Last updated: April 9, 2026
Lesson Plan
Fort Stanwix in the Campaign of 1777
During the Siege of 1777, the Continental Army made their own flag of red, white and blue to represent the new nation.
National Park Service/Ranger Dan U.
- Grade Level:
- Upper Elementary: Third Grade through Fifth Grade
- Subject:
- Social Studies
- Lesson Duration:
- 60 Minutes
- Common Core Standards:
- 5.RF.3.a, 5.RF.4, 5.RF.4.a, 5.RF.4.b, 5.RF.4.c, 6-8.RH.1, 6-8.RH.2, 6-8.RH.3, 6-8.RH.4, 6-8.RH.5, 6-8.RH.6, 6-8.RH.7, 6-8.RH.8, 6-8.RH.9, 6-8.RH.10, 4.RI.1, 4.RI.2, 4.RI.3, 4.RI.4, 4.RI.5, 4.RI.6, 4.RI.7, 4.RI.8, 4.RI.9, 4.RI.10, 5.RI.1, 5.RI.2, 5.RI.3, 5.RI.7, 5.RI.8, 5.RI.9, 5.RI.10, 7.RI.1, 7.RI.2, 7.RI.3, 7.RI.4, 7.RI.5, 7.RI.7, 7.RI.8, 7.RI.9, 7.RI.10, 8.RI.1, 8.RI.2, 8.RI.3, 8.RI.4, 8.RI.6, 8.RI.7, 8.RI.8, 8.RI.9, 4.RL.1, 5.RL.1
- State Standards:
- New York State Learning Standards: Social Studies
Standard 1 – History of the United States and New York
Key Idea 3 (Grades 4–8)
Standard 3 – Geography
Key Idea 1 - Additional Standards:
- New York State Learning Standards: The Arts
Grade 4: ELA-Literacy.RI.4.1, RI.4.7, SL.4.1 Grade 5: ELA-Literacy.RI.5.1, RI.5.7, SL.5.1 Grade 6: ELA-Literacy.RI.6.1, RI.6.7, SL.6.1 Grade 7–8: ELA-Literacy.RH.6-8.1, RH.6-8.7, SL.8.1 - Thinking Skills:
- Remembering: Recalling or recognizing information ideas, and principles. Understanding: Understand the main idea of material heard, viewed, or read. Interpret or summarize the ideas in own words. Analyzing: Break down a concept or idea into parts and show the relationships among the parts. Evaluating: Make informed judgements about the value of ideas or materials. Use standards and criteria to support opinions and views.
Essential Question
Why was Fort Stanwix an important site during the American Revolution, and how did it influence events beyond New York?
To understand the strategic importance of Fort Stanwix during the Revolution and identify how geography, alliances, and military strategy influenced historical outcomes.
Objective
At the end of this lesson, students will be able to:
1. Identify the location and purpose of Fort Stanwix during the American Revolution.
2. Explain why Fort Stanwix was strategically important to both British and Patriot forces.
3. Describe the role of alliances, including Native American nations, during the conflict.
4. Analyze how events at Fort Stanwix affected the broader outcome of the Revolutionary War.
Background
Why was Fort Stanwix an important site during the American Revolution, and how did it influence events beyond New York?
To understand the strategic importance of Fort Stanwix during the American Revolution and identify how geography, alliances, and military strategy influenced historical outcomes.
Prezi Lesson Plan Link:
https://prezi.com/view/mDWdPM6FOuvXczYQxqI5/?referral_token=NbQFYqlnB3FN
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
Prerequisites
Introduction to the American Revolution and British colonial history.
Materials
An in-class lesson plan for teachers to inform students about the strategic importance of Fort Stanwix and the Mohawk Valley during the British Campaign of 1777.
Download Fort Stanwix in the Campaign of 1777 Lesson Plan
Lesson Hook/Preview
Time: 5 – 10 minutes
As class begins, the teacher asks students why certain locations become important during wartime. Students share responses related to geography, transportation, and defense. The teacher introduces Fort Stanwix and explains that students will explore its importance during the American Revolution using a virtual museum lesson.
Procedure
Prezi Lesson Plan Link:
https://prezi.com/view/mDWdPM6FOuvXczYQxqI5/?referral_token=NbQFYqlnB3FN
Developent Time: 20 – 30 minutes
The teacher presents the Fort Stanwix Prezi, pausing at key points to guide discussion. Students examine the fort’s location, purpose, and role in the Revolutionary War. Guided questions encourage students to analyze geography, military strategy, and alliances highlighted throughout the presentation.
Closure Time: 5 minutes
The teacher presents the Fort Stanwix Prezi, pausing at key points to guide discussion. Students examine the fort’s location, purpose, and role in the Revolutionary War. Guided questions encourage students to analyze geography, military strategy, and alliances highlighted throughout the presentation.
Vocabulary
Fort – A military structure designed for defense.
Strategic Location – A place important for controlling movement or resources.
Alliance – A partnership formed for a specific purpose, often military.
Patriots – Colonists who supported independence from Great Britain.
Loyalists – Colonists who remained loyal to Great Britain.
Enrichment Activities
As an enrichment activity, students complete a Venn diagram graphic organizer comparing their own lives to the lives of people connected to Fort Stanwix during the American Revolution. Using information from the Prezi presentation, students reflect on similarities and differences between life today and life in the past.
Students will:
● Identify aspects of daily life during the Revolutionary War
● Compare those experiences to their own lives today
● Recognize how time period, environment, and historical events shape people’s lives.
This activity may be completed independently or in pairs and encourages students to make personal connections to historical content while deepening their understanding of Fort Stanwix’s historical context.