The document provides an overview of a 5th grade social studies and language arts unit on early American colonialists. Students will learn about the 13 original colonies by mapping them, comparing their characteristics, and creating a timeline of key events from 1775-1783. They will analyze early American art and read about the lost colony of Roanoke. For their final project, students will write a persuasive essay arguing why the lost colony mystery is important or presenting their theory on what happened to the colonists, creating an outline informed by research and a persuasion map.

1. Sara’s Webquest<br />Topic: Early American Colonialists<br />Grade Level: 5th Grade<br />Core Objectives: <br />Social Studies: Describe and explain the growth and development of the early American colonies.<br />Language Arts: Write opinion pieces on topics or texts, supporting a point of view with reasons and information.<br />Library Media: Extract information from resources.<br />Personal Objectives:<br />This unit will be on the early American colonies. Students will be able to map out the 13 original colonies. They will also become knowledgeable on colonialists and the colonies they formed up to the Revolutionary War. This includes creating a timeline. They will recognize characteristics of Early American art. Students will learn how to write persuasive essays by gathering necessary research from the internet<br />http://www.softschools.com/social_studies/13_colonies_map/<br />Play the 13 colonies map until you know where all of the colonies are. <br />http://www.mapletreelearning.com/stamphistory/first13colonies.html<br />Read the page from Betsy Ross to Thomas Rolfe, and then click on the maze. Answer the questions to make it through the maze.<br />http://www.socialstudiesforkids.com/articles/ushistory/13colonies1.htm<br />Click on the Characteristics of the Colonies. Read Motivations and Economy and compare and contrast the New England Colonies, the Middle Colonies, and the Southern Colonies. Then, click on 3 of the 13 different colonies offered and compare and contrast the quick facts provided.<br />http://www.mrnussbaum.com/history/revolution.htm<br />Read the timeline from 1775-1783. Find 15 parts of the timeline that you find interesting.<br />http://www.ourtimelines.com/create_tl_2c.html<br />Using the 15 parts of the previous timeline that you found interesting, create your own timeline.<br />http://www.earlyamerica.com/earlyamerica/maps/13colonies/<br />Click on Videos on the Right Side and select a video you want to watch. After the video write a synopsis on the story.<br />http://www.worcesterart.org/Collection/Early_American/<br />Browse through the paintings keeping note of the similarities. Create your own painting with the same characteristics of the Early American art.<br />http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2004/03/0302_040302_lostcolony.html<br />Read the article on America’s Lost Colony. Take notes and answer one of the following questions:<br />Why do we care about the mystery of the Lost Colony?<br />What is your theory on what happened to the Lost Colony?<br />Be prepared to form a persuasive essay on one of the two questions.<br />http://www.readwritethink.org/files/resources/interactives/persuasion_map/<br />Using your notes and answer to the previous question, create a persuasion map. This map will aid you in writing your persuasive essay.<br />http://www.writeexpress.com/persuasive-essay.html<br />Read these tips on writing a persuasive essay and create an outline, using your map from the previous site.<br />