So Taxing

Yesterday my sister Kathryn and her kids came over and we had a Revolutionary day.  We went over a brief time line of the Revolutionary War and some of the things that lead up to it.

Next we played a little game called "These Taxes Aren't Fair!"

(Click to enlarge)

I handed out everyone's wages for the month (eight chocolate coins) and then I started collecting the taxes.  There was a tax for wearing blue. (Adam had to pay double because he had a blue shirt and blue shorts.)  I taxed them for freckles, for wearing shoes, for having long hair, and for each "e" in their name.  Most of the kids handed over their coins kindly, but Adam got really upset.  At one point he even stormed from the kitchen.

It was a great learning moment as I explained to him that the colonists were angry too and unfair taxation was one of the things that lead them to revolt.  He came back to the table (still holding that spear that I also thought doubled nicely as a bayonet) and said, "I'm ready to fight!"

Today we learned about our flag.  Kate and Adam did a little worksheet I made comparing our first flag to the current flag.  I particularly like Adam's answer to Question 5: "because they made them that way"

After that we made some collages with tissue paper and laminating paper.

They looked nice and patriotic on the back door. (The top one is Kate's rendition of a scottie dog.)

And finally, here is the flag Kate made all by herself on Sunday afternoon.  She took it to the fireworks on Monday and waved it proudly.

 

Tomorrow we'll be learning more about our country and singing along to this...