Taxed to the Max Harrison Fifth Graders Feel the Sting of British Taxes

Fifth graders at Harrison Intermediate experienced the burden of taxation in their social studies classes.

In their “Kings for a Day” lesson, social studies teachers Samantha Seals and Aimee Schepps played the role of British Royalty taxing their citizens.

“This has been one of my favorite activities to do for a couple of years now, because it really puts the students in the shoes of the American Colonists and helps them truly understand the phrase, ‘No Taxation without Representation,’” Seals said.

To help their students better understand the causes and effects of the events leading up to the American Revolution, as they completed questions about the Sons of Liberty, teachers interjected their work to impose a new tax.

Using mock currency, these Buccaneers were forced to ‘pay up’ on their belongings, giving them firsthand experiences of colonial taxation.

“It was one of those lessons where you could see the ‘aha’ moments happening in real time,” Schepps said. “Their excitement made the whole room buzz, as if they were feeling the same frustrations as the colonists.”

First up, the Townshend Acts. Students were taxed for each purse, fanny pack, pencil, highlighter, and lunchbox they had in their possession.

“The students were absolutely captivated,” Schepps said. “Every jaw was on the floor!”

The most severe tax was the Stamp Act. Students had to divvy out taxes to the British Parliament for every single sheet of paper they had in their folders.

Students were stunned with disbelief at the amount of money they had to hand over to the government.

To round out the lesson, teachers declared a Royal Proclamation in which their Royal Red Coats needed chairs. Students had to forfeit their seats to satisfy the demanding monarchy!

At the end of the lesson, the Sons of Liberty assembled. Students worked together to create a list of grievances, helping them better understand events like the French and Indian War, British taxation, and the colonists’ response with acts such as the Boston Tea Party.

They wrote their grievances on the back of their mock currency and turned even more money over to the kings.

“I know it makes a lasting impact, because as I walked the hallways yesterday with my crown, our former students, now sixth graders, kept calling out, ‘No more taxes!’ and ‘I remember that lesson—it was my favorite,’” Seals said. “Activities like this remind me why I love teaching History. I get to bring it alive for my students.”