Description:
Engage your students with this interactive history lesson on the Sons of Liberty. Were they freedom fighters or terrorists? In this critical thinking activity, students examine historical evidence, identify author perspectives, and use the Claim–Evidence–Reasoning (CER) framework to build and defend their arguments. Perfect for middle school and high school U.S. History, this lesson blends primary source analysis, historical perspective-taking, and argumentative writing.

What’s Included:
History Cat article: Sons of Liberty for classroom reading.
Scratch Pad worksheet: Guiding questions and activities to analyze evidence.
DBQ Writing Activity: “Sons of Liberty—Freedom Fighters or Terrorists?” CER-based essay.
Detailed teacher guide: Step-by-step instructions for implementation.
Answer keys: Complete solutions for all student activities.
 
Grade Level: 7–12
Duration: 1–2 class periods (50 minutes each)
Bloom’s Taxonomy Levels: Understand, Compare, Analyze, Evaluate
Skills Developed:
Analyzing primary and secondary sources for bias and perspective.
Strengthening argumentative writing with Claim–Evidence–Reasoning (CER).
Evaluating multiple viewpoints in U.S. History.
Critical thinking about protest, rebellion, and civic ideals.
 
Perfect For:
U.S. History teachers looking for engaging lessons on the American Revolution, interactive activities for historical perspective, and resources that promote evidence-based writing in middle school and high school classrooms.