Grade: 7
Student Needs: Dyslexic, bilingual, visually impaired
Lesson Topic: Life in the 13 Colonies
Lesson Objectives:
• Students will describe the daily life, economy, and geography of the 13 Colonies.
• Students will compare how different groups (colonists, enslaved people, Native Americans) experienced colonial society.
• Students will engage with multi-sensory activities to support learning.
Instructional Strategies for Accessibility:
• Dyslexia Support: Use audio materials, simplified texts, and visual organizers.
• Bilingual Support: Provide key vocabulary in both languages. Use discussion-based activities.
• Visual Impairment Support: Use tactile materials, large-print resources, and audio descriptions.
Lesson Structure:
1. Warm-Up Activity (10 minutes) – Tactile Colonial Map
• Provide a raised-relief map or 3D-printed map of the 13 Colonies.
• Guide students in feeling the different colonial regions while listening to an audio description of their characteristics.
• Discuss the differences between New England, Middle, and Southern Colonies.
2. Key Vocabulary & Concepts (15 minutes)
• Introduce key terms using audio recordings and tactile flashcards with raised letters.
• Examples: colony, plantation, artisan, apprentice, trade, agriculture
• Use sentence frames to help bilingual learners:
• “In the Southern Colonies, people grew ___.”
• “A tradesman is someone who ___.”
3. Multi-Sensory Exploration (20 minutes) – Colonial Life Simulation
• Dyslexia Support: Instead of long readings, use audio storytelling about a colonial child’s daily life.
• Tactile & Hands-On: Provide objects like cotton, leather, wooden tools, or dried crops to represent different occupations and resources in the colonies.
• Role-Playing Activity:
• Students take on roles (farmer, blacksmith, merchant, enslaved person, Native American).
• Use guided questions to help them describe their life and challenges.
4. Writing & Reflection (15 minutes) – Adaptive Writing Support
• Use speech-to-text software or large-lined paper for written responses.
• Alternative: Students can record their responses in an audio format.
• Prompt:
• “Which colony would you have wanted to live in and why?”
• “How was life different for different groups in the colonies?”
Assessment & Differentiation:
• Formative: Participation in discussions, role-play, and map activity.
• Summative: A short recorded reflection, tactile diagram, or oral presentation instead of a written quiz.