American Revolution Discussion Prompts and Pause Points

Before the Movie

What do you know about the American Revolution? (Tap prior knowledge)

What do you want to know about the American Revolution?  (Set goals)

During the Movie (Pause Points)

Stop at the following times in the movie and ask questions or prompt a discussion to keep students focused and to assess their understanding before moving on:

Timecode 1:40: What effect did the Battle of Lexington have on the Concord Militia? (Identify cause/effect)

Timecode 3:28: Why wasn’t there much support for the Continental Army earlier in the war, and why did it change? (Explain)

Timecode 5:19: How would fighting on home terrain help the Americans with guerilla warfare? (Identify cause/effect) 

After the Movie

Look at the four related movies below the movie player at the bottom of the topic page. Explain how each is connected to the American Revolution. (Make connections) 

How would you compare George Washington’s contributions to the war to Benjamin Franklin’s? (Apply new knowledge)  

BrainPOP recommends reading  the movie description that appears on the American Revolution Topic Page to your class. Then show the movie once through without pausing. Watch it again, this time using the discussion prompts.

*BrainPOP’s Discussion Questions and Prompts align to CCSS Speaking and Listening Standards.