The Tavern
Online forum for historical debate barely scratches surface.
Parents say
Based on 1 review
The Tavern
Did we miss something on diversity?
Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by suggesting a diversity update.
Suggest an Update
A Lot or a Little?
The parents' guide to what's in this website.
What Parents Need to Know
Parents need to know that The Tavern is a blog that posts articles and short video debates to encourage an exchange of ideas about the principles of America past and present. It's a small part of a much larger website, Colonial Williamsburg, that provides extensive educational materials to teach about history and citizenship. Parents may find an article or a video clip that helps them open up conversations with their kids about recurring issues such as the role of women, taxation policy, and immigration.
Community Reviews
piece of junk
Report this review
What’s It About?
THE TAVERN, part of the Colonial Williamsburg website collection, is an online location for learning about and sharing ideas. Based on the discussions that took place in 18th-century taverns, The Tavern posts articles on current issues and videos on fundamental topics in American history. The articles and videos are all intended to stimulate debate and an open sharing of ideas and thoughts. Topics include taxation, immigration, freedom of speech, leadership, church and state, and the role of women. The debate videos are a few minutes each, and actors are dressed in historic costumes to capture the time period. The content is focused on how the past relates to current issues. For example, Thomas Jefferson and George Washington discuss immigration policy in the video, and viewers are guided to think about the path to citizenship today. At the end of each post, there's opportunity to comment and/or share through various social media services.
Is It Any Good?
This political resource will definitely help stimulate debate and discussion, but its content barely scratches the surface of each topic. The videos and blog posts produced by the Tavern do ask interesting questions about past and current events, but they don't stand alone. Parents will want to supplement with the other educational resources on the Colonial Williamsburg website or with their own background information to maximize learning. The short video conversations between historical figures are good lead-ins to get kids thinking about particular issues. For example, the Earning the Public Trust conversation between Thomas Jefferson and Martha Washington would help initiate a discussion about what we should expect from public officials. Although limited in content depth, some posts may grab the attention of kids, such as gaming in colonial times and a comparison between Tupac Shakur and Alexander Hamilton as rappers.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about why citizens pay taxes and how governments should allocate resources. Can you think of a better way this can be handled?
Talk about leadership in government. How has it changed throughout history? Should it be improved?
Discuss rights and freedoms that are guaranteed in the United States. Can you find relevant videos to trigger meaningful connections between the past and the present?
Website Details
- Subjects: Social Studies: citizenship, historical figures, history
- Skills: Thinking & Reasoning: analyzing evidence, applying information, investigation, Tech Skills: using and applying technology
- Genre: Educational
- Topics: High School, History
- Pricing structure: Free
- Last updated: December 14, 2015
Our Editors Recommend
-
The Learning Network
NYTimes blog gives young people fluff-free news, discussion.
-
National Archives
Treasure trove of history, lineage, and other resources.
-
Digital Vaults
Interactive tools, great graphics bring U.S. history alive.
For kids who love politics
Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.
See how we rate