November/December Social Studies

In November, we will begin a mini-unit focused on The Age of Exploration and European Explorers. During this unit, students will learn about various different European Explorers. Students will research different explorers by reading non-fiction texts. The goal of this unit is for students to understand why people in Europe began to explore territories across the globe and for students to recognize that the beginnings of our country are founded on the Age of Exploration. The purpose of this unit is to prepare students for the following unit, Colonial Life in North America. 

Starting at the end of November, we will begin our Colonial unit. During this time, students will learn about why people settled in the American colonies and how they survived in a new land. Using both primary and secondary resources, students will develop an understanding for what life was like for people living in the American Colonies. As the unit continues, we will begin to focus on Colonial life in New York State and how this would eventually lead to the development of New York today. 
The unit will last approximately one month and will end with a culminating research project. Working in the classroom, students will choose topic to research and will learn how to use non-fiction texts and Internet resources to carry out their research. Using the information they gather, students will develop a generalization, or big idea, about what life was like during Colonial times (Ex: During Colonial times, children had more responsibilities than they do today). Students will then use their research findings to develop three reasons that support their generalization. Students will also be required to prove that their reasons are true by using facts taken from the non-fiction resources they used during their research. Students will present their projects in the form of three short paragraphs and sketches that depict their research findings. 

Students may also continue their research at home by using our class website: http://www.portaportal.com/ Students may scroll down to the Social Studies section of the website in order to help with their research. See login information below:

Username: 4302
Password: ps172