SURVIVING SOCIAL STUDIES
Menu

(CER) Claim, Evidence, and Reasoning in Social Studies: The Boston Massacre Trial for Middle School

10/28/2019

9 Comments

 
Picture
One of my all-time favorite topics in history stemmed from the night of March 5, 1770; The Boston Massacre.  There was so much happening around this event, which makes it such a riveting topic for your students.  There were colonists feeling as though they were being unfairly taxed, the King of England authorizing a standing army in the American colonies, and a prominent lawyer and patriot, John Adams, voluntarily risking his life, his profession, and his place in history by representing Captain Preston and the British guards who were on trial for murder.    

Picture
In this lesson your students will view an edited version of the HBO mini-series, John Adams, and will decide the fate of Captain Preston and the British guards by choosing a verdict and completing a CER (Claim, Evidence, and Reasoning) assignment as a final task.  CER is probably something you've heard quite a bit of talk about in your district and maybe haven't quite found the right topic to allow your students to try one.  Well, here you go!

Picture
Picture
I teach 50-minute class periods and am able to complete the viewing, and explanation of the CER to my students in one class period.  Students then have time to begin their CER before the class period is over and then have time to finish outside of school or during class the next day.  Click the image below to get this resource for FREE in my Teachers Pay Teachers store.
Picture
What is nice about using CER in a Social Studies classroom is that this process helps students practice the skill of making a claim that they then support with evidence.  We participate in National History Day each year where students create a project about a topic in history following a common theme.  For example, the theme for 2020 is "Breaking Barriers."  Students will have to develop a thesis and support that thesis with evidence they discover through their research.  Using the CER method helps them make the National History Project a little easier for them to back up their thesis.  

As a follow-up activity to the Boston Massacre Trial you might be interested in having your students analyze "The Bloody Massacre" by Paul Revere or recreate Revere's iconic image.  Click the images below to find these resources in my Teachers Pay Teachers store.  

Enjoy!
​Matt @ Surviving Social Studies

​TpT Store
​Instagram
Pinterest
​Facebook

Picture
Picture
9 Comments
peepeepoopoo
10/9/2020 07:15:30 am

KKKKKKKKKKKKK

Reply
Louis link
3/21/2023 06:32:32 am

It’s called kkk

Reply
Kristen H link
11/16/2020 02:27:07 pm

Really enjoy this idea for the American Revolution! I usually have my kids create, by writing and illustrating their own version of the Midnight Ride of Paul Revere. I will certainly add this to my activities for the American Revolution Unit.

Reply
Ughhh daddy link
9/13/2022 04:41:02 pm

Ugghhh daddy

Reply
Cream Daddy link
11/14/2022 05:09:44 am

CReamy daddy milk in my mouth

Reply
mm
9/12/2023 06:19:46 am

oh my actual lord. These 12 year old boys NEED to stop i sweaar the the heavens up above

Reply
SillyWilly279815693767838223e
9/12/2023 06:21:36 am

dont swear :(

ooooooooooooooooooo
9/12/2023 06:19:32 am

000000000000000000

Reply
MWAHAHAHAHA
9/12/2023 06:21:17 am

oo juicy

Reply



Leave a Reply.

    Author

    Write something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview.

    Archives

    September 2023
    August 2023
    December 2022
    August 2022
    May 2022
    August 2021
    March 2021
    September 2020
    August 2020
    March 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    August 2018

    Categories

    All

    RSS Feed

©️ Surviving Social Studies
  • Home
  • Blog
  • Store
  • About
  • Contact
  • FREE Resources!
  • Home
  • Blog
  • Store
  • About
  • Contact
  • FREE Resources!