Introduction | Task | Process | Evaluation | Conclusion | 

Introduction

Have  you ever wondered what it was like for the people who lived in the 13 colonies?  What jobs were available?  What education did children receive? Did they go to concerts, plays?  Were there newspapers?  What hardships or obstacles did they overcome?  Was there religious freedom?  This is your chance to find out!

             WHAT WAS LIFE REALLY LIKE IN COLONIAL AMERICA? 

Using the template on the p: drive,  you will create a postcard to send to Mr. Rieck describing life in the colony you selected.  You will also prepare and give a 3 minute talk about your experience in the colony.  You must turn in a bibliography in MLA format of the books and Internet sites that you used for your research.  Bibliography examples are provided in your booklet.  See Miss Gould or Mr. Rieck if you have questions.

To accomplish your task, you will select a colony where you are going to live from Miss Gould's jar .

Next you will need to do some research about your colony.   An easy way to focus your research is to answer the questions below in the booklet provided by Miss Gould.

Once you have established the reasons for coming to the new world, you will be able to focus more easily on the task of describing life in your colony .   The questions listed below are meant to be  guidelines for your research.   Select one of the questions from the list below and answer the question completely in your booklet.

1. What crops are grown in your colony?  What industry is in your colony?
2. What is the relationship with the Native Americans?
3. What hardships did colonists have to overcome?
4. What type of government does your colony have? (proprietary, royal, self-governing)
5. What education is available for young people?
6. Is slavery practiced in your colony? If yes, what is the relationship with the slaves?
7. What type of cultural activities were available in your colony? (concerts, theatre, newspapers, museums, etc)
8. What was daily life like for children and women in your colony?
9. What is the economy like in your colony? 

You  will use the following resources for your research.  Note that BOTH books and Internet sites will be used.  You must use at least one (1) book and one (1) Internet site.

PRINT RESOURCES

BOOKS

Use the books on the cart for this assignment.  Bring some coins with you for the photocopier.  Copies are $.10 per page.

INTERNET SITES - These are the only sites that you will need for this project.

Life in Colonial America
The 13 American Colonies
Characteristics of the Colonies
Map of the 13 Colonies
Rhode Island
Massachusetts
New Hampshire
Life in the Middle Colonies
Delaware
Pennsylvania
New York
New Jersey
Maryland
Virginia
North Carolina
South Carolina
Georgia

                                 BE SURE TO WRITE DOWN YOUR SOURCES IN YOUR BOOKLET!

When you have completed your research, click on the postcard link to bring up the template for the postcard.  Using the answer to the question from above, create a postcard to send to Mr. Rieck .  Be sure to use complete sentences.  Type your text in the box on the left side of the card.  Insert a picture to illustrate your text in the box on the right side.  Make sure that you copy and paste the web address where you found the picture under the picture.  On the second side of the card type your name and address in the top left hand corner.  Type Mr. Rieck's name in the address line.  Insert a picture in the box that says stamp.  Don't forget the web address for the picture.  When you have completed your postcard, log out of your computer.  Go to one of the computers outside the library office and print your postcard in color.  Miss Gould will provide card stock for the printing of your postcard.  When your card is printed, log off the computer.  

When you have completed your postcard,  type your bibliography in Microsoft word.  Follow the examples in your booklet.  If you need help, ask Miss Gould, Mrs. Young or Mrs. Goetz.

Your assignment will be graded as follows:

Test grade - Your postcard.

Quiz grade - Your oral report.

Participation grade - Your daily work in the library media center.

Conclusion

At the conclusion of this webquest you will have learned the reasons for the establishment of the colonies and what it was like to live during that time periond.  You will have learned to use some of the resources available in the LMC.  You will have learned to recognize the library staff as an additional resource.  You will have had an opportunity to work on the first of many cooperative learning projects.