5 Awesome Patriots vs. Loyalists Activities for Your Classroom
Hey history teachers!
Are you getting ready to dive into the American Revolution? When we get to the Patriots vs. Loyalists unit, it’s our chance to make history truly come alive. This isn’t just about a list of names and dates; it’s about helping our students understand a time of incredible division, where neighbors and even families were forced to choose a side.
Here are five of my absolute favorite, tried-and-true activities to help your students go beyond the textbook and into the mindset of a colonist facing an impossible choice!
1. “Who Said It?” Fun Activity Packet
We all know students learn best by doing. Instead of just lecturing, let’s get them to think critically about the different perspectives! That’s where this activity comes in. This resource, Patriots vs. Loyalists- Who Said it? Fun American Revolution Activity Packet, gives students short, real-life scenarios and asks them to decide if the person speaking is a Patriot or a Loyalist.
It’s a fantastic way to start the unit, use as a bell-ringer, or even as a pre-assessment to see what they already know. It gets students talking and analyzing historical documents without even realizing it. You can find this awesome resource and download it for your own classroom right here: Patriots vs. Loyalists- Who Said it? Fun American Revolution Activity Packet.
2. The Living Newspaper
This is a fun, project-based learning idea that can take a few class periods. Divide your students into small groups. One group becomes the “Patriot Press” and the other, the “Loyalist Gazette.” Their job is to create a front-page newspaper from their side’s perspective.
They’ll need to create headlines, write articles about key events (like the Boston Tea Party or the Intolerable Acts), and even design political cartoons. This activity helps students understand that media can be biased and that both sides used propaganda to sway public opinion.
3. Primary Source Gallery Walk
Get your students moving with a gallery walk! Print out and display a variety of primary sources around your classroom. Use things like famous quotes, excerpts from political pamphlets, letters from colonists, or even political cartoons from the era.
As students walk around, they can analyze each source and determine whether it was written by a Patriot or a Loyalist. They can use a simple worksheet to record their thoughts and the clues they used to make their decision. It’s a great way to introduce them to historical documents in a low-stress way.
4. The “Dear Diary” Creative Writing Assignment
This is a great creative writing activity to build empathy. After students have a solid understanding of the two perspectives, have them choose a side and write a series of diary entries from the viewpoint of a fictional colonist.
Challenge them to include details about their daily life and how a key event (like the Boston Massacre) would have affected them and their family. For a bonus challenge, have them start their diary as a “neutral” colonist who must then make a difficult choice!
5. Mock Town Hall Debate
This is the ultimate engaging history lesson! Set up your classroom like a town hall meeting. Assign students roles like a Patriot farmer, a Loyalist merchant, a neutral tavern owner, and a royal governor’s official. Give them talking points and motivations for their character.
Facilitate a formal debate where they must argue for their side’s position on a variety of topics, from taxes to a potential war. This kind of role-playing is an unforgettable way for students to internalize the different viewpoints and practice their public speaking skills.
Happy teaching, and I hope these ideas make your Patriots vs. Loyalists unit the best one yet!
