This page offers a set of learning sequences aligned with Florida’s Grade 5 Civics and Government standards, covering topics from the Declaration of Independence to the U.S. Constitution and early American government. Each Chat includes detailed resources for deepening your content knowledge of the American founding, a lesson plan with instructional strategies and expert help for bringing this content to life in your classroom, and next steps for classroom application and reflection. Let's dive in!

Chat 1: Declaration of Independence—Identifying the Grievances

Chat 1 is aligned to Florida's Grade 5 Civics Literacy Standard SS.5.CG.1.1, Clarification 1: Students will identify the grievances detailed in the Declaration of Independence. This learning sequence is designed to strengthen your understanding of this clarification and support effective reading and civics instruction.

 Step 1: Deepen your knowledge

Deepen your foundational understanding of the grievances outlined in the Declaration of Independence using the resources below.

  • Read the full Declaration of Independence Transcript
  • Watch the video: Grievances Against the King (National Constitution Center)
    • The script for this video from the National Constitution Center was written by Dr. Rosemarie Zagarri, Distinguished University Professor at George Mason University. She explains that although the Declaration of Independence’s list of 27 grievances is often overlooked today, it was arguably the most critical part of the Declaration of Independence in 1776. 
  • Read the annotated Declaration of Independence grievance sections (National Constitution Center)

 Step 2: Review the lesson plan

Review the lesson plan for this clarification that is also aligned to the four recommendations in the Improving Adolescent Literacy: Effective Classroom and Intervention Practices practice guide (Kamil et al., 2008).

 Step 3: Watch the introduction video and the Chat 1 video

Dr. Laurie Lee and Dr. Kevin Smith from the Florida Center for Reading Research provide a video introduction to FIREWORKS250 and a video outlining strategies for teaching this lesson in your classroom.

  • FIREWORKS250 Introduction video
    • Download the PowerPoint slides here to follow along.

  • FIREWORKS250 Chat 1 video 
    • Download the PowerPoint slides here to follow along.

 Step 4: Apply your knowledge and provide feedback

  • Try the lesson in your classroom.
  • Let us know how your lesson went by sending an email to fireworks250@fcrr.org

 

Chat 2: Declaration of Independence—Describing the Idea of Unalienable Rights

Chat 2 is aligned to Florida's Grade 5 Civics Literacy Standard SS.5.CG.1.1, Clarification 2: Students will describe the idea of “unalienable rights” in the Declaration of Independence as it relates to each citizen. This learning sequence is designed to strengthen your understanding of this clarification and support effective reading and civics instruction.

 Step 1: Deepen your knowledge

Deepen your foundational understanding of the idea of unalienable rights in the Declaration of Independence and how they apply to each citizen using the resources below.

 Step 2: Review the lesson plan

Review the lesson plan for this clarification that is also aligned to the four recommendations in the Improving Adolescent Literacy: Effective Classroom and Intervention Practices practice guide (Kamil et al., 2008).

 Step 3: Watch the Chat 2 video

Dr. Laurie Lee and Dr. Kevin Smith from the Florida Center for Reading Research provide a video outlining strategies for teaching this lesson in your classroom.

  • FIREWORKS250 Chat 2 video
    • Download the PowerPoint slides here to follow along.

 Step 4: Apply your knowledge and provide feedback

  • Try the lesson in your classroom.
  • Let us know how your lesson went by sending an email to fireworks250@fcrr.org

 

Chat 3: Declaration of Independence—Discussing the Consequences of Governments Not Recognizing Unalienable Rights

Coming February 23, 2026

Chat 4: U.S. Constitution—Identifying the Strengths and Weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation 

Coming March 16, 2026

Chat 5: U.S. Constitution—Explaining the Goals of the 1787 Constitution Convention

Coming April 6, 2026

Chat 6: U.S. Constitution—Identifying and Describing Why Compromises Were Made 

Coming April 27, 2026

Chat 7: U.S. Constitution—Identifying the Federalist and Anti-Federalist Arguments 

Coming May 18, 2026

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Partner: Institute for Governance and Civics | Funding Agency: U.S. Department of Education