CSI: Boston
Last week in 8th grade Social Studies, we put on our investigator hats. In order to discuss the Boston Massacre, I set up a "crime scene" in the front of the classroom. A crime scene which the students made sure to tell me was not very realistic due to my art skills! Each group of students was given an opportunity to come up and look at the crime scene and jot down some notes. Then each group was given a packet of "eye-witness accounts". These accounts gave us the perfect opportunity to review the differences between primary sources and secondary sources. The students worked in groups of 3 to read through the witness statements and answer a few questions. When everyone had finished, we voted as a class on who we believe was responsible for the Boston Massacre: the Colonists or the British soldiers. Two of the classes determined that the Colonists were actually responsible and one class decided the British were responsible.
This lesson allowed students to use critical thinking to investigate a historical event and determine for themselves what they think really happened. They followed this up by explaining how this event led to increased tensions between the colonies and England.
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