5th Grade Language Arts and Social Studies WebQuest
From 1699 to 1780 Williamsburg was the capital of Virginia. During this time colonists were just beginning to dream of freedom and independence. It was important for the colony to be self sufficient so that it could become independent from England. Colonists worked in all types of trades both skilled and unskilled. They were able to produce the goods and services necessary for a thriving community. In this WebQuest you will have the opportunity to learn what life was like in the year 1710 and think about the choices you might have made if you lived in that time period.
On a field trip to Colonial Williamsburg you are magically transported back in time to the original city of Williamsburg in the year 1710. In order to return to modern times you must complete the following tasks. When you show your completed project to the teacher at the schoolhouse you will be transported back to the present. You must complete all parts to return! Good Luck!
Your task is to learn about a colonial trade. As you research your trade, carefully examine drawings and pictures that show what your trade looked like. Note details about the setting, tools required, protective or special types of clothing, and product or service produced.
Plan your search and take notes on your note sheet.
Outline or web your ideas before you begin your writing portion.
Make a rough sketch of your scrapbook page before you begin pieces.
There were many trades practiced in colonial times. Choose and research one specific trade and complete the tasks below.
Apothecary
Architect
Basket maker
Blacksmith
Brick maker
Cabinetmaker
Carpenter
Cooper
Doctor
Glassmaker
Hatter
Milliner
Papermaker
Peddler
Potter
Printer
Saddler
Shipbuilder
Shoemaker
Silversmith
Tanner
Weaver
Wigmaker
Complete one page in your pop-up scrapbook teaching about your trade. Your page should include:
pop up image of inside/outside of building
sign advertising your trade
letter home to a family member left behind explaining what you do, include benefits and problems associated with your trade.
appropriate coloring and illustrations
Liberty Craftworks at Greenfield Village
Tradesmen from Colonial America
Colonial Trades at Colonial Williamsburg
| Mastery (3) | Making Progress (2) | Beginner (1) | |
| Pop up image | Image shows setting, tools, and product produced in trade. Image has a background and a "pop up" foreground. Project is neat and free of distracting errors. | Image shows general knowledge of trade in background and "pop up" image of trade. | "Pop up" image lacks enough detail to demonstrate knowledge of trade or contains incorrect information. |
| Sign | Sign is neat, creative, follows style of the time period, trade is spelled correctly. | Sign is spelled correctly, shows some creativity. | Trade is not clearly labeled and is lacking in creativity and neatness. |
| Letter | Letter follows correct friendly letter format. Letter clearly describes what it would be like to work in chosen trade, including both benefits and problems. Final copy is on "aged" paper and ready to add to book. | Letter follows correct friendly letter format. Letter gives general information about trade. Final copy is ready to add to book. | Letter does not follow correct friendly letter format. Information about trade is missing or incorrect. |
| Overall neatness and appearance | Page is organized, neat and contains all required pieces of information. | Page contains most required information | Page is missing information. Lack of neatness interferes with understanding of information. |
Now that you have learned about a colonial trade, is this the job you would have chosen? Why or why not? Is there another trade you would have preferred to learn? What would it have been and why? Do you think it would have been easier or more difficult to live in England or in Colonial Williamsburg? Why? Is there another questions about your trade that you wish you would have learned more about? If you have extra time, choose one of these questions to write about. You can write in the form of a letter, poem, or short report.
Students working on this Web Quest will practice using the internet to research a topic. They will need to evaluate the information they find for relevance to determine which information they will use to create their product. They will also demonstrate their writing skills in a friendly letter. Finally they will show their understanding of what life was like during the colonial period of American history.
Students should have basic computer knowledge.
This Web Quest targets the following Michigan Objectives:
W.PR.05.02 Use the writing process to produce and present a research
project; use a variety of resources to gather and organize relevant information
into central ideas and supporting details for a teacher-approved narrowed focus
question and hypothesis.
R.CM.05.04 apply significant knowledge from grade-level science, social
studies, and mathematics texts
W.GN.05.04 use the writing process to produce and present a research
project; use a variety of resources to gather and organize relevant information
into central ideas and supporting details for a teacher-approved narrowed focus
question and hypothesis.
Students needed extra support with computer skills or writing skills can work with a partner to gather information and fill out note sheet.
To age paper: Heat water and soak a tea bag to make tea. Place paper on newspaper and brush with wet tea bag. Use an iron ( I keep one just for craft projects) to press flat until dry. This will give paper an aged look to make letter look old. We also tinted a second sheet to make an envelope. A pressed seal of wax was the finishing touch.
How to write a friendly letter
REALLY detailed pop up patterns
Maintained according to CAPS Internet
Publishing Guidelines by Karen
Hoekwater
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