- The students will be able to explain what happened at the Boston Tea Party.
- The students will be able to explain the significance of the Boston Tea Party in relation to the Revolutionary War.
- The students will be able to explain how the participants in the Boston Tea Party felt.
- The students will be able to explain the meaning of “taxation without representation”.
- Have the students read the section in the textbook that includes discussion of the Boston Tea Party and “taxation without representation”.
- Textbook
- Construction paper
- Markers of various colors
- Before class, take a trustworthy student aside and tell him/her that when you give a signal, he/she is to get up and toss the paper and markers you have on your desk out the window. If the window is not a good idea in your particular building, you can use the trashcan instead.
- Begin class by telling the students that today they are going to represent the Boston Tea Party artistically.
- Tell the students they will need a piece of construction paper and as many markers as they need in order to complete the assignment.
- Continue by explaining that you bought the paper and markers yourself, so you need to charge money for the materials. It will be $.50 for a piece of paper and $.25 for every marker. This should cause quite a stir in the class.
- Wait a little while for the students to get really mad that you are charging them to do their schoolwork properly.
- Give the prearranged signal to the student.
- Settle the class down by telling them that this was all arranged.
- Begin a class discussion using the questions listed below.
- How did you feel when I told you I was going to “tax” you for the supplies?
- Did anyone consider refusing to pay for the supplies?
- How did you feel when you saw (insert name of student) throw the supplies out the window?
- If (insert name of student) had asked you, would you have helped participate? Why or why not?
- If you would have refused to help (insert name of student), would you tell me (the teacher) of the plan?
- Did you feel that throwing the supplies out the window was wrong?
- Is it OK to do something that you believe is wrong if it is in response to something you feel is worse?
- How was this event similar to the events of the Boston Tea Party? How was it different?
- How do you feel about the king taxing the people of the colonies without giving them any representation in the government?
- Do you think the participants of the Boston Tea Party were justified in committing this act?
For a lesson such as this, an essay would work the best to assess what the students gained from this lesson. Below are several ideas:
- Assign an essay describing the feelings that the participants of the Boston Tea Party had in regards to the taxation by the king without giving them proper representation.
- Assign an essay describing the events that happened earlier in the class. Have them tell how this event gave them a deeper understanding of the Boston Tea Party.
- Assign an essay describing a solution other than throwing the supplies out the window. Could a similar solution be found to solve the problems that led to the Boston Tea Party?