Today’s Walking Classroom podcast discusses the British writer and printer, Thomas Paine and his famous essay, “Common Sense”. The essay was published in 1776 and sold hundreds of thousands of copies in the American colonies. The main idea of “Common Sense” was that England should not rule the American colonies. The essay was widely credited with helping to build public support for the Declaration of Independence and the American Revolution.
Character Value: Acceptance
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Common Core
L–Language | SL–Speaking and Listening | RI–Reading: Informational | RL–Reading: Literature | W–Writing | RH–6-8 Literacy in History/Social Studies | RST–6-8 Literacy in Science & Technical Subjects Elementary School:RI.3.1, RI.3.2, SL.3.1, SL.3.4
RI.4.1, RI.4.2, SL.4.1, SL.4.4
RI.5.1, RI.5.2, SL.5.1, SL.5.4
Middle School:
RI.6.1, RI.6.2, SL.6.1, SL.6.4
RI.7.1, RI.7.2, RI.7.3, SL.7.1, SL.7.4
RI.8.1, RI.8.2, RI.8.3, SL.8.1, SL.8.4
RH.6-8.4
Supplemental Resource Links and Downloads
Quiz: (Make sure you're already logged into your Gmail account, then click to copy this Google form to your Google Drive. Quiz keys are here.)
Thomas Paine and “Common Sense” Google Quiz
Slide Deck:
Thomas Paine and “Common Sense” Slide Deck
Includes a brief outline of Thomas Paine and Common Sense.
Has everything students need to know about Common Sense and Thomas Paine’s call for American independence in 1776.
Go on a virtual tour of Independence Hall in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, where the Declaration of Independence was signed.
Fill in the blanks to complete a short passage about Thomas Paine in this online activity.
Read an excerpt from Common Sense and write a paragraph summarizing what the excerpt is saying in this activity from the National Endowment for the Humanities.
Identify terms relating to Thomas Paine and his essay, “Common Sense”.
See More Podcasts in Subject Area: Social Studies
See More Themed Groupings that Contain this Podcast: Biographies, Historical Figures, Revolutionary Figures, The Road to Revolution