Study Chart for Jamestown, Roanoke, & Plymouth Colonies

        When we finished the chapter on the English settlement of Roanoke, Jamestown, and Plymouth Colonies I like to do a wrap up.  Before the chapter assessment I like to have the kids make some kind of  chart to compile their knowledge.  I came up with a chart which complies most of the important information introduced in the chapter.

     This is the work of one of my students.  We made the basic chart with the three headings, Roanoke, Jamestown, and Plymouth together as I modeled the directions. Then I give the students time to "talk with their neighbor"  to fill in the names of the leaders.  This strategy gives the students an opportunity to share ideas and information.  I feel this gives the more shy and timid children the opportunity to absorb more information that they haven't grasped yet. These kids can offer information to one or two peers rather than the class as a whole.  As we all know, some students aren't confident enough to share with the entire class.  As the year goes on their confidence level begins to soar by working with students with whom they comfortable.
    After each section, children were able to share what they had filled in. The shy or timid child now has an answer that they can be confident to share with the entire class.  Then we moved on to the next category( location, Native American tribes, problems,  help, ships, etc.)

         My students also like to use a strategy I call "Do you know".  I have the kids write "Do you know" statements about the information that they have learned.  Then the students find a partner and ask their partner their question.  The partner has to repeat the statement saying, "Yes, I know that ..." back to their partner.  The students switch roles and the continue.  The repetition of the statement back to a partner reinforces the information. If the student can not repeat the statement his or her partner will repeat it again for clarity.
      This concept is a take on the Whole Brain teaching concept where the teacher makes a statement and the students repeat the information.
The students become the teacher in this case.
       Here are some "Do you know" statements that one of my students made up to use in class.

      Give this one a try with your Social Studies or Science students.

      Feel free to leave comment if you find any of my strategies helpful in your classes.  I would love to hear from you.

Beti

Jamestown ideas

     Jamestown 

and

Roanoke

Part of the 5th grade curriculum is learning about Jamestown.  I gave my students several activities in order to focus on Jamestown and The Lost Colony of Roanoke.
  
         Before the kids had a quiz on Roanoke and Jamestown, they made a "What I know about..." flip chart in order to organize their information.  Here is a close up of the images for the two flaps. I love to have my students make flip charts as study aids.  5th graders still need hands on activities as much as the children in younger grades.  The kids like the action of opening and closing the flaps while studying.This gives them the tactile experience that  many people need to learn.

    We also make a Lost Colony flip chart.

            The students then organized what they knew about each colony and wrote the information under the correct flap.  As expected, some students wrote more and some wrote less. 
         

          After the flip charts were finished,  the students passed their flip chart to a partner.  Each child would read the information the their classmates had written.  The review became more beneficial because they were constantly reading different information and also reviewing the same information worded differently.

      A Circle Flip Chart is a different way to get the students thinking.

     Information is written under each flap. Last, the picture of the fort or a student drawing is glued in the middle of the circle.

I was very pleased on how these activities helped my students on their Roanoke and Jamestown quiz.
     

      The lastly, the students chose one of three writing activities about the Jamestown colony. 

1.  You were a settler of Jamestown and wrote a post card to a family member that you left in England.  Postcards always have a picture on the back, so design an illustration of Jamestown on the reverse side of the post card.

2. You were a settler of Jamestown and wrote a letter to Captain John Smith stating how you felt about his leadership abilities and his rule for work in Jamestown.

3.  You were a settler of Jamestown and voiced your opinion if life was easy or difficult for you.  Would you stay in Jamestown or decide to return to England?

      It is great to make your students feel empowered in their learning.  Giving them choices is one way to do this.  Some of us are better writers and others are better using their artistic creativity. These activities can be altered for different ability levels in your classroom.

      Today I linked up with Doodle Bugs Teaching.

www.doodlebugsteaching.blogspot.com

      Please leave a comment if you have an extra minute in your busy day. I'd love to read your ideas.

Beti