Colonies and Charts

This week we finished our chart comparing Jamestown and Plymouth (Plimouth). You should have discovered major differences between the two colonies. Jamestown was established by a group of “gentlemen” who wanted to make a profit through the discovery of gold or by using Native Americans for slave labor. They selected a poor location which led to a great deal of misery and almost resulted in the demise of the colony. The Plymouth colonists came for religious reasons and came as families. Their location provided security and access to hunting fields and clean water. This past week I have been reading Mayflower by Nathaniel Philbrick and he describes in detail how the Pilgrims settled on the actual location of their settlement. His discussion reminds us that geography has a great influence on history. Over time the Plymouth colony faded as new settlers chose to locate in Boston, which had even better access to water routes and higher land to provide additional security.

As we concluded our study of Jamestown, you had the opportunity to generate two types of questions for our quiz. A closed question has only one correct answer while an open ended question may have a variety of responses. For example, “Who is the current President of the United States?” is a closed question with only one correct answer, while “Who has been the most effective President?” is an open ended question that allows for many possible responses. Keep in mind that when you write your response to an open ended question you must included accurate historical information.

Historical Empathy

This week we reenacted the signing of the Mayflower Compact by reading a play on this important moment in history. By putting ourselves back into that time period, we are better able to understand the feelings and intentions of the colonists. On Monday, we will read the actual Mayflower Compact and you will discover that this short document almost acts as a constitution for the early colony.

Portfolio Time

On Friday you set up your portfolio. It is your responsibility to put all of your graded work in the folder and to keep the status of assignment sheet up to date. This is a great way for you to monitor your own work. If your work is below standard you are sometimes given the opportunity to revise. Make sure you do the revisions and turn in the new work at the next class period so you can earn additional credit.

Current Events

On Friday you received the current events assignment and rubric. We practiced in class what you need to do to earn full credit for the assignment. If you have questions, please check the FAQ sheet. The current events assignment is one where you can get your family involved by asking your parents or guardians about the different news stories. It can be a great topic for family conversation or debate. The rubric clearly outlines what you need to do to earn full credit for the assignment. If you want to earn extra credit, follow the directions for “exceeding the standard.” I look forward to seeing your articles on Monday and beginning a lively conversation on topics in the news.

URI China Colloquium

Many items that we purchase on a regular basis, including clothing, food and shoes, are made in China. China has become an economic power house that is changing the world economy. In an effort to better understand this complex and sometimes confusing nation, URI is holding a series of lectures and special events that are open to the public. The programs are held on Tuesday evenings at 7:30 at Chafee Auditorium. For additional information on the event check out the link

The War

On September 23 at 8:00 pm, PBS (Channel 2) will broadcast the first episode of Ken Burn’s “The War.” This is the story of World War II through the eyes of four soldiers from different parts of the country. It tells the story of their experiences as well as how their hometowns changed during this world event. It has gotten exceptional reviews and I would urge all of you to take the time to watch at least part of the program.