Explorer Book
Explorers!
Our Social Studies text only has one lesson to discuss the explorers,
and that just wasn't good enough for me. So, instead my class does a little (big) book for their writing assignment throughout the week.
We learn about Juan Cabrillo, Francis Drake, and Sabastian Vizcaino.
I gave them a 3 column sheet and we use Wikipedia to gather notes about them. After they write down facts, they are then in charge of writing a paragraph about each explorer. They then have to write an introductory and conclusion paragraph using these questions.
Introductory Paragraph -
What challenges did the explorers face?
(Information from our S.S. text)
Conclusion Paragraph -
How would life be different if the explorers had not discovered CA?
(More their own wonderings)
When they aren't writing, we complete guided draws of the
explorers' portraits and create a map of the routes they took. I love guided draws because it works on those important "following directions" skills.
Plus it's fun.
So, when it is all put together the book looks like this.
Cover
Introductory Paragraph
Cabrillo Portrait
Cabrillo Paragraph
Drake Portrait
Drake Paragraph
Vizcaino Portrait
Vizcaino Paragraph
Conclusion Paragraph
Routes map
Notes Page
Yes, a 10 page booklet. They look great!
I'm linking up with Amanda's Friday Flashback!
what a great way to learn about explorers! Don't you just love how our text books have one short little paragraph to cover a major standard?? I'm like you and always have my students do further research.
ReplyDeleteThe REAL Teachers of Orange County
It drives me nuts how they have one lesson about Native Californians and another one on Explorers... then 5 about Missions. So much good stuff in History that needs to be remembered.
DeleteGoing to try this too!
ReplyDeleteThanks for stopping by!
DeleteWhat an excellent idea! I love taking an exciting topic or subject and letting the students delve deeper in with a project.
ReplyDeleteI found you through the Friday Flashback linky party - I'm your newest follower!
Stop by sometime :)
~Jessica
Joy in the Journey
Thanks for following me. :)
DeleteThanks for linking up, Emily! Love your Explorers Book! What a meaningful learning project for your students. Hope to have you link up again next week. ;)
ReplyDeleteAmanda
Teaching Maddeness