Free Boston Tea Party Reading Passage and Comprehension Questions for Middle School
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Bring the drama of the Boston Tea Party to your grades 5–8 classroom with this engaging, narrative-style reading passage. Unlike traditional dry textbooks, this free Mini Reader lesson uses story-like storytelling with relatable characters to immerse students in the events of 1773–1774, building comprehension, vocabulary, and historical empathy—all while aligning with key standards.
Why Choose Narrative Reading Passages for the Revolutionary War?
Many teachers find that standard informational texts can feel disconnected for middle schoolers. Narrative passages solve this by following fictional young observers (like siblings Abigail and Benjamin) through real historical events, complete with dialogue and a structured story arc: Introduction, Rising Action, Digging Deep, Climax, Falling Action, and Resolution/Reflection. This approach:
- Increases engagement and retention
- Develops higher-order thinking through context
- Supports empathy by exploring multiple perspectives (colonists, British officials, townspeople)
- Makes complex topics like taxation without representation accessible
What's Included in This Free Boston Tea Party Mini Reader Lesson
This complete, no-prep lesson focuses on the Boston Tea Party and Intolerable Acts:
- Narrative Passage: Approximately 1,750–2,000 words of engaging informational text
- Student Worksheet: 5 vocabulary words in context, 8 short-answer questions (4 recall, 4 higher-order), and 1 empathy/personal connection prompt
- Teacher’s Guide: Discussion ideas, full answer key, and standards notes
- Multiple-Choice Exit Quiz: 20 self-grading questions (printable or digital)
Download instantly: Get Your Free Boston Tea Party Lesson (Add to cart for free delivery via email.)
Standards Alignment
This lesson supports key Common Core and history standards, including:
- CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RI.5-8.1–10 (Key ideas/details, craft/structure, integration of knowledge)
- CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.SL.5-8.1 (Collaborative discussions)
- Vocabulary acquisition and use (L.5-8.4–6)
- Historical analysis of causes and effects
Detailed Teaching Ideas and Multi-Day Plan
- Day 1: Whole-class read-aloud; students mark cause/effect relationships.
- Day 2: Independent reading + worksheet; pair-share empathy responses.
- Day 3: Group discussions + exit quiz for assessment.
- Differentiation: Read in pairs for struggling readers; challenge advanced students with debate prep.
- Sub Plans: Perfect standalone activity with clear instructions.
Extension Activities
- Write a diary entry from Abigail or Benjamin's perspective
- Debate: Was the Tea Party justified?
- Create a timeline of events leading to the Intolerable Acts
- Cross-curricular: Illustrate a key scene or research primary sources
Frequently Asked Questions
Is this printable and digital-friendly? Yes—PDF format works for both.
Do I need to prep anything? No, everything is ready to use.
Ready for More Revolutionary War Lessons Like This?
If this narrative style works for your students, our full Mini Readers series offers 15 sequenced lessons covering the entire Revolutionary War era—each with the same engaging format, worksheets, guides, and quizzes.