Let's Go to the Fair

It is that time of year when we start preparing for our Civil War Fair. This is an opportunity to show our guests how you can think and act like an historian. It is an especially exciting project as you have selected your own topic and partner. All of the skills we have been working on this year are showcased in your final project: using multiple sources, asking questions, looking for evidence, debating, discussing and communicating. The Fair is May 17 and you will be writing a letter of invitation next week inviting a member of your family or friend to the event. You should take a special pride in showing your work to our community.

You have been given a wealth of sources ranging from this blog to the special folder we have set up on the G drive that contains a power point by Mr. Fontaine on how to find primary source documents. You have a depth of knowledge (DOK) chart that will help you develop a critical thinking question to guide you in your work. You have a model of an annotated bibliography, a list of helpful hints from past students, and a student-friendly rubric. You have also been given a blue book which will act as a journal where you can document your work, set up a timeline, and keep track of your multiple sources.

In the past, students have found that developing a critical thinking question can be daunting. Remember you have the DOK chart to help you focus your thinking. You want your project to be more then a description of an event or group of people. Using primary sources will help you get your project to a higher level of thinking because you will have to analyze the document to find evidence. You may also want to use a hypothesis as an overarching theme for your work and then show the judges how you proved or disproved the statement.

A big key to success in this project is managing your time. You have a list of dates when we will use the library. Now you need to set aside time after school or on a weekend to work with your partner. You should have your display completed by May 16 so you have the last 24 hours to practice your presentation.

With so many resources available, sometimes it is easy to get overwhelmed. Some of the best sites for information include the Library of Congress main site, the special Memory site, Mrs. Oz’s compilation, the Public Broadcasting site and Eye Witness to History. There are also specialized sites for music of the period.

Uncle Tom’s Cabin

We also started watching the video of “Uncle Tom’s Cabin.” This is an especially good video because it has top rated actors and it takes large sections of the narrative directly from the novel. This book sold over 300,000 copies in the United States and was translated into over 20 languages, making it a worldwide best seller. The video gives you a window into the life of a slave and the numerous challenges of daily living when you are viewed as property and not as a human being.

We are Free

Yesterday, Rhode Island celebrated its own special Independence Day. Rhode Island became the first colony to declare its independence from England on May 4, 1776. While we may be the smallest state, Rhode Island has played a significant role in the formation of our nation.

Let’s All Wave

Queen Elizabeth is visiting the United States this weekend and her first stop was Jamestown, Virginia to celebrate the founding of the colony 400 years ago. In addition to playing tribute to the hearty colonists, she tipped her hat to the Native Americans who helped them survive the first few years but then became victims of widespread colonization. In recognizing multiple points of view, she was thinking and acting like an historian!

Today the Queen is off to the Kentucky Derby and then on to the White House for a special State Dinner.