Students learn how the Battle of Yorktown led to the British surrender and how the Treaty of Paris ended the American Revolution. They explore the battle’s turning point and the treaty’s role in securing American independence.
Students learn how the Battle of Yorktown led to the British surrender and how the Treaty of Paris ended the American Revolution. They explore the battle’s turning point and the treaty’s role in securing American independence.
Students are introduced to the final phase of the Revolutionary War, then closely examine a painting of the British surrender at Yorktown. Using a drawing tool, they circle details in the image and add brief explanations of what those details suggest about what is happening. They review the lesson objectives about Yorktown and the Treaty of Paris.
Teacher MovesPresent the lesson overview and objectives, emphasizing that students will analyze both the decisive battle and the peace agreement. Encourage students to share observations and questions about the painting without correcting misconceptions, highlighting thoughtful details they noticed and letting them know they will revisit the image later with more historical context.
Students read The Battle of Yorktown to understand why Yorktown was a turning point in the Revolutionary War. They then use a drawing tool to create a timeline that sequences key events from the battle. Afterward, they return to the surrender painting and write a caption explaining what is happening in the image, using details from the text and their timelines.
Teacher MovesGuide students in reviewing and comparing their Yorktown timelines, facilitating discussion about how the sequence of events made Yorktown the decisive battle of the war. Create a class timeline as students share. Then review student captions for the painting, clarifying that it depicts Cornwallis’s surrender at Yorktown, drawing attention to details such as the white flag, and prompting students to connect their wording to Yorktown’s role as the decisive battle.
Students view the painting “The Treaty of Paris” and watch Treaty of Paris 1783 to learn how peace between Britain and the United States was formally established. They complete a graphic organizer that explains what the Treaty of Paris of 1783 was and describes three key terms of the treaty.
Teacher MovesReview students’ graphic organizers to ensure they can clearly explain the treaty and its major terms. Ask who benefited most from each term and how these terms might have shaped Americans’ sense of themselves as an independent nation. Extend discussion by inviting students to consider British and Loyalist perspectives, including what happened to Loyalists and free African Americans who sided with Britain after the war.
Working in small groups, students consider the period after independence and examine an image related to the early United States. They discuss how the country and government function today, then use a graphic organizer labeled “First, Next, Then” to describe the decisions leaders of the newly independent United States would need to make and the steps required to build a functioning system of government.
Teacher MovesExplain that this scene is an optional extension focused on applying ideas about independence to nation-building. Encourage rich group discussion and brainstorming rather than searching for a single correct answer. When reviewing organizers, help students see that the end of the war marked the beginning of complex work to organize the new nation. Highlight repeated or similar steps, prompt students to think about logical order, and use student responses to emphasize that building a government and defining laws and rights is a multi-step process with ongoing challenges.
Students complete the exit quiz by answering all the questions.
Teacher MovesFacilitate the assessment and use student data to evaluate understanding, address misconceptions, and identify areas for growth.
©2026 Exploros. All rights reserved.