Colonists

Colonists - Lesson #10 (3 days) 
Our focus of this 3 day lesson was to have the students become the experts. They began their work in small groups to complete their initial research on family/individuals, homes/shelters/forts, chores/games and school. Students read mentor texts and prepared information packets. They prepared notecards and visual aids. They also created models of homes, games, and school materials to use during their presentations.

Chores and Games Group

Mrs. Kneeland met with the family/individual groups to prepare their presentation materials. Students learned about popular colonist's names, how they dressed, and what they might have packed in their trunks on their journey to become a colonist. During their presentation, students shared colonial greetings and salutations.

Students researching homes/shelters/forts shared the log home and waddle home designs. Colonists utilized the resources of the land. They used timber, planks, logs, thatch, branches and mud. This  research group was surprised by the limited space and the colonists solutions for extra space - hanging items on the walls of their homes. This group shared an example of the two different types of homes.

The chores/games groups were kept busy finding out about the about the amount of chores both inside and outside the colonial homes. Chores were a necessity that always preceded fun. Girls helped more with the inside chores and boys with the livestock and field work. Sometimes a colonial child would even turn his/her chore into a game (for example, carding wool could be turned into a competition with a sibling or a friend). Games were played inside and outside too. Chess, checkers and ball/jacks were played indoors when it was too cold outside. Once it warmed up, colonial children played blindman's bluff, hoops, and graces (a games using embroidery hoops and knitting needles). During the presentation this group shared how to play with a whirligig toy.

Students researching schools shared the hornbook and quill-n-ink writing. Colonial children attended a one room schoolhouse. The buildings had wooden floors and were heated with a wood stove. Colonial students had chores at school too including fetching water and gathering wood.

Students were hard at work and it showed during their group's presentation. There was a general consensus agreed upon by all researching students. They expressed a huge appreciation for our modern day conveniences...running water, electricity, grocery stores and technology, especially computers:)