Title: The Puritans: Their Beliefs and Way of Life

Grade Level: 7th-8th

Objectives: - Students will be able to identify the key beliefs and practices of the Puritans. - Students will be able to explain the impact of Puritanism on American history and culture. - Students will be able to analyze primary sources related to Puritanism.

Materials: - Textbook or online resources on Puritanism - Primary sources such as Puritan sermons, diaries, and letters - Whiteboard and markers - Handouts with discussion questions and primary source analysis prompts

Procedure:

Introduction (10 minutes): 1. Begin by asking students what they know about the Puritans. Write their responses on the whiteboard. 2. Explain that the Puritans were a religious group that played a significant role in American history and culture. 3. Ask students to brainstorm why it is important to study the Puritans.

Body (40 minutes): 1. Provide a brief overview of Puritanism, including their beliefs about God, salvation, and the Bible. 2. Divide students into small groups and assign each group a primary source related to Puritanism. 3. In their groups, students should read and analyze the primary source, using the handout with discussion questions and analysis prompts. 4. After 20 minutes, bring the class back together and have each group share their analysis of the primary source. 5. Facilitate a class discussion on the key beliefs and practices of the Puritans, using the whiteboard to record important points.

Conclusion (10 minutes): 1. Ask students to reflect on what they have learned about the Puritans and why it is important to study them. 2. Provide a brief overview of the impact of Puritanism on American history and culture, including their influence on democracy, education, and literature. 3. Assign a short writing assignment in which students reflect on the significance of Puritanism in American history and culture.

Assessment: - Students will be assessed on their participation in the small group analysis of primary sources and the class discussion. - Students will also be assessed on their written reflection on the significance of Puritanism in American history and culture.