LET'S PROTEST KING GEORGE! Creating rebellion posters against the Stamp Act and other taxes

The teacher will ask students to listen and pretend they are living back in the 1770's, before electricity, computers, phones, magazines, and large grocery stores; then, "setting the stage" will begin. TEACHER READS THE SCENARIO BELOW:  

"Your family and neighbors have always enjoyed afternoon tea together.   It's a time to visit and talk about the day; but since King George III has declared taxes on tea, sugar, and other things, you can hardly afford to have a cup of tea, even once a week!  Also, you and your friends like playing card games or reading articles in the newspaper aloud to each other while sharing tea...but the King's STAMP ACT has placed taxes on playing cards, newspapers, books, and other things you enjoy!"

**Watch the short video in RESOURCES, Thomas Jefferson, Part I: A Growing Rebellion in the Colonies

[continue the 'storytelling scenario' from the previous paragraph]

"You decide you must DO SOMETHING  to help change the King's mind.  You have a talent for drawing, and so you decide to make posters to put up all over town.  These posters will challenge your neighbors and friends to stand up against the King's unfair laws in any way possible, and hopefully change his mind. "
[Watch as many other videos included in RESOURCES as there is time for.] 

"Remember vocabulary words or phrases that might be useful in your poster: BOYCOTT, REBELLION, SLOGAN, NO TAXATION WITHOUT REPRESENTATION.  Also, remember to include clear illustrations on your poster, as some citizens in your town may not be able to read." 

NOW, THE PROJECT:
1.  Two or three students will work as a "poster design group."  Each group's poster will criticize King George for one of these ACTS:   The Sugar Act, Tea Act, Stamp Act, or the Intolerable Acts. ( Your teacher will make sure each ACT is represented by a design group.)
2.  In your small group, discuss specific information about the ACT you have chosen. 
Assume that some colonists know nothing about it yet, and your poster will teach them the facts. 
Remember, not all colonists can read, so your drawings will help them understand.   
As a group, discuss ideas for the poster.  (Let one person have the job of "note-taker," but they may also contribute ideas.)
3.  Remember as you discuss:  Posters need creative illustrations and catchy slogans to get the crowd's attention when they are nailed up somewhere in the town. 

The information on the poster needs to be an honest account of how the King is changing the laws. 
After this discussion, the group needs to agree on one main idea for the poster, including illustration and slogan ideas...or maybe each member of the group will decide about one part of the poster.
4. Think before drawing:  Would this poster be more effective drawn vertically? or horizontally? Hold the paper each way and let the group decide.
5.  On a sheet of printer paper, your group will sketch a ROUGH DRAFT.  Write your main information, slogans, and a very rough sketch.  Be as convincing as you can...you want the townspeople to be UPSET WITH THE KING!
6.  Gather crayons, markers, and a large sheet of poster paper.  Write and color your final poster with illustrations, slogans, and information for the colonists.
7. The groups will take turns displaying their "protest poster."  Try to get the crowd excited by  "chanting" your protest slogans and "acting out" your information as if you're speaking to the townspeople of 1775!
8. Now it's time to evaluate your poster by the RUBRIC provided in the ASSESSMENTS section. 

A RUBRIC FOR ASSESSMENT OF YOUR POLITICAL POSTER:

In each category, these numbers represent:

4= shows excellent effort
3= shows good effort
2= needs more effort, requires  revision

Please evaluate on EACH of these criteria:

• There is a clear idea of what the cartoon means; easily understandable
• The cartoon is drawn and colored neatly
• The handwriting is neat and easily read

Add the numerical for each criteria point= FINAL SCORE for the group