We had the best time in Social Studies today. I wish I had taken some pictures or filmed it, but I honestly didn't know how the activity would work out. I recently purchased a teacher resource book called "American History Simulations". The activity we did today modeled the Stamp Act. We used starburst candies as money, and drew cards for roles. Most kids were colonists, but there were also three tax collectors, three members of parliament and a king (actually a queen!).  I was a little skeptical of how the activity would go, but it unfolded just like the book said! The king gave tax cards to parliament, who read them to the tax collectors. Colonists were taxed between one and three starburst for things like having a mechanical pencil, wearing jeans, having a library book etc. The kids turned on the tax collectors just like the colonists did in Colonial America -- it was fascinating. At the end of the activity, the king had 66 starburst, the parliament members had 33, tax collectors had 13 and the colonists were left with an average of three. It was a fun activity that perfectly captured the high emotion of the Stamp Act. Too fun!
~Erica
[email protected]

Your comment will be posted after it is approved.


Leave a Reply.