The British are Coming!

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I Just Can't Wait!

Next week we will start studying the American Revolution! 

HANDS DOWN on of my favorite things to teach is the American Revolution.  My students are always super engaged and love hearing about how our country gained its independence.  One of my favorite activities I like to do, early on in the unit, is my Boston Massacre Crime Scene.

Take Your Teaching Outside the Textbook

I have been doing what one would call, 'mini-transformations' since I started teaching.  Today, I want
to share with you one of the easiest ways to do a transformation.  It won't break your budget, it won't take hours in prep, and your students will love every minute of it! So get some masking tape...and let's get started!

Over the past few years, I have really worked on making this activity NOT about the crime scene tape and body print, but about reading an analyzing primary and secondary sources. The steps are easy and you can totally take whatever information you have on the Boston Massacre, or even the road to the American Revolution, and implement it in this mini transformation.  However, if you're short on time and resources, fear not, use mine!

THE SET-UP: Encourage the Craziness  

First, I always clear the classroom area so that when the kids enter the classroom, they are taken to a
crime scene.  In the middle of my classroom, I have the body outline.  (Major props to my husband who is always the murder victim.)  Next, I place mini triangles with numbers around the room next to file folders.  While the numbers look like props, I actually use them to mark what number the students are working on and the 'top-secret' folder next to the number, has the primary and secondary sources the students will need for the given task.  Doing this allows me to keep track of the students progress and helps keep students stay organized and on-task.  Besides maybe adding some caution tape, I always buy mine around Halloween, your set up is done!

The Ground Rules

Prior to my students entering the classroom, I great them like there were sent to my by the FBI.  (I wear a navy hat and track jacket with the letters FBI on it, they take me pretty seriously!)  We go over the rules about how agents have to work on a crime scene... quite, neatly and collaboratively.  I then go over some ground rules and explain how the investigation works.  Finally, depending on the class, I will partner kids up, hand them THEIR FBI agent file, and then we enter the room. The students know they are to get to work, because good agents DO NOT waste time! 

The One & Done Rule 

My students know, that if you are going to come into my classroom on transformation days, they get one warning, that's it.  After that, they are to finish the activity on their own, outside the classroom.  For this reason, I always make sure I have an extra copy of the sources.  However, I assure you, they usually don't get used because of the 'One and Done' rule.  

The Best Part

Once my students are in the classroom, I get to be the guide on the side.  I make sure I get from one group to the next, see what questions and comments they have about the different sources.  The best part of this activity is watching my students take control or the learning! Since I have always done this group with my 5th grade U.S. History class, I always love when my older students come in for their class and start talking about the Boston Massacre.  It's funny...they remember almost EVERY PART of that activity. 

Once the Crime Scene is Over

After students investigate primary and secondary sources, and come up with their own opinions, I usually have them research what actually is recored online and in our history book.  Again, since I use this activity with my 5th grade class, many of them do not have ANY prior knowledge on the event.  It's always funny to see kids say to their partner as they work through the information.  I also have them finish up their packet by comparing what they had, to what the history book(s) had recorded.  The next day in class, we have a discussion about the Boston Massacre and the student's opinions of the event.