Activity Overview
Because the French and Indian war took place over large swaths of territory, there are several important forts, people, and other locations that students will encounter when studying this event. In order to help mitigate confusion and allow students to better understand each aspect, students can use a spider map to illustrate each person, location, or event.
In this activity, students will choose one of the major figures, battles, or terms of the French and Indian War to research. Following their research, students will create a spider map that reflects the description of the term chosen and the significance of it on the French and Indian War. Have students ask meaningful questions to show the term's importance.
French and Indian War Key Terms
- Militia
- Iroquois Nation
- George Washington
- St. Lawrence River
- Forks of the Ohio River Valley
- Fort Duquesne
- Edward Braddock
- James Wolfe
- Treaty of Paris
- William Pitt
- Fort Necessity
- Proclamation of 1763
Students may also benefit by creating a spider map that contains more than one term, person, or location. As an alternative to this assignment, students can identify and describe each thing in one cell. Alongside the illustration they create, the completed spider map will provide a quick reference for students to look back on.
Template and Class Instructions
(These instructions are completely customizable. After clicking "Copy Activity", update the instructions on the Edit Tab of the assignment.)
Student Instructions
Create a storyboard that describes a key battle, figure, location, or term from the French and Indian War and it's significance to the war.
- Click "Start Assignment".
- Label the center box with the term/location/person/battle you selected.
- Label each title box with questions that ask what the term is, why is it important, and what was its role in the war.
- In the descriptions, answer the questions you posed.
- Create an illustration for each cell using appropriate scenes, characters, items, or maps.
Lesson Plan Reference
Rubric
(You can also create your own on Quick Rubric.)
| Proficient | Emerging | Beginning | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Definition | The definition is correct. | The definition is partially correct. | The definition is incorrect. |
| Visualizations | The storyboard cells clearly illustrate the meaning of the vocabulary words. | The storyboard cells relate to the meaning of the vocabulary words, but are difficult to understand. | The storyboard cells do not clearly relate to the meaning of the vocabulary words. |
Activity Overview
Because the French and Indian war took place over large swaths of territory, there are several important forts, people, and other locations that students will encounter when studying this event. In order to help mitigate confusion and allow students to better understand each aspect, students can use a spider map to illustrate each person, location, or event.
In this activity, students will choose one of the major figures, battles, or terms of the French and Indian War to research. Following their research, students will create a spider map that reflects the description of the term chosen and the significance of it on the French and Indian War. Have students ask meaningful questions to show the term's importance.
French and Indian War Key Terms
- Militia
- Iroquois Nation
- George Washington
- St. Lawrence River
- Forks of the Ohio River Valley
- Fort Duquesne
- Edward Braddock
- James Wolfe
- Treaty of Paris
- William Pitt
- Fort Necessity
- Proclamation of 1763
Students may also benefit by creating a spider map that contains more than one term, person, or location. As an alternative to this assignment, students can identify and describe each thing in one cell. Alongside the illustration they create, the completed spider map will provide a quick reference for students to look back on.
Template and Class Instructions
(These instructions are completely customizable. After clicking "Copy Activity", update the instructions on the Edit Tab of the assignment.)
Student Instructions
Create a storyboard that describes a key battle, figure, location, or term from the French and Indian War and it's significance to the war.
- Click "Start Assignment".
- Label the center box with the term/location/person/battle you selected.
- Label each title box with questions that ask what the term is, why is it important, and what was its role in the war.
- In the descriptions, answer the questions you posed.
- Create an illustration for each cell using appropriate scenes, characters, items, or maps.
Lesson Plan Reference
Rubric
(You can also create your own on Quick Rubric.)
| Proficient | Emerging | Beginning | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Definition | The definition is correct. | The definition is partially correct. | The definition is incorrect. |
| Visualizations | The storyboard cells clearly illustrate the meaning of the vocabulary words. | The storyboard cells relate to the meaning of the vocabulary words, but are difficult to understand. | The storyboard cells do not clearly relate to the meaning of the vocabulary words. |
How Tos about Key Terms for the French and Indian War
Organize a collaborative class timeline of the French and Indian War
Engage students by having them work together to build a visual timeline of key events and terms from the French and Indian War. This helps reinforce chronological understanding and makes learning interactive for everyone.
Assign each student or pair a specific event, person, or location
Give each student or pair a unique topic to research and present. This ensures full coverage of important terms while allowing students to become ‘experts’ on their assigned subject.
Guide students to create timeline entries with key facts and illustrations
Ask students to prepare a short summary and a simple drawing for their event or person. Visuals and concise writing make the timeline engaging and easy to reference later.
Combine entries in chronological order on a classroom wall or digital board
Arrange all the student-created entries in date order, physically or digitally. This gives students a clear, big-picture view of how the war unfolded.
Facilitate a class discussion using the timeline as a review tool
Use the collaborative timeline to review key concepts and ask guiding questions about cause and effect or the significance of each event. This encourages deeper thinking and recall.
Frequently Asked Questions about Key Terms for the French and Indian War
What are the key terms students should know about the French and Indian War?
Key terms for the French and Indian War include militia, Iroquois Nation, George Washington, St. Lawrence River, Forks of the Ohio River Valley, Fort Duquesne, Edward Braddock, James Wolfe, Treaty of Paris, William Pitt, Fort Necessity, and the Proclamation of 1763. Knowing these helps students understand major people, places, and events from the war.
How can students use a spider map to learn about the French and Indian War?
Students can create a spider map by choosing a key figure, battle, or term related to the French and Indian War, placing it in the center, and branching out with questions and answers about its significance, role, and impact. Visuals and descriptions help deepen understanding.
What is a good classroom activity for teaching French and Indian War vocabulary?
A strong classroom activity is to have students research a key term from the French and Indian War and create a visual vocabulary board (like a spider map) with questions and answers that explain its meaning and importance, plus illustrations for each aspect.
Why is it important for students to understand the significance of people and places in the French and Indian War?
Understanding the significance of people and places helps students see how different figures, battles, and locations shaped the outcome of the French and Indian War and influenced American history.
What is the difference between using a spider map and a standard worksheet for vocabulary?
A spider map encourages visual learning and deeper connections by allowing students to organize information around a central idea, while standard worksheets usually focus on definitions and memorization without as much emphasis on relationships and context.
More Storyboard That Activities
French and Indian War
Testimonials
“By using the product, they were so excited and they learned so much...”–K-5 Librarian and Instructinal Technology Teacher
“I'm doing a Napoleon timeline and I'm having [students] determine whether or not Napoleon was a good guy or a bad guy or somewhere in between.”–History and Special Ed Teacher
“Students get to be creative with Storyboard That and there's so many visuals for them to pick from... It makes it really accessible for all students in the class.”–Third Grade Teacher
© 2025 - Clever Prototypes, LLC - All rights reserved.
StoryboardThat is a trademark of Clever Prototypes, LLC, and Registered in U.S. Patent and Trademark Office
