Colonial Chatterbox: Podcasting "History"

Our first official podcast of the year is now available for your listening and learning pleasure!  As you all know, students in each of my social studies classes have just completed a unit on the early colonization of North America through a project-based learning experience.  Students researched and analyzed geographical information prior to designing and creating their version of the ideal colony and then designed marketing campaigns to "sell" it to prospective settlers.  During the colonization process, students worked with the amazing Mrs. Kosakowski (our digital literacy specialist) to create a series of podcasts that would highlight important phases of the project from the perspective of "colonists".  We hope you'll take a few moments sit back and enjoy listening to these podcasts, as students show you all that they have learned about early colonization in North America and how geography influences the development of communities.  Below is the first of five "Colonial Chatterbox" podcast episodes.  To listen to the remaining four episodes, I've posted a link to the entire podcast series just below episode one.  Enjoy!

Colonial Chatterbox: Episode One (This Colonial Life):

Colonial Chatterbox (all five podcast episodes) - click here: Colonial Chatterbox podcast

In the Spirit of Giving

Our class participated in a local community service project this week, supporting an initiative led by the Community Giving Tree here in Boxford.  The Community Giving Tree's mission is to help low-income families in northeastern MA raise healthy children by providing recycled clothing, baby equipment, and other basic necessities. Every year, CGT distributes these much-needed items to more than 10,000 children. One of the items they look for, particularly during the cold weather season, are new blankets.  Students decided to earn a few dollars by doing extra chores around the house and in their neighborhoods.  They then donated their earnings toward the purchase of materials needed to make no-sew fleece blankets.

Realizing that we needed lots of room for this project (given the size of each of the blankets), we gathered in the gymnasium to make the blankets.  Students worked in pairs to make a total of ten double-sided, fleece blankets. It was great fun to see how much enjoyment the children were getting out of making them, knowing the blankets would eventually make their way into grateful hands.

Small hands, big hearts. #wearemakingadifference

Just Listed!

As promised, here's a VIP look at each of the three colonies established by students in Mrs. Bouffard's, Mrs. Cummings' and my homeroom classes. I've also included a few of the digital marketing campaigns (TV commercials) that students created, advertising the Doppeland and New Timboria colonies (they're at the very end of this post). Be sure to stay tuned for a final update on our podcasting segment of this project!

  Welcome to NEW TIMBORIA! (My homeroom class):

New Timboria: colonial village, colonial home, blacksmith, schoolhouse

New Timboria: farm, quilt maker, weaver, colonial home

New Timboria: shipbuilder, potter, colonial home, tanner

  Welcome to GREENVILLE! (Mrs. Bouffard's homeroom): 

Greenville: colony, colonial home, military outpost, boathouse

Greenville: schoolhouse, colonial home, blacksmith, military outpost

Greenville: colonial home, doctor, weaver, town hall/meetinghouse

  Welcome to DOPPELAND! (Mrs. Cummings' homeroom):

Doppeland: colony and three different colonial homes

Doppeland: potter, shipbuilder, schoolhouse, farm

Doppeland: doctor, shoemaker, weaver, blacksmith

Have a look at these marketing campaigns (TV commercials) created by some of our tech-savvy students: