Unit Three: First Colonists

Science: We focused on the ocean since the colonists had to cross the Atlantic to reach the Americas. Our first experiement was to show how buoyancy and density affect an objects ability to float. By changing an objects shape it is more likely to float. The egg experiement showed that by adding salt to water, a teaspoon at a time, the water would becoem more dense and eventaully the egg would float. Hard to see because the salt makes the water cloudy but the egg is the shadow floating in the middle of the jar.

Katie worked together with her friend Lena to make this model ofthe ocean floor. They made the sand dough and then formed the features of the ocean floor using pictures from a book. After the dough dried Katie labeled the box. Reminded me a lot of Nemo. The drop off- continental shelf. The oceanic trench with the jelly fish. Used a computer program and a slinky to show how water molecules move up and down to make waves not forward.

Social Studies: We talked about the many reasons why the first colonists came to the New Land. We compared the culture of the Native Americans and the culture of the Europeans and discussed ways that they benefitted each other as well as caused harm. We also learned about the dangers and hardships the Europeans faced and how they were able to overcome these difficulties and continue to grow and expand. The first government system in the colonies, the House of Burgesses, was introduced.

English Language Arts: Write your own theory about what happened to the people of the Lost Colony of Roanoke. Support your theory with details from history.

Health: Identify the diseases that caused epidemics at that time. Demonstrate an understanding of how the diseases were spread and how they were able to wipe out entire populations of people. Also discuss the importance of nutrition and understand the specific causes of starvation among the colonists.

Books:

Pocahontas by Leslie Gourse

1607: a new look at Jamestown by Karen Lange

If you lived in colonial times by Ann McGovern

New beginnings: Jamestown and the Virginia Colony by Daniel Rosen

On the Mayflower by Kate Waters

Websites: www.historyglobe.com/jamestown a game that looks at the different choices the first settlers made and how that effected their chances of survival

www.nationalgeographic.com/volvooceanrace/interactives/waves/ allows children to alter the conditions and see the effect on ocean waves

vocabulary: coast, continent, current, epidemic, hurricane, monsson, tides, tsunami, undertow, waves

We made some ocean crafts with Lilly as well. Magnet fish to learn colors and match colors. She also made the ocean picture by glueing paper scraps and adding some fish.