Lesson Plan - A Night of Danger

Watch a Video
Play the video “What You Need to Know About the American Revolution.” Ask: Why do you think many colonists wanted to be free from Britain? What were some of the important events in their fight for independence?

Preview Words to Know
Project the online vocabulary slideshow and introduce the Words to Know.

• taxes 
• protest
• disguises
• furious

Set a Purpose for Reading
As students read, have them think about how the Boston Tea Party affected America.

1. Based on the article, how were the Colonies in America ruled in 1773? 
In 1773, the Colonies in America were ruled by Great Britain. The article states, “At the time, the United States did not yet exist. America was made up of 13 Colonies ruled by Great Britain.” 
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2. What are taxes? Why didn’t the colonists like paying taxes to Great Britain? 
According to the article, taxes are money that people pay to support a government. Many colonists did not like paying taxes to Great Britain. The article explains that “though Great Britain collected the colonists’ money, it didn’t give them a say in how the government was run.”
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3. What are two facts you can learn from the sidebar, “Timeline of Freedom”? 
Sample response: One fact you can learn from the sidebar, “Timeline of Freedom,” is that the first shots of the American Revolution were fired in towns near Boston. Another fact is that George Washington led the army formed by the colonists.
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FEATURED SKILL: Cause and Effect
Use the skill builder “Why Did That Happen?” to explore causes and effects related to the Boston Tea Party. Invite students to share how they identified each cause or effect. 
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