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The School House Rocks videos (most if not all the clips can be found on schooltube) are a useful and different way to review some major events and themes covered during a U.S. History course. (It also might be useful to show these just before a final exam or state assessment.) The clips are short and can be covered in a relatively short amount of class time.
Prior to watching, the students complete a viewing sheet to see how many students already know they answers. At the end of each segment, the class discusses the themes associated with each cartoon. The cartoons also can be show individually during the point of the year that you cover a particular topic.
The goal for each video is to share:
- Pre-veiwing questions.
- The video.
- The lyrics.
- The themes.
Below is the worksheet I give to the students along with a few “teacher” notes. Hopefully both are useful.
Pre-Viewing Questions (to test prior knowledge)
1. What ship did the settlers in Plymouth travel in:
2. What year did the Pilgrims land in Plymouth:
3. Explain what you know about the Boston Tea Party:
4. What was a main reason for the America’s fight for independence from England?
No More Kings (2:57)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8OI7itQJpfE
Main Points (Notes for Students)
- Pilgrims sailed in the Mayflower to Plymouth, Massachusetts 1620 to start a new better life with religious freedom.
- Colonists were initially loyal subjects to the king – the DID NOT want independence.
- “Taxation without representation” is main complaint of the colonists. The king imposed taxes without the consent of the colonists. This upset the colonists.
- Colonists used peaceful protests, like the Boston Tea Party, to show displeasure.
- The king did not respond to the colonists complaints – But when the Colonies complained, The king said: “I don’t care!”
No More Kings Lyrics
Rockin’ and a-rollin’, splishin’ and a-splashin’
Over the horizon, what can it be?
The pilgrims sailed the sea
To find a place to call their own
In their ship Mayflower
They hoped to find a better home
They finally knocked
On Plymouth Rock
And someone said, “We’re there
It may not look like home
But at this point I don’t care”
Oh, they were missing Mother England
They swore their loyalty until the very end
Anything you say, King
It’s OK, King
You know it’s kinda scary on your own
Going to build a new land
The way we planned
Could you help us run it until it’s grown?
They planted corn, you know
They built their houses one by one
And bit by bit they worked
Until the colonies were done
They looked around
Yeah, up and down
And someone said, “Hurray!
If the king could only see us now
He would be proud of us today”
They knew that now they’d run their own land
But George the Third still vowed
He’d rule them until the end
“Anything I say, do it my way now
Anything I say, do it my way
Don’t you get to feeling independent
Because I’m going to force you to obey”
He taxed their property
He didn’t give them any choice
And back in England
He didn’t give them any voice
(That’s called taxation without representation
And it’s not fair!)
But when the Colonies complained
The king said: “I don’t care!”
He even has the nerve
To tax our cup of tea
To put it kindly, King
We really don’t agree
Going to show you how we feel
We’re going to dump this tea
And turn this harbor into
The biggest cup of tea in history!
They wanted no more Mother England
They knew the time had come
For them to take command
It’s very clear you’re being unfair, King
No matter what you say, we won’t obey
Going to hold a revolution now, King
And we’re gonna run it all our way
With no more kings . . .
We’re going to elect a president! (No more kings)
He’s going to do what the people want! (No more kings)
We’re going to run things our way! (No more kings)
Nobody’s going to tell us what to do!
Rockin’ and a-rollin’, splishin’ and a-splashin’
Over the horizon, what can it be?
Looks like it’s going to be a free country
Themes
Themes: Mayflower, Plymouth Rock, Colonies,
“Anything I say you’ll do my way” loyalty to the King
Taxation without representation
Boston Tea Party
British Flag into American Flag
No More kings = we are going to elect a president who will listen to the people