Yorktown and the Treaty of Paris U.S. History Mini Reader Lesson for Grade 5-8

This U.S. History Reading Resource “Mini Reader” is based on Yorktown and the Treaty of Paris (1781–1783) and tells the story of how American and French cooperation brought the Revolutionary War to a dramatic close. Students follow General George Washington’s bold march south, Admiral de Grasse’s powerful naval blockade, and the final siege that forced General Cornwallis to surrender at Yorktown.

The narrative also explores how the victory sparked negotiations that led to the Treaty of Paris, officially recognizing American independence and setting the boundaries for the new nation. Through the eyes of recurring observers Abigail and Benjamin, readers experience the exhaustion of war, the hope of peace, and Washington’s humble farewell to his army.

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This resource is meant for grades 5-8 students and should take about ~20 minutes to read depending on your classroom's level. An extra ~25 minutes for prep, discussion, vocabulary or short answer comprehension questions should also be planned.

The Mini Reader is structured to create an engaging narrative, styled like a mini-novel with a strong plot and vivid details to draw students in. These sections encourage chunking and helps students build mental models and schema of the historical topic, making complex events easier to understand. Introduction (setting the scene and hook)

• Rising Action (building events and tensions)
• Deeper Insights (explaining key concepts and motivations)
• Climax (peak event with suspense)
• Falling Action (consequences and reactions)
• Resolution and Reflection (tying to significance with thought-provoking questions).

This product includes a zip file consisting of:

Mini Reader Text ~1900 words (PDF, DOCX, Google Docs)

• Print Version (4 pages including 8 short answer questions)
• Digital Version (4 pages, text only, use slides worksheet)

Student Worksheet (PPT, Google Slides, PDF print)

• 5 Vocabulary Words
• 4 Short Answer Recall/Comprehension
• 4 Higher Order Application Questions

Teacher’s Guide & Answer Key (PDF, DOCX, Google Docs)

• Themes & Discussion Question Prompts
• Standards Alignment Guide
• Answer Keys for Vocab & Short Answer Questions

Multiple Choice Exit Quiz (Google Forms)

• 20 Multiple Choice Questions (Self-Grading)

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