Suggestions for using Web 2.0 for an Elementary Colonial America unit?

I teach at a laptop school, so I have a 1:1 ratio in my classroom of fourth graders (very lucky - I know!). I learned a lot about some fantastic tools this summer, but I thought I would check and see if anyone has some tried and true ways to use technology to support this topic before beginning my own trials.

Tags: colonialamerica, web20

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Permalink Reply by Anne Pemberton on August 23, 2009 at 10:54am

I'm retired now, so no tried and true methods to share, but a suggestion.

You kids would enjoy exploring the various musueums and national parks for this time period. Sites like Monticello and Mount Vernon has extensive staffs which include specialists who can answer questions your students have. When I have written stories for children that included this time period, I found, for example, Lucinda Stauton at Monticello to be a wealth of information (Jefferson kept Mockingbirds, e.g. and what he ate for breakfast), and most willing to share. You could have the students choose colonial sites with "contact us" links, formulate questions or ask for general information after exploring the site, and see what they get. Another source of correspondents for your students could be in authors of books for children on colonial issues. Jon Kukla, who wrote a book on Patrick Henry, is a very personalble man who would be likely to answer questions and expand information for your students. Hope this is helpful....

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Permalink Reply by Jaclyn Schmitt on August 23, 2009 at 12:49pm

Thanks so much, Anne. Those are some great ideas, and I can't wait to look into them. :)

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Permalink Reply by Nancy Bosch on August 24, 2009 at 6:37am

My first stop would be The Library of Congress and The National Archives. Nothing brings history to life more than primary source documents. Good luck, N.