Engage your students in a dynamic, interactive lesson on one of the most important debates in U.S. history: the Great Compromise. This ready-to-use Google Slides presentation is perfect for teaching the key differences between the Virginia Plan and the New Jersey Plan and how the final compromise shaped the structure of Congress.
The lesson is designed to spark student discussion, movement, and critical thinking—and can be taught in just 20–25 minutes, making it ideal for both full-class lessons and sub plans.
What’s Included:
Google Slides presentation (view-only format)
Canva Pro editable link included at the end for full customization
Covers:
Articles of Confederation weaknesses
Key features of the Virginia & New Jersey Plans
Pros and cons of both plans
The Great Compromise (Connecticut Plan)
Discussion & reflection questions
Exit ticket prompt
How to Use:
Introduce the Topic: Project the first few slides to walk students through the background of the Constitutional Convention and the Articles of Confederation.
Teach the Plans: Use the clear visuals and breakdowns of the Virginia and New Jersey Plans to guide instruction.
Think-Pair-Share Prompts: Use built-in discussion questions to get students talking, debating, and forming opinions in small groups.
Class Movement Activity: Have students physically move to a side of the room representing the plan they support (Virginia vs. New Jersey), then discuss their reasoning.
Wrap Up: Teach the Great Compromise and guide students through the final reflection/exit ticket.
Format:
Google Slides Presentation (students make their own copy)
Canva Pro Editable Template link (for teachers who wish to customize)
Why You’ll Love It:
No prep needed—just open, project, and teach
Promotes engagement, discussion, and critical thinking
Includes movement-based activity for kinesthetic learners
Editable for teachers who want to tweak or brand the lesson
Terms of Use:
This resource is for personal or single-classroom use only. You may not share, upload, or resell the presentation or Canva template. Please direct colleagues to this listing to obtain their own copy.
Engage your students in a dynamic, interactive lesson on one of the most important debates in U.S. history: the Great Compromise. This ready-to-use Google Slides presentation is perfect for teaching the key differences between the Virginia Plan and the New Jersey Plan and how the final compromise shaped the structure of Congress.
The lesson is designed to spark student discussion, movement, and critical thinking—and can be taught in just 20–25 minutes, making it ideal for both full-class lessons and sub plans.
What’s Included:
Google Slides presentation (view-only format)
Canva Pro editable link included at the end for full customization
Covers:
Articles of Confederation weaknesses
Key features of the Virginia & New Jersey Plans
Pros and cons of both plans
The Great Compromise (Connecticut Plan)
Discussion & reflection questions
Exit ticket prompt
How to Use:
Introduce the Topic: Project the first few slides to walk students through the background of the Constitutional Convention and the Articles of Confederation.
Teach the Plans: Use the clear visuals and breakdowns of the Virginia and New Jersey Plans to guide instruction.
Think-Pair-Share Prompts: Use built-in discussion questions to get students talking, debating, and forming opinions in small groups.
Class Movement Activity: Have students physically move to a side of the room representing the plan they support (Virginia vs. New Jersey), then discuss their reasoning.
Wrap Up: Teach the Great Compromise and guide students through the final reflection/exit ticket.
Format:
Google Slides Presentation (students make their own copy)
Canva Pro Editable Template link (for teachers who wish to customize)
Why You’ll Love It:
No prep needed—just open, project, and teach
Promotes engagement, discussion, and critical thinking
Includes movement-based activity for kinesthetic learners
Editable for teachers who want to tweak or brand the lesson
Terms of Use:
This resource is for personal or single-classroom use only. You may not share, upload, or resell the presentation or Canva template. Please direct colleagues to this listing to obtain their own copy.
