George Washington

Introduction:

This topic introduces second and third graders to George Washington the First President of the United States.  Through a variety of children books student learn about the life of George Washington from childhood, to commander of the military, to President.  The material encourages them to learn more about the revolution and the Father of Our Country (VS.6a).

Text Annotations:

A Picture Book of George Washington, by David A. Adler

The picture book life of George Washington.  George Washington was called “Father on Our Country.” “First in War, first in the hearts of his country men.”   George liked to fish and go boating, and his favorite subject was arithmetic.  At the age of 11, George Washington’s father died and he helped his mother run their farm and watch his younger sister and brothers.  George liked surveying and at the age of 16 he was given a job surveying land of the Virginia wilderness.  George joined the Virginia army at the age of 21.

American Heroes George Washington Our First President, Sneed B. Collard, III

George Washington the hero.  George Washington was known for three gifts:  he knew how how to lead, he learned from his mistakes, he had common sense.  George Washington made the revolution succeed.  He only had a few years of basic schooling.  George Washington became the first president and made the important decision of serving only two terms as president (8 years).  Slavery was an importance issue during his presidency.  George did come up with a way to free his own slaves; his will stated that after his death his slaves would be free.

George Did It,  Suzanne Tripp Jurmain

George Washington was NERVOUS about being president.   At the age of 57, the country wanted George to be president.  Americans trusted George, he was honest and dependable.  The Americans ask George Washington to be the first president and George said “No, Thank you.”  Thinking about being president made George NERVOUS.  Some Americans said they’d be willing to support the new U.S. government only if George was elected.  George Washington finally said he’d take the job if Americans thought it was absolutely necessary.  On Inauguration Day, George Washington was NERVOUS his hands shook, and his voice trembled during his 20 minute speech.

Where Washington Walked, by Raymond Bial

Walking through the life of George Washington, and learning more about his family.  George Washington was born on February 22, 1732, on a small plantation known as Pope’s Creek in Westmoreland, County, VA.  George Washington’s half brother Lawrence, who lived at Mt. Vernon, married into a Fairfax family, and these prominent Virginian, later helped launch George’s career.  George’s half brother Lawrence became ill with tuberculosis and George went with him to Barbados in hopes that he would be cured in the warm climate; however, Lawrence died in 1752 and George Washington inherited the Mt. Vernon Estate.

George Washington, by Cheryl Harness

More about the live of George Washington.  George Washington rode horses and dreamed of adventure and set his heart on a military career.  At the age 17, George became a professional surveyor.  He saved his money and took fencing lessons and read books so he could be quick with a sword and with his mind.  George spent a lot of time with wealth neighbors and determined he wanted to be somebody and make his own way in the world.  Also, it was George’s decision to be called Mister President.  George Washington chose the spot where the President’s house still stands in Washington, D.C.  The only ceremony that George and Martha Washington attended at the White House was the 16-gun salute at the unfinished stone mansion.

Web Annotations:

www.apples4theteacher.com – Website contains kid friendly item about George Washington such as:  quick facts, activities, games, scramble puzzle, chapter book biography, coloring pages, interactive computer games, time line of his life, and trivia questions.

www.garden of praise.com  Web site contains George Washington facts for kids, you can view a slide how of pictures, complete a jigsaw puzzle, crossword puzzle, word scrabble, and play a Jeopardy game online.

www.georgewashington.si.edu/kids/nonflash.html  Website contains portraits of George Washington.  Kids are given clues to solve a mystery of what items are missing in the portraits.

kids.nationalgeographic.com/kids/stories/peopleplaces/georgewashingtonicecream – Website contains fun facts for kids. Did you know that George Washington’s favorite food is ice cream.

wwww.socitalstudiesforkids.com/subjects/georgewashington.htm – Website contains fun facts and games for children.

www.washingtonworld.org/georgewashingtonkids– Website is called George Washington’s World for kids which contains interactive jigsaw puzzles, audio sound, and interactive videos.

Additional Resources for Teachers:

www.atozteachersuff.com/themes/GeorgeWashington  Website contains helpful tools for teachers such as:  cut and past patterns, lesson plans, slides covering the major event of George Washington’s life, printable quizzes, worksheets, puzzles, and the Paper of George Washington.

www.educationalworld.comWebsite contains lesson a recipe for a Washington cake, brief time line of George life, passages from George Washington’s Journal, and a virtual tour of Mount Vernon.

www.georgewashington.si.edu/kidactivityl.thml  Website contains fun activities kids and lesson plans for teachers.  The section the Patriot Papers contain activities, games, and puzzles.

www.enhancedlearning.com/history/us/pres/Washington/free/shmt Website contains teacher tools such as:  printable pictures, George Washington Cloze Activity, Washington time line Quiz, and President’s Day Activities.

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Weather Phenomena and Forecasting

While weather is introduced in 2nd grade, (VA Sci. SOL 2.6) it is further investigated in 4th grade (VA Sci. SOL 4.6). Students focus on weather conditions and a more technical understanding of tools and methods of weather forecasting and weather phenomena. Students also learn about weather measurements and meteorological tools. The resources below are intended to activate prior knowledge and create interest in the topic of weather. They are aimed at 4th grade students.

Text Annotations-
gail gibbons
Weather Forecasting
by Gail Gibbons
This book takes place at a weather station. As times passes and the seasons change, the weather station records the weather and encounters different weather phenomena. This is a good informative book on the topic of weather and gives the reader new scientific vocabulary. The pictures are also colorful and appealing to the eye.

forecasting
The Kids’ Book of Weather Forecasting
by Mark Breen & Kathleen Friesta, Illustrated by Michael Kline
This book is from the Kids Can series. It offers hands on experiments, observations, activities that children can do. It is written by a meteorologist and offers insight into weather forecasting and phenomena. This is a great good book with lots of real hands on things students can do to learn about weather.

cloudy
Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs
by Judi Barrett, Illustrated by Ron Barrett
The weather was different in the tiny town of Chewandswallow. It rained soup and juice, snowed mashed potatoes, and the wind blew storms of hamburgers. Life was delicious until the weather took a turn for the worse. This book does a great job of introducing the concept of weather phenomena and makes a fun and silly read-aloud for the class.

bus
The Magic School Bus Inside a Hurricane
by Joanna Cole, Illustrated by Bruce Degen
With Mrs. Frizzle, the whole class, and help from the Magic School Bus, you journey inside a hurricane. You are able to see water droplets forming rain and storm fronts converging. Students also learn to be prepared and what to do if a storm happens in their area. This is a great book for students to read and investigate weather further.

cat in the hat
Oh Say Can You Say What’s the Weather Today?
by Tish Rabe, Illustrated by Aristides Ruiz
Along with The Cat in the Hat, the reader travels through different weather phenomena, learning new things about them along the way. This book has great pictures and a rhyming text in the Dr. Seuss style. This would make a great read-aloud for the whole class.

Web Annotations-
The Weather Wizard from National Geographic
This is an interactive game where students are in the driver’s seat of a storm chase vehicle. They answer questions and each correct answer bring them closer and closer to the tornado.

The Scholastic Interactive Weather Maker
This is an interactive flash program where students decide the weather for the day. They are able to change conditions and create weather phenomenons such as blizzards, tornadoes, and thunderstorms.

Create your own Hurricane
In this program students are in the create-a-cane lab where they are able to choose wind speed, latitude, and moisture levels to create a hurricane.

Edheads Weather Activities
This website has different activities where students can report and predict the weather. There is also a link to a very informative weather glossary.

Web Weather for Kids- Clouds
This site provides a good overview on the types of clouds. There is a description of each type of cloud and it shows real pictures as examples. There is also an interactive game where you match the type of cloud to the picture.

Teacher Resources-
The Franklin Institute Weather Activities
This website has a wealth of information on teaching Science. It has a list of interactive weather activities including making your own weather and musical meteorology.

Web Weather for Kids Teacher’s Tips
This site is from Web Weather for Kids. There are tips, suggestions, and lesson plans on teaching weather in the classroom.

The Weather Channel Kids Teacher Resources
This comes from the Weather Channel for Kids website. There are links to lesson plans and activities for students to further explore weather.

Scholastic Weather Watch
This is an interactive website with articles, video, and research on severe weather. There are links where you are able to follow steps to observe, gather data, investigate, and analyze weather.

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Weather and Seasonal Changes

The topic covered here is weather and seasonal changes. Content to be covered includes the changes and extremes in weather, how weather influences human and animal activity, identification of common weather phenomena, and seasonal changes and how they influence human and animal activity (VA Science SOL 2.6, 2.7). The resources in this post are directed at second grade students.

Below are some books that can either be read to students, or provided for students to read, as a supplement to weather and seasonal changes lessons.

rainfrogs.jpg  Can it Really Rain Frogs? The World’s Strangest Weather Events, by Spencer Christian and Antonia Felix.Illustrated by Abe Blashko and Jessica Wolk-Stanley. This book provides information about interesting and strange weather occurrences. It covers topics such as thunder and lightening, winds, clouds, rain, and how animals respond to weather. There are also experiment examples that could be used in class.

The Nature and Science of Spring, by Jane Burton and Kim Taylor.  This book is part of the Exploring the Science of Nature series. This book completely focuses on Spring, and covers topics such as melting ice, spring rains, buds and flowers, lengthening days, and animal reactions, such as coming out of hibernation. This book has fantastic photography, and also includes a glossary and example activities and suggestions of other books to read on this topic.

winter.jpg  The Nature and Science of Winter, by Jane Burton and Kim Taylor. This is another book in the Exploring the Science of Nature series, focusing on Winter. This book covers topics such as snow, ice, dormant buds, insects and cold-blooded animal habits during winter, and winter flowers. More great photographs here, as well as activity examples, additional books to read, and a glossary.

The Nature and Science of Summer, by Jane Burton and Kim Taylor. Also part of the Exploring the Science of Nature series. This book focuses on Summer, and includes topics such as dew, droughts, summer scents and colors, and animal behaviors. Excellent photography, as well as example activities, a glossary, and list of related books to read.

seasons.gif  Seasons, by Paul P. and Diane M. Sipiera. This book gives a detailed look at the Earth’s four seasons. Topics covered include understanding the time, what makes a season, changes during seasons, and seasons on other planets. The book has many photographs and diagrams, and also includes a section suggesting additional books and online resources and organizations to check out for more information.

Web Resources:

Below are some great websites for kids to visit to enhance their learning on this topic.

Fossweb Air and Weather Module. Here students can play a game relating to seasonal weather changes. They will select appropriate clothing for an animated bear based on the temperature displayed on the thermometer.

Primary Games: The Four Seasons. Here, students can select one a season and select from a variety of crafts, coloring pages, and games. Examples include mazes, matching games, word search, and puzzles.

Sheppard Software: The Seasons-Games and Activities for Kids. This website also allows children to select a season and choose from a variety of activities, including matching games, seek and finds, and coloring pages.  There is also a computerized paint program that allows students to paint season-related images however they choose, and print them to display.

Earth TV. This website has streaming video of various locations around the world.  I thought it could be valuable and interesting to show students video of a place that would be experiencing the opposite season that we are currently in. For example, you could show students video of Australia or New Zealand and have students observe how their weather is different from ours.

The Weather Channel Kids. This is a branch of the Weather Channel’s website, aimed specifically at kids. Students can get local forecasts, learn about weather careers, visit an online glossary and encyclopedia about weather, and play a variety of games. Games include jigsaw puzzles, mazes, seek and finds, and word search. There is also a portion of the website where students can watch a video clip on hurricanes.

Resources for Teachers:

Below are some additional teacher resources.

Scholastic: Haystack Lesson Plan. Here is a neat lesson plan idea that allow students to see changes grass goes through as the seasons change.

Scholastic: Printables.  Here is a Four Seasons activity printable. This activity asks that students circle the appropriate season based on a short statement, such as “leaves turn red, orange, and yellow” or “some animals hibernate.”

Earthquake Activity from Fema.gov. Here is a neat activity that shows students how earth moves and can damage buildings during an earthquake. A pan of Jell-O (made ahead of class) is used, and the pan is tapped to demonstrate an earthquake. Sugar cubes are used to represent buildings. Students can see how the Jello-O shakes and moves when tapped, and see what happens to the sugar cube buildings. Students can have the Jello-O as a treat once activity is finished!

Four Seasons Lesson Plan Idea, from the Lesson Plan Page.  This activity involves reading students a story about the four seasons, and then having them sort pictures representing the seasons. Students will then use the images to make a foldable.

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The Structure of Our Earth

See Inside Planet Earth - Usborne Flap Book

Overview
The surface of our Earth in in constant flux. Its slow and ceaseless shifting can be understood by investigating snapshots of the Earth’s history through rock and fossil evidence. These pictures illuminate the story of Earth’s ever-changing ‘skin’ from the effects of volcanoes, earthquakes, weathering and erosion. Fifth grade students (VA SOL 5.7) will discover the energy deep within the Earth that powers the tectonic plates and the effect it has on life above Earth’s crust. 

Books

DK Guide to Savage Earth  Hawaiian Giants  Page 25 from DK Guide to Savage Earth

DK Guide to Savage Earth
by Tevor Day, A Dorling Kindersley (DK) Book
DK Guides are known for their stunning photographs. This book is no exception. It is a great introduction to the Earth’s structure and plate tectonics covering such issues as Moving Continents, Volcanoes, Making Mountains, Earthquakes, Weathering and Erosion in two-page spreads of amazing photographs and illustrations. This guide provides excellent definitions of scientific concepts and pairs them with perfect visuals for the contemporary student.

 

How Mountains are Made   Swimming with the Ammonites   Volcanic Mountains

How Mountains are Made, Let’s-Read-And-Find-Out Science
written by Kathleen Zoehfeld and illustrated by James Hale
The best way to describe this book is ‘kid-friendly’. It starts out like a story of four friends climbing a small mountain near their home. Once the friends find fossilized remains of sealife, the real story begins. The friends take turns explaining the science behind how the ammonite they found ended up at the top of a mountain range. The simple, yet accurate illustrations, guide the reader through the various ways mountains are formed.

 

Erosion  Erosion in Kenya  

Erosion: How Land Forms, How Land Changes
by Darlene Stille
This publication is beautifully designed. The pleasing layout allows this smallish book to really have an impact. It is well written and offers straightforward explanations on the erosion process with emphasis on water, wind, and glaciers. Not only does this book possess a ‘Fast Fact’ feature focusing on information bites, it also has a section on fossils and erosion, erosion on Mars, and a discussion on the appropriateness of controlling erosion. Darlene Stille has written a series of books designed like Erosion that include Plate Tectonics, Soil, Waves, and Minerals which may also prove pertinent to the Earth structure unit of study.

 

Voyage to the Volcano  magicschoolbussm.jpg

Voyage to the Volcano, a Magic School Bus Chapter Book
written by  Judith Stamper and illustrated by John Speirs
The beloved Ms. Frizzle takes her class on a hot spot field trip to the Ring of Fire. The class teams up with a fictitious volcanologist to help them get the most out of their Kilauean tour while real life professor, Ken Rubin, from the Hawaii Center for Volcanology assisted in reviewing the text for this chapter book. Voyage to the Volcano features class notes, memos from Ms. Frizzle, and facts from the volcanologist’s files interspersed throughout the text that help clarify what the class is experiencing on their journey. Undoubtedly, this book can be a fantastic tie in with Language Arts SOLs.

 

ourpatchworkplanet.jpg  ourpatchworkplanet_massdamper.jpg

Our Patchwork Planet
by Helen Sattler and Giulio Maestro
This book is a great introduction to plate tectonics and illustrates the subject well. It focuses on the drifting plates with a brief discussion on scientists’ ability to reconstruct the Earth’s history using fossil evidence. The last chapter of the book emphasizes how humans are adapting to live with the fluctuating changes of our Earth. This book is unique in that it features a couple of illustrations on active mass dampers and active tendon systems currently used in skyscrapers to “neutralize the effects of high winds or earthquakes”. This type of insight will give students an idea of the changes humans can make to  survive earthquakes.

Websites

therockcycle_homesm.jpg  The Rock Cycle  therockcycle_weatherossm.jpg
Rock Cycle
          This website explains the rock cycle like a self-guided tour dotted with ‘hands-on’ activities. Well-placed animations and explanations help illustrate complex concepts as the student learns the three basic types of rock and how they got that way. The site concludes with a brief quiz to test your newfound knowledge. It asks fifteen thought-provoking, multiple-choice questions and gives instant answers. The quizzes can be printed and are complete with the correct answer, a link to where the information was initially explained, and the coordinating visuals originally presented during the test.

 

thinkquestsm.jpg  thinkquest_mineralman.jpg

The Adventures of Mineral Man and His Rock Hound
          This site€”although a little rough around the edges€”is appealing in that it was designed by elementary school students. Mineral Man and Rock Hound appear on the home page and encourage users to journey with them as they learn rock secrets. Students will get an overview of how rocks are ‘born’, an introduction to geological time and fossils, and a guide to identifying rocks among other things. The home page include links to further resources, word searches, crossword puzzles, a quick vocabulary list, and a field trip narrative and photographs. The text is well written and relevant to upper elementary students. This simple website will inspire your own students to design a comprehensive class website on geology, or any other topic for that matter.

 

 logo.jpg  surf_f2.gif

Astro-Venture
This site allows students to choose from one of four different missions (astronomy, atmospheric science, geology, or biology).  Throughout the geology mission, the site compares and contrasts Earth with Venus and Mars and poses the age-old question: what is it about Earth that supports life? Students who take a geology mission will choose a role (volcanologist, structural geologist, geomorphologist, or geophysicist), form a hypothesis, analyze data, and decide if Venus or Mars is inhabitable based on their geologic features.

 

 dynamic_earth_inside.jpg   dynamic_earth_photos.jpg   dynamic_earth_time.jpg

Dynamic Earth
This site has incredible graphics (see above) that really showcase what the Internet can do for understanding science. The animations and  easy-to-understand information provide the perfect add-on to classroom lesson plans. This interactive site also offers an assessment that can be scored and printed.

 

wicked_crustystuff.jpg  wicked_faceyourspheres.jpg wicked_rockcycle.jpg

 Wicked
There are six very relevant interactives on this site for kids. They include exploring the Earth’s surface, examining plate tectonics, exploring the rock cycle, determining what the earth is made of, playing games to understand heat and pressure, and studying the different spheres inside the Earth.

Additional Resources for Teachers

scienceboxsm.jpg scienceboxlayerssm.jpg

My Science Box
This website is an incredible resource for science teaching. The particular lesson plan (shown above) is but one example of the high-quality activities found on this site. In this lesson, students will create their own sedimentary layers in plastic cups€”hardly a new concept€”but the difference is in the way this website offers the lesson plan itself. It presents the lesson setup, logistics, background information, play-by-play plan, and then the followup assessment with additional citations of sources and standards. It’s a nice, tidy little package of Lesson.

Plate Tectonic Game ShowPlate Tectonics Game Show
by Joe E. Hart
This Jeopardy-style game show is great quizzer, set up to accommodate 2 teams. Questions range from easy (100 points) to more difficult (500 points) in categories like ocean, earthquakes, volcanoes, plates, and ‘inside story’.  A big plus is that this game, led by a teacher, alternates questioning between the two teams to alleviate the possibility of one team dominating the game.
 

Wegener's Plates Wegener€”Continental Drift 
This animated resource is the quintessential component on continental drift. Features include cursor rollovers that provide the name of the land masses and a click-and-drag opportunity to put the Pangaea puzzle back together. The website from which this animation was taken also includes a Bullard Fit of Continents animation that depicts the more exact-fit of the continental shelves of Africa, North and South America, and Europe.

 

msic.jpg

Math and Science Innovation Center
Our very own Math and Science Innovation Center is an excellent resource. In the Biology, Earth & Environmental Sciences cluster under The Changing Earth, teachers are provided an entire lesson plan that will either enhance what students have learned during a field trip to the center or offer ideas for engaging students right in the classroom.

Volcano Videos

Volcano Lava
This short video (1:12) shows dramatic footage of pahoehoe and aa lava flows; a good eye-catching way to start a unit on plate tectonics. The soundtrack features appropriate instrumental music that enhances the striking phenomena. You can more videos on volcanoes at the National Geographic Website.

 

Volcano 101
This video (3:04) features a brief introduction to the creative and destructive nature of volcanoes. Footage includes basic information about volcanoes (e.g., 1500 active around the world with 90 percent in the ring of fire). It also highlights shield versus composite volcanoes explaining the gentle lava flows of one and the dangerous eruptive forces of the latter. It is important to know tht there is a few seconds of footage that shows ash-covered bodies of the Mt. Vesuvius eruption of Pompeii in 79 A.D. All in all, this video would be an excellent unit-summation clip. The narrator speaks very quickly and uses vocabulary that students should know before watching. The video concludes with a brief explanation of how important volcanoes are to us (e.g., created 80 percent of the Earth’s surface and the air we breathe).

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Economics: Needs and Wants

Everyone has wants.  However, students need to realize that people can not have everything they want.   Choices have to be made.  Some choices are made based on our basic needs, which include food, clothing, and shelter.  The following books are intended to be used in a kindergarten or first grade classroom. (SOL K.7a, 1.8)

Text annotation:

The Bag I'm Taking to Grandma's

The Bag I’m Taking to Grandma’s written by Shirley Neitzel and illustrated by Nancy Winslow Parker is one of the best books I read that illustrates the difference between needs and wants.  In this story a young boy is packing his bag to spend the night with his grandmother.  He packs so many of his favorite toys that the bag breaks when his mother picks it up.  While trying to sort through all the items the boy has packed the mother asks “Is this flashlight something you really need?”  She also tells him that he needs to “choose one car. You can’t take them all.”  Students should easily relate to this story as most have probably had to pack a bag for a vacation or sleepover.  The story is written and illustrated so that while reading the text a picture is inserted to represent the word, allowing non readers to follow along and participate.

A Chair for my mother

The book A Chair for My Mother written by Vera B. Williams is full of economic lessons.  The story is told by a young girl that lives with her mother and grandmother.  After a fire destroyed everything they had, neighbors donated many items to help refurbish their new apartment.  Even after the generosity of the neighbors, the family still lacked a comfortable chair to sit in and the money to buy one.  The family works together to collect and save their change in a jar until it is full enough to go buy a new chair.

How much is that doggie in the window?

How Much is that Doggie in the Window?, based on the words and music of Bob Merrill, is a story retold and illustrated by Iza Trapani.  The story starts with a young boy who hopes to buy a dog.  Unfortunately, he does not have enough money.  He decides to sell lemonade to earn enough money for the dog.  However, it rains and he does not sell any.  Then his younger sister gets hurt and to help her feel better he buys her a frozen yogurt.  He then proceeds to buy something for his mother and father that he thinks they need.  That is why a week later he has even less money than he started with.  He is saddened when he goes to the pet shop to visit the dog only to find that it has been sold.  When he gets home there is a surprise waiting for him.

if you give a pig a pancake

The story If You Give a Pig A Pancake by Laura Numeroff and illustrated by Felicia Bond is more about wants then needs.  In this cleverly written story “If you give a pig a pancake, she’ll want some syrup to go with it,” is just the start of many things the pig will want. This story circles around from the beginning of wanting syrup, a bath with bubbles, and many other things to building a tree house and finally wanting pancakes with syrup at the end. The pictures are colorful and depict the chaos that follows the pig and all her wants.

jam & jelly by holly & nellie

Jam & Jelly by Holly & Nellie is a heartwarming story written by Gloria Whelan and illustrated by Gijsbert van Frankenhuyzen.  Holly and her family live in northern Michigan “where the winter wind lays hold of you and the snow falls until everything is like a sheet of white paper.”  Holly’s mother, Nellie, realizes that Holly will need a new winter coat.  If Holly does not get a coat, then she will have to stay inside all winter and miss school.  Holly and her mother work hard all summer picking wild strawberries, Juneberries, raspberries, blueberries, and blackberries to make jams and jellies to sell on the side of the road.  Winter comes and Holly gets a coat, but what keeps her the warmest is all the pleasant memories from the summer.  The illustrations are wonderfully done with vibrant colors and realistic people and countryside scenes.

Web sites:

The Council for Economic Education has a few lessons and interactive tools for k-3.  At the bottom of the lesson titled “Toys for Me: A Lesson in Choice, in the Resources section, is an interactive game called Health Wants vs. Fun Wants.  The student will determine if items such as water, a bike, medicine, a kite, a house, and a doll are health wants or fun wants by clicking and dragging the items to the appropriate box. (SOL K.7a)

Most schools have a subscription to Kidspiration, if not then there is a 30 day free trial period.  Within the Social Studies section, there is a graphic organizer where students can click and drag different pictures to put in the “needs” and “wants” boxes. (SOL K.7a)Kidspiration Wants and Needs activity.

Students that have a  Webkinz account may not realize it but they are making decisions based on needs and wants when they play.  Once you adopt your pet, you are given a room (shelter) for them.  You are then responsible for earning KinzCash to buy items for your pet.  If you do not feed it and take it to the vet occasionally, then it gets very sick.  With your KinzCash you may purchase clothes, toys and items for the house. (SOL K.7)

Suffolk Teaching Activities & Resources (STAR) website has two interactive games for students.  The first one is the “Wants and Needs Sort,” a game created in Excel.  The second game is “Wants and Needs,” an interactive Power Point activity.  This second game may be best done as a class.

Teacher resources:

The Council for Economic Education has a few lessons and interactive tools for teaching economics in the k-3 classroom.   In the lesson “Toys for Me: A Lesson in Choice”  there is a story poem that can be read to the class and discussion questions to go along with it.  The poem is about a girl named Scarcity who wants many things.  Her mother tells her that she must choose one because it is “this OR that” not “this AND that.”  If Scarcity can not choose one or the other then she will get nothing.  The lessons on this site cover SOL’s K.7, 1.7, 1.8, 1.9, and 2.9.

Suffolk Teaching Activities & Resources (STAR) website has several lessons and activities for SOL K.7.  It is also a great resource for just about any SOL.

Putting lesson content to song is a good way to reach many students.  The Kid’s Econ Poster site has two songs about wants (SOL k.7a).  The first one is called Be Careful of what you want and the other is the Wanting Song.”  These songs are sung to the tune of familiar children songs.  There are many other songs on this site that tackle other economic lessons.

The Junior Achievement organization has a fantastic program designed for first graders that covers several economic concepts and map skills (K.5, K. 6, K.7, 1.7, 1.8, 1.9).  A business professional would come into the classroom for 30 minutes for five weeks to cover the content.

  • Books

To find books that correlate to the lesson topic there are two sites that are helpful.  The first is from Rutgers School of Arts and Sciences and it will list the top five books for your economic topic.  The other site is called Connections: Connecting books to the Virginia SOLs.  

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Jackie Robinson

 

As the first African-American player in the major leagues of baseball, Jackie’s actions helped to bring about other opportunities for African-Americans.  (SOL 2.11)  The resources given below will help a 2nd grade student learn about the life and times of Jackie Robinson.  There are sources that highlight his career and its milestones, and others that focus on what Jackie Robinson meant to the civil rights movement.  Through his accomplishments on the field and his strides to improve the lives of African-Americans in all walks of life, Jackie Robinson can be seen through these resources to be a very influential individual in American history.

Scholastic News Video
This video takes place on Jackie Robinson Day at Citi Field in New York and is an event for children.  There are several interviews in which children learn about Jackie’s contribution to not only baseball but civil rights as a whole.  People who are interviewed give their views on Jackie Robinson as a person and enunciate the ways in which he influenced others.

Jackie Robinson Game Footage
This video gives students a primary source of Jackie Robinson’s game-day exploits.  Along with seeing his prowess as a baseball player, there is also a song that regales Jackie’s accomplishments and shows his influence into popular culture.  Students will have a better understanding of the time period Jackie Robinson lived in and what the atmosphere of a baseball game was like during that era.

Jackie Robinson Biography
This biographical site gives kids a ton of information about Jackie Robinson’s career and firsts as an African-American baseball player.  There is a timeline on which his career highlights are put in chronological order.  There is another timeline that enumerates special events in the life of Jackie Robinson.  There are also links near the top of the page to a photo gallery and a video of Jackie Robinson’s last public appearance.

Jackie Robinson At Bat Craft
Crayola provides directions at this site on how to build a three dimensional paper replica of Jackie Robinson.  Included in the craft are several aspects of the time period surrounding Jackie Robinson’s baseball playing days.  This craft is meant to be a commemoration of the first African-American to play professional baseball.

Jackie Robinson on Britannica Kids
Here, Jackie Robinson’s life and career are laid out as an encyclopedia entry.  Facts are given that begin with his birth date and place and continue through to his death.  Included are facts about his playing career and contributions to society based on his work for civil rights.  An extremely helpful aspect of this web page is an interactive dictionary provided by Merriam-Webster.  if a child does not understand or recognize a word used in the encyclopedia entry, double-clicking on the word will open a small window in which the word is defined as in a dictionary.

Testing the Ice
Written by Sharon Robinson and illustrated by Kadir Nelson
This true life story is written by Jackie Robinson’s daughter and includes paintings to enhance the action of the book.  Upon retirement, Jackie Robinson moves his family to Connecticut where his children play with other kids in and around the nearby lake.  Jackie curiously does not go near the lake because, unbeknownst to his family, he does not know how to swim.  After making the rule that the children cannot go onto the frozen lake in the winter without having an adult first check its stability he finds himself faced with a dilemma.  He musters up his courage and, as a metaphor to his career, Jackie walks out to the middle of the frozen pond and okays it for the children.

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Time For Kids
Written by Editors of Time for Kids and Denise Lewis Patrick
This reading offers a detailed biography of the first African-American baseball player to play professional baseball, describing the hardships and racial barriers he had to overcome to play for the Brooklyn Dodgers.  This is an easy read to older kids and gives great information when read to younger children.  The text informs readers about complex issues, such as segregation, while remaining relevant to grades 2-4.  Also included in this reading are pictures from the Time-Life collection that depict Jackie Robinson’s career.

Time For Kids Website
As an add on to the above reading, this website gives teachers an additional resource to pull activities from.  Included in this site are open ended questions, vocabulary words, journal questions, and extended readings.  This is a educator focused site and has links to many other educational opportunities for teachers.

Picture Book
Written by David A. Adler and illustrated by Robert Casilla
Recounts the life and career of Jackie Robinson, the first African-American baseball player in the major leagues.  Easily read text is complimented by full and double page water color paintings.  There are images from his childhood, his days as a collegiate athlete, as a major leaguer, and finally includes his contributions to civic equality.  This book is a good introduction to the life of Jackie Robinson.

Jackie Robinson
This is a website for young children to navigate.  It includes simple, basic facts of Jackie’s life, a timeline of important events, and other facts.  With large writing and only one or two links, this website is set up for young elementary school children to use.

Stealing Home
Written by Burleigh and illustrated by Mike Wimmer
In 1955, during the World Series, Jackie Robinson did the impossible: stole home.  This book recants this legend in great detail, using extremely vivid imagery through very descriptive writing.  Along with the elegantly described story, there are biographical boxes throughout the book to add background information.  Oil Paintings enhance the story and are presented on each two page spread.  Potentially, this book can be read to or with a wide range of children; the facts included in the baseball card style boxes are good for older readers and  the pictures with the main story can be read to younger children.

News for You
A short read, this page allows students to get the information fast.  Important facts are given about Jackie Robinson breaking the color barrier in baseball, but the main purpose is to help the child relate to the feeling of exclusion.  A vocabulary word bank is given as is an open ended question at the end of the reading.  This reading is targeted at younger elementary aged students.

He Led the Way
Written by April Jones Prince and illustrated by Robert Casilla
This book is a biographical depiction of Jackie Robinson’s life that is written to be read by children.  It is a level 2 in the All Aboard Reading series and includes smaller words and sentences that enable young readers.  There is a mixture of paintings and pictures that go along with the words to assist children in reading He Led the Way.  While learning valuable reading skills and practicing phonetic concepts, children acquire knowledge about Jackie Robinson.

Jackie Robinson, A Black Hero
Within this website are a lesson plan, quiz, and a list of the academic standards per state.  This particular lesson plan was written for a Catholic elementary school, but can be used in the public domain as well.

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Teaching Children about Ancient China

In second grade, students study ancient civilizations. One of these civilizations is ancient China. Students learn about the architecture, inventions, and written language of China (SOL 2.1). The resources provided below will activate background knowledge, support instruction, and capture student interest.

Yeh-Shen: A Cinderella Story from China
Retold by Ai-Ling Louie and Illustrated by Ed Young

Yeh-Shen: A Cinderella Story from China can serve as a cross-curricular connection. While students study ancient China in Social Studies, they can read Chinese literature in Language Arts. You can compare this original version of Cinderella with the modern-day version or interpretations from other cultures. Yeh-Shen tells the story of a beautiful and kind young girl who is forced to serve her stepmother. Yeh-Shen’s only friend is a goldfish. One day, Yeh-Shen’s stepmother cooks the fish for dinner. A distraught Yeh-Shen saves the fish’s bones, which contain an ancient spirit. On the night of the spring festival, the ancient spirit gives Yeh-Shen an intricate evening gown and a pair of gold slippers. The spirit states that she earned these gifts through her kindness to others. That night Yeh-Shen attends the festival and loses a golden slipper. The story concludes when the king returns Yeh-Shen’s slipper and marries her shortly afterward.



Ms. Frizzle’s Adventures: Imperial China

Written by Joanna Cole and Illustrated by Bruce Degen

Ms. Frizzle’s Adventures: Imperial China uses the fictional story of Ms. Frizzle’s field trip in ancient China to teach students about ancient Chinese culture. The top two thirds of the page are dedicated to Ms. Frizzle’s story as she and her class travel back in time. As they travel through China, the students learn about Chinese writing as well as the art of silk making. Meanwhile, the students are also searching for a way to travel back home in time for a Chinese New Year celebration. Ms. Frizzle’s Adventures: Imperial China includes the written story as well as detailed illustrations and speech bubbles. This comic book style contrasts with the lower third of the page. In this section, the author describes ancient Chinese culture. She explains how to make Chinese silk, identifies Chinese inventions, illustrates the process for growing rice, and includes additional facts about Chinese culture. Ms. Frizzle’s field trip allows students to explore ancient China through a story that combines relevant facts with entertaining fiction.

D is for Dancing Dragon: A China Alphabet
Written by Carol Crane and Illustrated by Zong-Zhou Wang

D is for Dancing Dragon: A China Alphabet examines Chinese culture in alphabetical order. A four line rhyming poem is written for each letter. For example, the page dedicated to the letter G contains a poem about the Great Wall of China as well as a large illustration. In the margin the author includes additional facts about the Great Wall. The entire book follows this model. The poems outline the essential knowledge while the sidebars contain supplementary information. D is for Dancing Dragon allows you to differentiate based on reading level. Students who need more support can learn the essential knowledge through reading the poems and studying the illustrations. Meanwhile, students who need to be challenged can read the more difficult sidebars. This book provides a close look at twenty-six aspects of Chinese culture in a manner that is accessible and entertaining for all learners.

Ancient Civilizations: China
Written by Dolores Gassós and Illustrated by Estudi Toni Inglés

Ancient Civilizations: China is arranged like a student encyclopedia. Each chapter addresses a different aspect of Chinese culture. These topics range from ancient Chinese inventions to Chinese architecture. The chapters contain a brief description of the topic, multiple illustrations, informative captions, and vocabulary definitions. This book is an ideal resource for student research. Using Ancient Civilizations: China students will develop an understanding of their research topic, visualize essential features of that subject, as well as define vocabulary words related to their assignment.

You are in Ancient China
Written by Ivan Minnis

You are in Ancient China is a great tool to build students’ background knowledge about ancient China. The combination of detailed photographs and student-friendly text make this a valuable resource for students in the lower elementary grades. Through reading this book, students will explore the daily life and customs of the Han Dynasty. Notable sections in this book include descriptions of Chinese cities, the use of Chinese characters, ancient Chinese art, and science and technology from China. Since this book is divided into topics, students can elect to read the entire text or specific sections. This versatility lends the book to a variety of uses. For instance, students can read this book in order to gain broad knowledge about ancient China or read sections of this book in order to research a specific topic. You are in Ancient China allows students to visualize and comprehend the unique culture of ancient China.

Additional Student Resources:

  • The Great Wall of China: Learn more amazing facts about the Great Wall of China
  • Review Cards: Print these review cards to study the differences between ancient China and ancient Egypt
  • Tangram Puzzle: Can you complete the seven pieces of cleverness?
  • Fun Facts About China: Do you know who invented ice cream? To learn more fun facts about China, click here
  • Terra Cotta Army: Uncover the Terra Cotta Army and learn about their exciting history

Additional Teacher Resources:

  • Ancient Chinese Book: Teach students why the Chinese characters are written vertically by making ancient Chinese scrolls
  • Paper-Making Project for Kids: Experience the process of Chinese paper-making with this hands-on craft
  • Folktales from China: Connect Language Arts and Social Studies with these ancient Chinese folktales
  • Learning About Ancient China: Use this webquest with your students to teach about Chinese writing, the Great Wall of China, and the Chinese calendar
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Learning about Rosa Parks

On December 1, 1955, Rosa Parks made history by simply and courageously refusing to give up her seat to a white passenger. During a time of public, educational, and social segregation, Rosa Parks was one of many who paved the way for equal freedoms and rights in our country today. The Civil rights movement helped to bring change, creating laws that made sure that all citizens had the same rights no matter their race. (United States History II9.a) By reading about her accomplishments, children can understand that just one person can make a big change.

Listed below are some books based on Rosa Parks that illustrate her life and accomplishments.

ROSA

Rosa by Nikki Giovanni. Illustrated by Bryan Collier

At home with her family, Rosa Parks gets ready to start her day. She doesn’t know yet that the choices she will make will unleash a chain of events that spark a boycott and fuel a movement. After working all day, sewing Sunday suits and blouses, Rosa heads home. She finds a place to sit, but not before long, she is being yelled at by the bus driver to move but Rosa refuses to move.

Excerpt: “She thought about her mother and her grandmother and knew they would want her to be strong. She had not sought this moment but was ready for it. When a policeman bent down to ask her: Auntie, are you going to move?” all the strength of all the people joined in her. Rosa Parks said no.”

Seeing what has just happened inspires people to act and not before long, a great leader, Martin Luther King, Jr. is standing before the masses gathering people to protest peacefully.

The illustrations colorful, created with a variety of materials and beautiful to look at.

This Caldecott Honor book.

BACK OF THE BUS

Back of The Bus by Aaron Reynolds. Illustrated by Floyd Cooper

Riding in the back of the bus with his Mama, a little boy plays with his marble. When the marble slips away, it is Rosa Parks who rolls it back to him. She is smiling and sitting towards the front of the bus. As the bus gets crowded, it comes to a stop, and he overhears some yelling. His mama hushes him. He can hear the bus driver threaten to call the police. Sitting there waiting, he plays with his marble. His mama scolds him to put it away, so he hides it in his pocket. He gets the feeling that something is wrong. The little boy knows Rosa Parks doesn’t belong there but she refuses to move. As the police take Rosa Parks away, everyone is watching out the window…..

This story is written from a little boy’s perspective. This unique point of view can help children make connections to their own feelings and interpretations. It has colorful illustrations that help set the mood and tone of this book.

BOYCOTT BLUES: How Rosa Parks Inspired a Nation.

Boycott Blues: How Rosa Parks Inspired a Nation. By Andrea Davis Pinkney. Illustrated by Brian Pinkney

Dog Tired, the story teller, sings the Boycott Blues.

Excerpt:

This story begins with shoes.

This story is all for true.

This story walks. And walks. And walks.

To the blues.

Dog Tired narrates Rosa Park’s story: While she is sitting in the bus, Jim Crow, “with his bony wings”, comes to “peck, peck, peck” but Rosa Parks wont get up. (In this story, Jim Crow becomes a character- a bird that pecks and pecks trying to keep people segregated.) She refuses to move. That night, Martin Luther King Jr. tells the gathered crowds that they will peacefully fight for justice and boycott the buses. From then on people walked, some rode taxis, and rode bikes, but they wouldn’t ride the bus. Not until the Supreme Court got rid of Jim Crow.

The author weaves the blues in and throughout the story.

 IF A BUS COULD TALK: The Story of Rosa Parks.

If a Bus Could Talk: The Story of Rosa Parks. By Faith Ringgold

Marcie, a young girl, on her way to school, gets on an unusual bus. As she sits down a voice calls out to tell her that seat is reserved! Alarmed, she isn’t sure where the voice is coming from- soon enough- she realizes it is the bus! The bus Tells Marcie about Rosa Park’s life, her family, and her life as a young girl. Rosa grows up, gets married, and works as a seamstress. On her way home after work, she gets on a bus, and when she is asked to get up from her seat, she refuses. She is taken to jail, but her actions have inspired many to boycott the buses. The bus continues to narrate Rosa parks life. The bus pulls up and stops at Rosa Parks Boulevard. Suddenly Rosa Parks gets on the bus! Inside, she greets the riders on the bus and together they celebrate Rosa’s birthday. Marcie finally arrives at school ready to share her story with her class.

A PICTURE BOOK OF ROSA PARKS

A Picture Book of Rosa Parks by David Adler. Illustrated by Robert Casilla

Davis Adler recounts Rosa Parks life and upbringing in this children’s biography. Adler recounts her upbringing, growing up under Jim Crow,  going to a segregated school, and living in a community where the Ku Klux Klan made their presence known. The author recounts her heroic actions and accomplishments.

This is a great book for any young student to use for fact gathering or even a reference for a paper. There are colorful illustrations on every page to help guide students through the text.

Great Resources for Kids

Kids Konnect

A brief summary of Rosa Parks life. Includes links to videos and images.

Stand Up For Your Rights /PBSkids

Learn more about Civil Rights Movement. Explore games, audio interviews, and images.

Martin Luther King Jr

Learn more about Martin Luther King Jr. You can find games, coloring pages and other activities.

Montgomery Bus Boycott

Explore different biographies, read newspaper articles, explore a time line and read first hand accounts.

Biography Channel

Watch some great videos about Rosa Parks life.

Great Resources for Teachers

Taking A Stand With Rosa Parks Lesson Plan

A lesson designed to help students learn about people who shaped history by reading their biographies and researching the age in which they lived.

Scholastic for Teachers

Resource site with biography and vocabulary words.

Mr. Donn’s Lesson Plans

The stories  are designed for students to read and respond to through discussion. Lesson plan extends and involves writing. This is geared towards older students, but the stories can be read to younger students.

Scholastic for Teachers 

Here you can find list of books, activities, and free printables.

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Teaching Ancient Greece

Introduction

The Ancient Greeks were one of the two groups of people who made significant contribution to society in terms of architecture, government, and sports. The Ancient Greeks have influenced the lives of people today. Books that I chose start of with photographs of ancient buildings, artifacts to get students interested and excellent information for teaching about Ancient Greece. Then, I chose two books about Olympic Games. One book is fiction and one is non-fiction.  Children are granted with a thorough understanding of Greece’s background so as to see how the concept of the Olympic games originated within this magical culture of gods and goddesses. I also chose one book about Athenian democracy and one about Parthenon, one of the most recognizable buildings in the world.

All of these books would be most appropriate when teaching Ancient Greece to third grade students. (SOL 3.1)

Selection of Books:

“You are in Ancient Greece”

You are in Ancient Greece, written by Ivan Minnis, is filled with photographs of ancient buildings, artifacts and excellent information for teaching about Ancient Greece. There is no particular illustrator because all of the images are photographs. The book aims to put students in the civilizations hundreds and thousands of years ago by teaching them from the perspective of what their education, food gathering, entertainment and other aspects were like during those times. Each page has headings such as “A Greek City” and “Growing Up” which gives organization to the plentiful information. Important vocabulary works are in bold and there are portions of a page devoted to “finding out about”a topic. This visually separates the information from the student which may help recognize the information as interesting facts.

This website can be used by teachers to gain background knowledge or by children to see Ancient Greece in a more creative and understandable way.

“Adventures in Ancient Greece”

The book Adventures in Ancient Greece was written by Linda Bailey and illustrated by Bill Slavin. The story is about a set of twins and their younger sister who want to see the Olympic Games in the future. They stop by Jullian T. Pettigrew’s Travel Agency and inform him of their wishes and he hands them a book. Once they open the book, the three of them are transported back to Ancient Greece. Once there, they see all of the culture, arts, customs of Greece and of course the Olympic Games. They have a lot of adventures in ancient Greece while they read from this book to get the information about what they are witnessing.

This online activity tests the students’ knowledge on how well they know the sports the ancient Olympians competed in.

“Ancient Greece and the Olympics”

Ancient Greece and the Olympics, written by Mary Pope Osborne and Natalie Pope Boyce, illustrated by Sal Murdocca, is part of the infamous Magic Tree House Series that aims to realistically take children on a voyage through ancient history. This particular journey to Greece begins with an introduction to the country’s history and its people, then moves to the country’s religion, its daily life and its culture. All of these integral elements serve as the foundation for the major focus of this book. Children are granted with a thorough understanding of Greece’s background so as to see how the concept of the Olympic games originated within this magical culture of gods and goddesses.

This kid friendly website offers simple summaries, interactive activities, fun facts, and quizzes for children all about Ancient Greece.

With this website, children can learn about the Ancient Greek influence on the English language as they “Go for the Gold” in the Olympic Games.

This site presents teachers with a mini-unit on the Olympics in the Ancient Greece. Each day is planned out as students meet the Olympians, prepare for various Olympic games, experience the traditional “Opening and Closing Procession” and so much more.

“Cleisthenes: Founder of Athenian Democracy”

Cleisthenes: Founder of Athenian Democracy, written by Sarah Parton, illustrated by Athenian professor is about the development of a democratic form of government in Ancient Athens that was arguably one of the most important occurrences in the history of mankind. Cleisthenes is often attributed the tag of “the founder of Athenian democracy”.  This book highlights that Cleisthenes reformed the Athenian political system so that the state was no longer ruled by a small group of wealthy landowners and aristocrats, and so that ordinary citizens enjoyed more rights and could participate in making important decisions.

This website has great notes for teachers about Athenian democracy. Vocabulary is highlighted which would make it easier for teachers to see what new vocabulary words students need to learn. Also, if the teacher is not familiar with the Athenian democracy this would be a great website to get the background knowledge.

“Parthenon”

The Parthenon written by Lynn Curlee and illustrated by Lynn Curlee explores the tremendous history behind one of the most recognizable buildings in the world. The Parthenon was ravaged by the early Christians, occupied by the Turks, and looted by the British. Wars were fought all around it. Plato and Socrates, Phidias and Pericles contemplated philosophy, art, drama, and democracy on its steps. Today its proud, ruined columns stand high above the city of Athens, Greece, the last sentinels of what’s often considered to be the most important architectural achievement in the world. The Parthenon is without rival in regard to its beauty, purity of design, and tumultuous history.

This website has great ideas about doing big projects with students. After studying about the Parthenon, students can make their own Parthenon. It could be an individual project or it could be a group project.

This website would benefit both teachers and students because it has a lot of information about Ancient Greece. All of the information is categorized and it gives both teachers and students a chance to get the background knowledge, explore what they have learned and it also gives them a challenge which is an activity where they have to apply what you have learned.

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Teaching History with Children’s Literature: Christopher Newport

  Captain Christopher Newport

Captain Christopher Newport (1561-1617) was a major figure is the Virginia Company’s voyage to the New World and the establishment of England’s first permanent settlement there. Previously, Captain Newport was a successful sailor with Sir Frances Drake, seized fortunes from the Spanish and Portuguese as a privateer for Queen Elizabeth I, where he lost his arm. As the Admiral of the voyage to establish Jamestown, Newport lead the three ships to the New World choosing the site to establish the settlement. He lead the initial explorations for King James, and established peaceful relations with Chief Powhatan. Newport then kept Jamestown alive during their crucial adjustment period, where all other settlers had died, out before by going on four resupply voyages. During the last of these missions, where the ship SeaVenture became shipwrecked in a hurricane in Bermuda, Newport arranged the 150 colonists on board to reconstruct two ships so they could continue on to provide Jamestown the much needed provisions.

Curriculum Connections
The study of the leader Captain Christopher Newport connects to Virginia Studies SOL VS.2 & 3,as he played an integral role in the establishment of Jamestown.

Literary Resources:

The Jamestown Journey

The Jamestown Journey by Bentley Boyd is an easy and captivating read for students in comic book style. Using humor and clever illustrations this graphic novel will engage even the most reluctant readers. This book highlights Christopher Newport’s adventures before leading the voyage to plant Jamestown, comparing him to a pirate! It also gives an overview of the reasons Jamestown was financed- to find gold, how John Smith never really married Pocahontas, and how the colony traded tobacco leaves in place of coins.

 The Adventures of Young Sam Collier

Surviving Jamestown: The Adventures of Sam Collier  written by Gail Langer Karkowski and illustrated by Paul Casale is a great historical fiction book who’s main character is the apprentice to John Smith. Following Sam’s adventures students can learn about the voyage to Jamestown, Captain Newport and his role in choosing and replenishing supplies for the settlement, and much more about the events that took place. This book also includes great full page pencil illustrations. As this book is appropriate for grades 5-7 it may be appropriate for a group of good readers who need a challenge, for less advanced readers this may be best presented as a group read aloud.

Captain Christopher Newport

Captain Christopher Newport by . Bryant Nichols, Jr.is a great resource for all the facts and detail about Christopher Newport’s life including his early years as a sailor and a privateer, leading the initial Jamestown voyage and his heroic Sea Venture rescue. This book navigates all his adventures, showing how he was such and integral part of expanding the English empire not only to the New World but to Persia and India, as well as all over the world. As a true leader of men Christopher Newport is highlighted, as he is so often downplayed in Jamestown history.Excerpts of this book could be used to show more detail about the captain, bringing him more to life in the minds of the students.

The Story of Jamestown

The Story of Jamestown by Eric Braun is a good graphic novel on Jamestown giving a good overview of the topic. This book could be used at the beginning of the unit. The class could create a KWL chart and then read this book on their own to wet their appetites on what Jamestown was all about and what events took place. This book shows Captain Newport’s role in founding Jamestown which can be discussed  as you go more in depth in the unit.

Blood on the River

Blood on the River: Jamestown 1607  by Elisa Carbone  is another great historical fiction novel about Sam Collier the page assigned to Captain John Smith. His account of the events leading to the settlement of Jamestown and of its early struggle for survival accurately depict in great detail an overview of everything the students need to know. Captain Newport’s character, a voice of reason,is the leader of the voyage and choosing the site, and then later returning with provisions and a dose of sanity when everything seems to be going to pieces. This is great book for independent reading during language arts, a great way to expand the study of Jamestown across subjects.

Web Resources:

Interactive Jamestown fort map and the Powhatan village of Werowocomoco map.

From the National Geographic website, this interactive map is full of interesting facts about the colonists as well as the native indians. Kids can explore with a magnifying glass and then click on certain areas to learn more with videos and other resources that give more facts and details.

The Jamestown Adventure

Students get to be the captain of the Jamestown voyage by choosing the site of the settlement,who will be forced to do labor, what crops to plant, how to interact with the natives and more. At the end of the game they are scored on how well they did in several different criteria  with an explanation on what we know now, and what choices the Jamestown settlers made that cost them many lives.

 Jamestown Rags to Riches

This game allows students to answer multiple choice questions, seeing how far they can make it to 1,000,000, in Who Wants to be a Millionaire-style. This is a great quiz/test review game.

Jamestown 400: Explore Jamestown

Students can click on different tabs to explore aspects of the Jamestown Settlement each of which has audio telling them about the voyage, the James Fort, the Indian village, the Chesapeake bay. Featuring maps and visually attractive, interactive features, this is a great site for students to explore on their own.

Virtual Jamestown

This site includes tons of info on Jamestown including primary documents, virtual panoramas, and time lines. A great place to explore more in depth on what the town, structures and area was like, the sequence of events and what the official documents sounded like.

Additional Resources:

Historic Jamestowne, the archeological site that  is jointly administered by APVA Preservation Virginia and the National Park Service, provides lesson plan ideas for educators. These lesson, meant to be in conjunction with a tour of the site, are useful whether you make it in or not.

“You Shall Do Your Best Endeavor”

Students will read and interpret an original document instruction the settlers on what type of site they should choose for the colony. In small groups the students will read the document and then answer questions based on what they gleaned from it.

“Finding the James Fort”

The students will read original documents and discuss how archaeologists were able to find the exact location of the Jamestown Fort and why the exact location was left out on original maps of the area.

Lorri Glover Lecture on the Sea Venture

Clips can be shown of Lori Glover talking about Christopher Newport’s role in saving the shipwrecked Sea Venture, delivering the goods to the colonists who may have died out with out these provisions.

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