Grade Level: 8-12
Duration: 120 minutes
Bloom's Taxonomy Levels: Analyze, Evaluate, Create
 
Description:
Dive into the dramatic events of colonial Boston with this engaging two-part lesson. Students will examine the Boston Massacre and the Boston Tea Party through primary source analysis and thought-provoking activities to construct evidence-based arguments. This lesson includes two immersive activities, Sons of Liberty: Freedom Fighters or Terrorists? and The Tryal of Captain Thomas Preston, which challenge students to critically examine history and draw their own conclusions.
 
What's Included:
Teacher’s guide: Step-by-step instructional support with adaptations for diverse learners.
Scaffolded lesson plan: Includes structured activities for analyzing primary sources and debating historical interpretations.
History Cat articles: "Boston Massacre: How a Bad Haircut Changed History" and "The Boston Tea Party" for classroom distribution.
Primary source analysis: Engage your students’ thinking with eyewitness accounts and other primary resource data. 
Printable worksheets: Printable worksheets that guide your students’ through the critical thinking process. 
Answer keys: Provided for all worksheets and activities to streamline feedback.
Extension activities: Suggested projects such as creating propaganda, modern comparisons, and artistic reflections on historical events.
 
Skills Developed
Analyzing and interpreting primary sources
Evidence-based reasoning and argumentation
Evaluating historical bias and perspectives
Understanding cause-and-effect relationships in history
 
Perfect For
U.S. history classes covering the Boston Massacre and Boston Tea Party
Developing critical thinking about patriotism, rebellion, and historical narratives
Engaging students in immersive, hands-on historical inquiry