Colonists Protest Taxes

 Colonists Protest Taxes

        Today I linked up with Forever in 5th Grade for SHOW and TELL Tuesday.  Head on over to the link.
www.foreverinfifthgrade.blogspot.com 

          Leading up to the Boston Tea Party and the American Revolution, my students learned why the colonists protested the taxes levied by the British Parliament. We read about and discussed the Quartering Act. Stamp Act, the Townshend Acts, and the Tea Act. I needed a hands on activity to help my students understand the frustration that the colonists felt during these years.

             A colonists holding a protest sign! Yes, that's the ticket!   I drew two figures, one man and one woman, two represent the Sons and Daughters of Liberty. 

             You might ask, "Why are these people headless?"  There is a very lightly drawn outline of a head which may be difficult to see.  I wanted my students to have the chance to draw their own head, hair, and possibly a hat on the colonist.

             The students know what the type of clothing the colonists wore because they will be coming to school in colonial outfits for their Boston Tea Party SKYPE.  So the kids got right to work designing colonial clothing and tax protest signs.

       I like how this woman looks like she is taking or shouting her views on taxation.

                               I love the expressions on the faces of these protesters.

             I was very pleased with the work these awesome 5th graders accomplished and their understanding of the colonists frustration about taxation. 

         At the end of school 2nd graders were waiting in line to get on the bus. They were reading all the protest signs.  I asked if they knew what it meant. Of course they said, "No."  Their teacher and I proceeded to ask the children how they would feel if they had to pay five cents every time they wanted to play four square.  As you can imagine, these second graders said they would not like that. We continued to tell them that the colonists did not want to pay extra money for tea, stamps, or sugar. We got the point across in our mini lesson in the hallway minutes before the end of school. 

  I guess learning does  take place when you least expect it.
 
         Hopefully some other 5th grade class can use this idea as part of a Social Studies lesson on Taxation without Representation. 

        Please leave a comment, I'd love to read your note.

      Looking forward to Spring! 

 Beti