Tea Time!

Kathleen Wilson

Introduction
While cleaning Dr. Nimbles lab, you come across a
strange machine. You and your friend decide to explore
this strange device. You both step into the machine and
begin to push all sorts of buttons. Suddenly, the machine
begins to rumble and shake. You both look up and see a
screen. Dr. Nimbles image appears on the screen. He
begins speaking, Congratulations! You have been chosen
to travel back in time. You will be transported to Boston
in 1773. Your mission will be to document the Boston
Tea Party, and the events that led up to it. You will
interview participants and spectators, and write an article
for the editorial page in The Boston Herald. Have fun and
be safe!

Task:

You will be assigned a position of your choice on the paper. The positions that
you can choose from are: Interviewer, Correspondent, or Field Reporter.
Interviewer: You will write a personal interview creating a person that was
involved in the Boston Tea Party. This interview should contain factual
information about the event. This interview should include their role in the
Boston Tea Party, and their opinion regarding the British rule in the colonies.
Correspondent: You will write a letter to the editor about the Boston Tea
Party. This letter should be written in business letter format. You should include
an opinion of whether or not you are supporting the Boston Tea Party. The letter
should contain three reasons for your support of the event.
Field Reporter: Your job is to write a description of the Boston Tea Party as it
happened. Imagine that you are watching the event and writing about what you
are seeing. Sequence the events in order.

The Process:
Step One: You are now in Boston. Its time for you to hit
the pavement and begin your research. Visit these sites to
research background information regarding the Tea Party.
Take any necessary notes that will help you write your
article.
http://www.srcalifornia.com/timelin1.html
http://www.bostonteapartyship.com/history.asp

The Process:
Step Two: Now that you have the background
information, you should begin interviewing the locals to
gain a sense of their opinion about the British policies in
the Colonies. Check out these sites to get the perspective
of spectators and participants.
http://www.historyplace.com/unitedstates/revolution/teap
arty.htm

http://www.historywiz.com/teatax.htm

The Process
Step Three: You have been given special access to your
rival newspapers printing shop. There you get the first
glimpse of what they will be printing on tomorrows front
page about The Boston Tea Party. Visit this site to see the
preview.
http:///www.pbs.org/ktca/liberty/chronicle_boston1774.ht
ml

The Process:
Step Four: After viewing your competitions
article, you can now begin your stellar editorial.
Write your rough draft, and then have your
partner edit for you.
Then after revision, submit it to the editor
(teacher).

List of Additional Resources:

If you need any additional resources to
write your editorial, visit this site fore
more background information on the
Boston Tea Party.
http://www.wpi.edu/Academics/Depts/Mil
Sci/Resources/absbostea.html

Conclusion
Congratulations! You have made it through the
turbulent Boston Tea Party. Not only did you
survive, but your article sold out the newspaper in
record time. The readers now have the
information needed to pick which side they will
support in the Revolution. Well done!

Evaluation:
A rubric will be used to grade your newspaper article.
The rubric will be based on a 16 point scale, using
the following criteria: thoroughness of research,
creativity of article, and use of proper writing style.
13 -16 points = A
9-12 points = B
6-8 points = C
3-5 points = D
0-2 points = F

Rubric
CATEGORY

Articles Purpose

90-100% of the
article establishes
a clear purpose in
the lead
paragraph and
demonstrates a
clear
understanding of
the topic.

85-89% of the
article
establishes a
clear purpose in
the lead
paragraph and
demonstrates a
clear
understanding
of the topic.

75-84% of the
article
establishes a
clear purpose in
the lead
paragraph and
demonstrates a
clear
understanding
of the topic.

Less than 75%

of the article
establishes a
clear purpose in
the lead
paragraph and
demonstrates a
clear
understanding
of the topic

Who, What,
When,
Where &
How

The article
adequately
addresses the
5 W's (who,
what, when,
where and how

90-99% of
the article
adequately
addresses
the 5 W's
(who, what,
when, where
and how).

75-89% of
the article
adequately
addresses
the 5 W's
(who, what,
when, where
and how).

Less than
75% of the
article
adequately
addresses
the 5 W's
(who, what,
when,
where, and
how).

Requirements

All of the
required
content was
present.

Almost all
the required
content was
present.

At least 75%
of the
required
content was
present.

Less than
75% of the
required
content was
present.

Articles Supporting
Details

The details in
the article are
clear, effective,
and vivid 80100% of the
time.

The details in
the article
are clear and
pertinent 90100% of the
time.

The details in
the article
are clear and
pertinent 7589% of the
time.

The details in
more than
25% of the
article is
neither clear
nor pertinent

Teachers Page
This webquest was created in accordance with the 4 th grade
state of Georgia Performance Standards listed below.
SS4H4 The student will explain the causes, events and results
of the American Revolution.
(a) Trace the events that shaped the revolutionary movement in
America including the activities of the Sons of Liberty and the
Boston Tea Party.
ELA4W3 The student uses research and technology to support
writing.
ELA4W4 The student consistently uses a writing process to
develop, revise, and evaluate writing.
(a) Plans and drafts independently and resourcefully.
(b) Revises selected drafts to improve coherence and
progression by adding, deleting, consolidating, and rearranging
text.
(c) Edits to correct errors in spelling, punctuation, etc.

Teachers Page (cont.)

This lesson could be extended by
having the artistic students in the
classroom create a political cartoon
either supporting or condemning the
Boston Tea Party.

Websites Utilized in Webquest:

http://www.bostonteapartyship.com/his
tory.asp
http://www.historyplace.com/unitedstat
es/revolution/teaparty.htm
http://www.pbs.org/ktca/liberty/chronic
le_boston1774.html/
http://www.srcalifornia.com/timelin1.ht
ml
http://www.historywiz.com/teatax.htm