Tea in the Harbor 1 Tea in the Harbor 2 Tea in the Harbor 3
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Tea in the Harbor

School: Alice B. Beal Elementary

City/State: Springfield, MA

Grade(s): 3

Format(s): Essay

Subject(s): Social Studies

Type(s): Narrative

Writing Assignment Description

A 3rd grade student at Alice B. Beal Elementary School in Springfield, Massachusetts authored this essay as part of a learning expedition on the Revolutionary War. The assignment was to write a first-person narrative of the Boston Tea Party. This is a first draft, unedited work.

This historical fiction narrative takes the perspective of a young bystander at the Boston Tea Party, explaining the event and context, and describing the action.

How This Writing Can Be Useful

  • It is a beautiful illumination of standard CCSS W.W.3 – Narrative Writing, and all its sub-standards
  • It has detailed, accurate information without being a dry piece
  • It brings history to life with an animated and fresh narrator’s voice, dialogue, embedded questions and explanations for the reader (e.g., “I bet you’re wondering what is the Boston Tea Party? Is it a big tea party in Boston?”)
  • Explains concepts in plain, clear language (e.g. “The Patriots called it ‘taxation without representation’; this means that (King George) wouldn’t let the colonists take part in making laws for their country.”

Common Core State Standards

Standard Long Term Learning Target
W.3.3
  • I can craft narrative texts about real or imagined experiences or events.
W.3.4
  • With support from adults, I can produce writing that is appropriate to task and purpose.
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