Student Exercise : Colonial Rules

The following was downloaded from a web site (http/yn.la.ca.us/ccc/) which contains a number of

"Social Studies Mini-lessons" compiled from public school teachers. The grade level of the lesson

is set forth along with a list of activities and procedures for each mini-lesson. Your assignment is

to critique this mini-lesson from a pedagogical point of view.. From both a logical and a factual

perspective it leaves much to be desired. Write out your criticism noting as many faults as you

can discover.

CECsst.219

TITLE: Colonial Rules

AUTHOR: Donnalee Eisenhart, Mountain View High School

Orem, Utah 84057

GRADE LEVEL: 9-12

OVERVIEW: During the mid 1700's America was experiencing a

great deal of strife and turmoil as a result of the

demanding colonial rules that England had made the Colonists

live by. Because of this oppression the colonists revolted

and the American Revolution takes place. This particular

activity was designed to show students how the colonists

felt during this oppressive period.

OBJECTIVE(s): Students will be able to:

1. Explain the colonial rules and have a sincere sense of

how the colonists felt.

2. Describe the outcome of severe oppression, which is

usually revolution.

3. Describe the feeling the Colonists had when they

experienced oppression and how it felt when they were

oppressed.

RESOURCES: Colonial Rules and Classroom Rules

ACTIVITIES AND PROCEDURES:

1. At the beginning of the classroom walk into class and

indicate to the students that some very severe cuts

have been made in the school budget. Tell them about

the nation wide cuts in educational spending and that

as a result this has impacted this classroom and the

school. Tell them that you are sick about the

following cuts but you have been directed by the

principal to enforce the following rules.

2. As you begin giving the students these very oppressive

classroom and school rules most won't say anything

through the first five, but as the rules become more

oppressive and take away more classroom freedoms they

will become very vocal. Often during this time, they

will indicate that these rule can't be true. Always

look stern and let them know in no uncertain terms that

these are the rules they must follow for the year.

3. Pass out a copy of the new classroom rules, at the

bottom of the page have a place for the parents to sign

that they have seen the new rules and that they will

help to enforce them. This gives the document

credibility and makes the students think you are

serious.

4. When you have finished reading the rules the students

will want to have a discussion about the unfairness of

the rules, some will indicate that they plan to REVOLT

by calling the district office, they will voice

opinions about how their parents will feel about these

new rules. This leads to some very heated discussion.

5. After the students have become very excited and have

almost started a revolt, pass out the colonial laws.

Ask the students about how they felt, make comparisons

of the colonists and the new classroom rules. Did they

have a voice in the new rules that the teacher

presented?

6. Follow up with a quiz on the colonial laws the next

class period after you have reviewed them in class.

7. (As a spoof and as another classroom activity I

encourage them to take home the new classroom rules,

give them to their parents and watch the reaction. It

them becomes a chance for the students to present the

same lesson plan at home. Parents love it when they

find out it is a spoof)

COLONIAL RULES

1. The Navigation Act of 1651 required all goods entering

England to be carried by English ships with English

crews, or by colonial ships with English crews, or by

colonial ships and crews. All goods entering or

leaving English colonies were required to be in English

vessels.

2. The enumerated Commodities Act (1660) specified that

commodities such as tobacco sugar, cotton, indigo,

ginger and dyes could be exported from the colonies

only to England or to other English colonies

3. The Navigational Acts were to be strictly enforced with

the use of the WRITS OF ASSISTANCE. Writs of

Assistance were imposed as general search warrants,

permitting English officials to enter private buildings

and ships in search of goods smuggled into the

colonies.

4. The Proclamation of 1763 prohibited colonial settlement

west of the Appalachian Mountains.

5. The Sugar Act (1764) taxed colonial imports from the

Spanish and French West Indies.

6. The Currency Act (1764) forbade further issues of paper

money in the colonies. This hampered colonial debtors

in settling accounts.

7. The Stamp Act (1765) taxed legal documents, newspapers,

pamphlets, and all other printed matter. In 1766 this

act was repealed, but Parliament passed the Declaratory

Act which asserted its right to tax the colonies at any

time.

8. The Townshend Acts taxed colonial imports of paper,

glass, lead, tea, and other articles. Colonists

accused of smuggling to evade these taxes were denied a

jury trial. In 1770 these duties were repealed.

9. The Intolerable Acts (1774) The British replied to the

destruction of the East India Company's property by a

series of punitive measures know as the "Intolerable

Acts".

Boston Port Bill closed the port in an attempt to make

the colony pay for the destroyed tea.

The Massachusetts Government Act took away the charter

of 1691 and forbade the Boston town meeting to assemble

without the governor's permission.

The Quartering Act compelled Massachusetts colonists to

provide lodging and food for British Soldiers.

CLASSROOM RULES

1. All assignments will cost 10 cents. No assignment will

be handed out unless it is paid for. Please bring

$1.00 in advance to cover the first 10 assignments.

2. If a student losses an assignment it will cost 20 cents

to cover the cost of a lost assignment. This amount

will compensate the teacher for additional time spent.

This fee must be paid in advance.

3. Tardy Policy: 10 cents for every minute a student is

late for class.

4. Pencils and Pens: If a student borrows a pencil or pen

from the teacher he or she will pay the teacher 25

cents for the use of the pen or pencil. This fee will

cover loss of pens and pencils and any other damage

incurred by chewing on the pencil.

5. Late Assignments and Misconduct in the Classroom:

Janitorial duty will be assigned to those students who

turn in late assignments or who cause problems in the

classroom. Check with the teacher or principal for

these assignments. (Assignments will range from

cleaning the restrooms, gym area, gardening etc.)

6. Hall Pass Use: Students will be charged $1.00 each

time they need to use the hall pass, regardless of the

reason.

7. Books: If a student fails to bring a book to class

there will be a $1.00 rental charge. This must be

collected before students can rent a book.

8. Desk Use Fee: Students will be required to pay $10.00

for the use of their desk. This will only be a yearly

fee. This fee will cover the cost of removing gum and

other substances from the bottom of desks, and any

writing that may be done by students. This fee must be

paid immediately.

9. Pencil Sharpener Fee: A fee of $1.00 per year will be

charged for the use of the pencil sharpener. District

costs have skyrocketed and they can no longer provide

such services without charging.

I understand all of the above classroom rules and

regulations and will abide by them:

Students Signature ______________________________________

Parent or Guardian ______________________________________

Date ____________________________________________________