Skype Field Trip- Boston Tea Party

 Boston Tea Party

           As part of the 5th grade curriculum we study the events that lead up to the American Revolution.  We wanted to take our classes to Boston for the day.  The Boston Tea Party Ships and Museum was the perfect place to go.  Of course living in Michigan, the cost would be prohibitive to take all 91 students to Boston for a field trip.  A skype field trip with Boston Tea Party and Ships Museum would be a perfect choice. 

        All of our 5th graders dressed in colonial outfits in order to feel like they were part of the Tea Party. Students got a chance to interact with the historians in Boston. Each student played the part of a historical person who took part in the town meeting at the Old South Meeting House in December.

  
     As you can see, the students could individually talk to the presenter in Boston while the rest of the class could watch on the large screen. The museum sent us scripts for the students. This young man is holding his script.  In this way, when the historical person is called on to speak at the "meeting in Boston" each student responds as the person in history would have responded.

           Some students dressed in a more casual style of the typical colonial man, while others chose a outfit to represent a wealthier Bostonian citizen. As you can see in the following pictures, all citizens of Boston were represented. 

     

        Of course, there had to be refreshments.  All of our colonists drank tea and eat short bread cookies.

 Gentlemen from Boston gathered to discuss the events that took place in Boston. Here are two gentlemen dressed as Native Americans.  Could they possibly be on their way to Boston Harbor?

         A large group of colonists, ladies and gentlemen, gathered under the Liberty Tree after the skype.

The Sons of Liberty were very excited that day, planning to dump the tea into Boston Harbor.  Huzzah!

    Do you have your students wear costumes on a special day?

   Do you have any skype field trips with your class or school?

       Today I am linking up with the Five for Friday weekly linky party with Doodle Buds Teaching.

                       www.doodlebugsteaching.blogspot.com                      

Send me a comment if you have a spare minute. I love to read your comments.

Beti

Boston Tea Party Chest

       Last week my students discussed the Boston Tea Party.  We read from our text book, watched a short video clip, and took notes.  I also needed a prop. This tiny chest was perfect!  It is only about 2 X 3 inches. It has a little clasp and hinges on the back. 

      I cut open a tea bag and poured the loose tea into the chest.

        My 5th graders enjoy the props that I have on my desk.

                               Do you use props in your room?

      We will have a Skype field trip to the Boston Tea Party Ship and Museum in Boston. The kids all dress up in their colonial outfits for the day. We get to partake in a discussion about the fairness of the tax on tea in the Colonies.  Each student portrays a historical person from Boston at the time.   The Liberty Kids episode on the "Boston Tea Party" is shown while the 5th graders are drinking tea and munching on cookies.  

     Of course there is a story behind the little chest... During Advent, the women of our parish get together for a night of reflection, dinner, and socializing.  Each table has a different theme. My good friend Ellen, who by the way I share a birthday with, helped with our table decorations.  She made these cute little chests which had  candy treats inside.  It has been on my desk all winter.  Once in a while, at the end of a hard day, I would treat myself to a piece of candy.  I realized that it would make a prefect prop to teach about the Boston Tea Party.  I believe Ellen picked these little wooden boxes up at Michael's or JoAnn's.
     Thanks Ellen,  I can always count on you! 

Today I linked up with Doodle Bugs Teaching for the 
 Five for Friday Weekly Linky Party.

www.doodlebugsteaching.blogspot.com 

Please leave a short comment.  I really enjoy your feedback. 


Beti

Boston Tea Party Notes

              Each spring the Boston Tea Party is part of the 5th grade curriculum in Social Studies.  I was looking on Pinterest and found some interesting ideas.
 This anchor chart is so wonderful with great information. I knew I could use this with my students.   Pinterest stated it was "saved by Katie Shaw- Boston Tea Party Cause and Effect Anchor Chart American Revolution 5th Grade Social Studies."

         I like to have my students take notes and keep them in a Social Studies duo-tang. So I made a worksheet from this anchor chart. So I changed it to fit the needs of my class. 

     I like to have my students add color to their notes when they are reviewing their notes for homework.  This way I know that they did look at their notes because they have to color them.  

        This is what the blank note sheet looks like.




        I also saw another anchor chart on the Boston Tea Party.  This one is from Miss Mills Blog.   I was so impressed.  I knew I could use this in my own class.
www.missmillsblog.blogspot.com 

    

      
      I did take the liberty of making this into a sheet of notes for my students to fill in and keep in their dou-tang for safe keeping.

      I would like to thank these two wonderful ladies for putting their ideas out there for all the rest of us to see.  I also hope that I have done justice to their ideas by adding my own spin. 

      We will be participating in a SKYPE field trip with Boston Tea Party Ships and Museum very soon.   So these notes will be so very useful to my students.

      Enjoy your day. Please leave a comment if you have a spare minute.

Today I linked up with Doodle Bugs Teaching for the Five For Friday Linky. 
See what everyone is sharing by clicking the link below.

www.doodlebugsteaching.blogspot.com  

 Beti