Learning Center Instruction

Teacher: Sam Fisher

School: Colorado State University

Date:
Grade Level: HS

Content Area: US History

Title: Stamp Act Constructivist Activity

Content Standard(s) addressed by this lesson:

History:
1d. Differentiate between facts and historical interpretations, recognizing that a historians
narrative reflects his or her judgment about the significance of particular facts (DOK 2-3)
2b. Investigate causes and effects of significant events in world history (DOK 1-2)
2c. Analyze the complexity of events in world history (DOK 2-3)
2g. Analyze the complexity of events in United States history. Topics to include but not
limited to the suffrage movement and the Civil Rights Movement (DOK 2-3)

Inquiry Questions: (Essential questions relating knowledge at end of the unit of instruction, select
applicable questions from standard)
Inquiry Questions (CDE Standard 1)

1.4. Why are historical questions important?

1.6. How might historical inquiry be used to make decisions on contemporary
issues?
2.1 What impact have individuals had on history?

Concepts and skills students master:

Circumstances and complexity of events leading to the American Revolution

Evidence Outcomes: (Knowledge/ Skills, Lesson Objectives)

Every student will be able to:
I can: A. Explain how the power of a prominent minority can affect history.
B. Explain the circumstances and complexity of events leading up to the American Revolution.
Assessment of Evidence Outcomes: (How will you assess the selected lesson objectives)

Students will verbally say one thing they learned about the American Revolution at the end of
class

Smart Phone Tax

1. The United States government has been given the ability to tax other nations and has recently imposed
a tax on smart phone usage over the nation of Russia to raise money to end global poverty. This
means that every time you turn on your phone screen it charges you 50 cents each time a person
needs to check a notification.
The Russian smart phone industry is suffering harshly from this tax. Certain CEOs of Russian smart
phone companies are willing to invest any amount to repeal the tax. However, the Russian and United
States presidents both heavily support the tax due to its great results in ending poverty. To continue to
keep the world clear of poverty, the tax must continue.
2. In your groups, collaborate and discuss potential solutions to this problem
3. Be prepared to share your solutions with the class

Teacher Instructions:

This is an activity designed to illustrate the outcome of the Stamp Act of 1765 by illustrating one of the major
events leading to the American Revolution. By illustrating the power of the voice of the prominent minority,
students will understand how there were still a considerable amount of Loyalists in the American colonies
throughout the Revolutionary War, and how

1. Randomly separate students into groups of 4 (fitted for a size of 24 or more)

a. One person will be the Russian president, one person will be the United States president.
b. Four students will be composed of CEOs to major Russian smart phone companies. They all
make $1 billion or more per year and are willing to use a combined savings of $35 billion to
repeal the tax. They have the support of the military and will stop at nothing.
c. Group the presidents and CEOs together.
d. Separate the rest of the class into one big group or groups of 3 or 4. These people will be
common Russian folk who either do not have a cell phone or simply use pay-as-you go
phones since they are now cheaper.
e. Once each group has come to a conclusion, share it with the class.
f.

Finally, have each student write down how they personally feel about the situation (keeping
their role in mind) and what they think they would do going forward, assuming that tension
would keep building.