I was recently trying to come up with new ideas of how to teach my students the precursors of the Revolutionary War. We had already labored over the long list of intolerable acts, taxation without representation, the Boston Massacre, and the famous tea party. Great stuff, but the information was flat and dry and I wanted more than anything for my students to get as excited as I was about the content.
In my attempt to get them engaged in the curriculum, I knew I had to get them up & moving. Well, the battles between the Patriots and the British during the Revolution was a fantastic opportunity to flesh out strategies used by the opposing sides of the conflict. Students had a great time strategizing, assessing, collaborating, and having fun in mock battles.
Old school marbles, game boards, strategizing and teamwork made for an amazing learning opportunity.
The Patriots Won!