American Revolution Newscast

By Platform Administrator · Submitted Sep 30, 2026

Content Area: History and Social Science
Grade: 5

News happens fast especially with 24 hour news shows which report on anything and everything! Students research and report on one of the topics or battles of the American Revolution through creating a 2-4 minute video newscast. Two reporters (supported by researchers, scriptwriters, prop and costume organizers, and a director) pick a side (loyalist/British or Patriot/American), and report on the news as if they were a reporter in the 18th century.

MA Standards

HSS.5.T2.05

Describe the impact of events as the Revolutionary War continued; locate the sites of events on a map, and explain the factors leading to American victory and British defeat. a. The Battles of Trenton in New Jersey (1776) and Saratoga in New York (1777) b. The winter encampment of the Continental Army at Valley Forge in Delaware (1777-1778) c. The battle of Yorktown in Virginia (1781)

HSS.5.T2.06

Explain that many Americans remained loyal to the British Crown or remained neutral in the conflict and that Native Peoples and free and enslaved Africans fought on both sides in the Revolution.

RI.5.6

Analyze multiple accounts of the same event or topic, noting important similarities and differences in the point of view they represent.

SL.5.4

Report on a topic, text, procedure, or solution to a mathematical problem or present an opinion, sequencing ideas logically and using appropriate facts and relevant, descriptive details to support main ideas or themes; speak clearly at an understandable pace and use appropriate vocabulary. (See grade 5 Language Standards 4-6 for specific expectations regarding vocabulary.)

W.5.7

Conduct short research projects that use several sources to build knowledge through investigation of different aspects of a topic.

Resources

Task Template (PDF) PDF · 154 KB
Task Template (Word) DOCX · 1.59 MB
Student Directions DOCX · 987 KB
Rubric DOCX · 1.54 MB
Teacher Directions DOCX · 24.1 KB
Student Research Guide DOCX · 26.6 KB

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