking too many notes) and then blank parts for modern life and their life to add. Students will work in groups or partners to reflect and discuss their lives and compare and contrast. Teachers will discuss findings and then students can use this document and their Social Studies curriculum to create an essay (optional extension).
This project was funded by America’s National Parks™, an official non-profit retail partner of the National Park Service.
A special thank you to our 2025 teacher interns: Teale, Alexandra, and Lauryn for their dilligence in creating these materials!
Preparation
Display Google slide with an image of Fort Stanwix National Monument or of Prezi about the Campaign of 1777 found here: https://prezi.com/view/mDWdPM6FOuvXczYQxqI5/?referral_token=NbQFYqlnB3FN
Materials
Lesson plans on what life was life for a child during the American Revolutionary War.
An in-class worksheet to use in conjunction with lesson plan. Used to facilitate a compare/contrast exercise for the students.
Download Compare/Contrast Sheet
Lesson Hook/Preview
How is your life different from kids during the Revolutionary War? What do you think could be the same? Different? Let’s find out!
Procedure
- Talk about different aspects of life during the Revolutionary War, adding ideas from classroom knowledge and curriculum.
- Discuss modern times, compare and contrast.
- Give students 5 minutes to reflect and add to the section about their own lives.
- Break into groups and have students complete the overlapping sections of the circle.
- Come back together as a class and share what they have learned.
- If time or interest allows, this activity can be expanded into a compare/contrast essay
- Display posters.
Assessment Materials
Quick write answering this question as a paragraph that is collected and graded or an essay.
Enrichment Activities
- Interview older family and friends and present information.
- Book a Virtual or In-class Ranger visit for your class and have a park ranger in period clothing present the information.
Additional Resources
"A Day in th Life: A Virtual Student Tour of Fort Stanwix"
Virtual Tours of Fort Stanwix