Fourth Grade with Mrs. Connell

LINKS TO RESEARCH EXPLORERS:

We are starting to learn about the Age of Exploration, and you have been asked to start thinking about and gathering info for 3 explorers you might want to learn more about.  Here are a list of good websites with tons of info about various explorers that may be of interest of you.  Remember that you should always write down the name of any source you use to gather information, so that we can give it proper credit on your project.

http://library.thinkquest.org/4034/hall_of_fame.html

http://www.enchantedlearning.com/explorers/

http://www.42explore2.com/explorers2.htm here you can search by last name, and numerous links to resources will come up.

http://cybersleuth-kids.com/sleuth/History/Explorers/

http://www.myhero.com/myhero/hero.asp?hero=a_earhart scroll down for this one to find a number of people.  There are many modern ones, so you could select 1 of these as well as an explorer from the 1400-1600′s.

http://www.mariner.org/educationalad/ageofex/biographies.php

SOME LINKS TO PRACTICE STATE LOCATIONS AND CAPITALS:

http://bensguide.gpo.gov/3-5/games/interactive.html

http://www.yourchildlearns.com/make-your-own-usa.html

SOME LINKS FOR YOUR COLONY RESEARCH:

Download:  A great background about why people would come to the colonies in the first place.

This website is about colonial kids including their clothing, schools, homes, chores, transportation, and jobs.

Social Studies for Kids gives you a clickable map with fast facts on each colony, with links to events in history related to that colony.

Mr.Nussbaum: Though I don’t know who he is, he’s got a nice interactive map with info you can read and scroll through on each colony.

This website helps to explain the climate, resources, and religions of each colony region. Great information for trying to advertise your colony!

Try this link to learn more about how farming was different in the different regions.

Pictures of colonial money: This isn’t anything you NEED but it is pretty neat, especially if you want to print off, or just look at your colony’s coins!

Classroom Clipart: for pictures of real maps, people, colonial life, etc.  We should be able to print in color at school, but you can always access from home and print there as well!

Examples of a family crest and designs for your coat of arms:

http://www.fleurdelis.com/shields.htm

A history of our studies is below:

In September, we read If You Were There When They Signed the Constitution, by Elizabeth Levy.  We learn about the creation of our country’s most important document, and use it as a model to write our own.

We visit Bushy Hill Nature Center as part of our next unit of study, Native Americans.  We learn about the life and culture of Native Americans from all regions of North America while practicing note-taking skills.  We also create related crafts, such as dream catchers, winter counts, totem pole designs, and try our hands at sandpainting.

In winter, we learn about the “Age of Exploration,” a period of time in history where so many of the creative arts flourished, curiosity spread across many cultures, and vast discoveries were made.  Each student makes a formal request and is granted permission by the Queen to research a particular individual, create a powerpoint presentation, board game, and a fast fact sheet.  Students also learn the process of writing a bibliography entry.

During the spring of fourth grade, students learn about the colonization of America.  Through various crafts, books, trades, a fantastic trip to Sturbridge Village and our culminating ‘Colonial Day’, students get a very hands-on feel for what life was like during that time.