Campaigning For Our Colonies

Colonists have finally finished constructing their colonies. The results: impressive. The craftsmanship: top-notch. Each one was so thoughtfully constructed and designed to meet the needs of the colonists and to help them achieve their colony goals. Parents will have an opportunity to see these settlements soon.  More on that to follow. 

Colonists have moved on to the next and final phase of the project, creating marketing campaigns for each of their colonies. The goal for these marketing campaigns?  To attract more settlers and wheedle the support of the "citizens of England", enticing them to relocate their families to their colony in the New World.  Students took some time to evaluate a selection of marketing tools that they'll use to promote their colonies, including the use of billboards, TV commercials, social media and product brochures (cleverly promoting 17th century ideas using 21st century tools). Their final marketing campaigns will be presented to fourth grade students who are learning about how the geographic features of North America shaped its history. Fifth grade students will host a gathering with fourth grade students and offer them an opportunity to explore these new colonies and view their respective marketing campaigns. An election will be held shortly thereafter, where fourth graders will vote on the ideal colony.

There is some serious learning happening here, folks. They are actively applying their knowledge and understanding of geography as it relates to human settlement, as well as a variety of communication skills and strategies to achieve a win for their colony, including the use of propaganda (something my homeroom students are learning about as a prelude to an upcoming [unrelated] dystopian novel unit). Kudos, kids - it's an outstanding example of applying your learning across all content areas. Check out the images below. Our classroom simulates a junior P.R. agency. ☺  Stay tuned for more on this next week...

Valzania & Co. P.R. Agency: "We Make Publicity Happen"

  

Breaking Ground

"Colonists" broke ground last week, establishing each of their colonial settlements (New Timboria, Greenville, and Doppeland). The "construction kickoff" featured representatives from The TimberBricks Company delivering twenty colonial house kits to help get the project underway. These kits would be used to construct homes, meeting houses, town halls, and churches. 

Colonists also worked together to determine the most lucrative occupations/trades that could be established in their colonies, based on the available natural resources and climate of their settlement region. Colonists were appointed as specific tradesmen/tradeswomen, including: blacksmith, shipbuilder, carpenter, potter, weaver, tanner, schoolmaster and more. Over the course of the week, colonists were visited by representatives of their colony sponsors (aka Superintendent, Principal and other administrators).  During these visits, colonists were required to demonstrate and explain how they were preparing and planning for the changing seasons, how their trades would help support and develop a sustainable colony and what specific resources were available for trade. Sponsor representatives were quite pleased with the planning and progress, and left colonists to continue with their work. Huzzah, colonists!  Onward!

Our Hearts Are Filled With Gratitude

Students unite to show their red-white-blue leather bracelets symbolizing their gratitude for our nation's greatest heroes.

Before departing for the long weekend, students took some time to learn about the meaning of Veterans Day, acknowledging the men and women who have bravely served or are currently serving in the U.S. Armed Forces; to recognize and thank them for their patriotism and their willingness to serve and sacrifice in order to protect us, our freedoms, and our liberties.

After reading the story titled The Wall by Eve Bunting, students created faux wall rubbings (inspired by the story's tribute to the Vietnam Memorial) and wrote letters of appreciation to veterans, which are being mailed to Boxford American Legion Post 379. Students also made red-white-blue leather bracelets, symbolizing their support of them. Ask your child to share their knowledge about this important day with you and how they plan to honor our military men and women.

THANK YOU, veterans - past, present and future - for your service to our beloved country. 

REMINDER: The Boxford Veterans Day Parade will begin at 11:00am on Sunday, November 11, 2018, at the James L. Melvin Green, located at the corner of Elm St. and Topsfield Rd. A brief ceremony will follow commemorating the 100th Anniversary of World War I.

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Setting Sail for the New World

The official launch to our "Establishing a Colony" project-based learning (PBL) unit took place on Monday.  Since then, "colonists" (aka students) in each of the classes have been preparing for their journeys. They've declared their motives for colonization in the New World, have secured their respective sponsors and have drafted their colony compacts. I've had the pleasure of observing some outstanding examples of effective collaboration as colonists worked together to draft colony laws and elect (or in some cases appoint) governors/leaders. They're off to a great start. Colonists are now in the process of analyzing and evaluating geographical features along the east coast of the New World to determine the best possible location for their settlements. Their motives are clearly driving their thinking (so great to see this level of deep and meaningful thinking!).  

Interested in learning about their motives for colonization? They are as follows:

Colony V (Mrs. Valzania's homeroom colony - official name TBD) motive for colonization: ECONOMIC (to prosper as individuals and to increase the economic wealth of their British investor)

Colony B (Mrs. Bouffard's homeroom colony - official name TBD) motive for colonization: POLITICAL (to weaken Spain's military by establishing British military and naval outposts and claim new territory)

Colony C (Mrs. Cummings' homeroom colony - official name TBD) motive for colonization: SOCIAL and ECONOMIC (to seek adventure and explore new territories, own land and prosper, and to repay their investor with resources to trade back in England) 

Stay tuned for future updates as these self-proclaimed swashbucklers prepare to "break ground" and begin the construction of their colonies later this week!    

"Colonists" use Google Maps along with their hard data from prior research of the New World's east coast region as they analyze and evaluate the best possible location for their settlements.