Role Playing the Precursors to the American Revolution

by Jennifer Jordan, History & Latin Teacher

After simulating colonists living and working in the three colonial regions, our 5th graders have continued these roles to learn about growing tensions between the colonies and England. England has to pay war debts for the French and Indian War, and it believes that the colonists should help to pay in the form of taxes. Our 5th grade colonists have experienced taxation without representation through a candy game, wherein students playing king, Parliament, and tax collector exacted taxes for situations as simple as wearing a red shirt or having a name beginning with “A”. Our colonists endured the pain of giving up their candy, which allowed them to understand the real feelings of 18th century colonists in paying taxes on items without any say!  We continued this interactive learning with our Boston Tea Party last week. After reading about the cause of the Boston Tea Party, the 5th graders created a party invitation and then engaged in their own dumping of British tea. We followed that with a little American tea, as the students were rather eager to try hot tea. Everyone had a great time! Role play has served as a superb tool to engage students and allow them to comprehend the tense atmosphere leading up to the American Revolution.