Jamestown Activities
Hi, I’m Meghan from Vestal’s 21st CenturyClassroom. Welcome back to the next post in our series about teaching Virginia
Studies! So far, we have covered ways to teach regions of Virginia and
Americans Indians of Virginia. In this post, we’ll share some fun Jamestown
activities you can use as part of your Virginia Studies curriculum.
It is exciting to think the first permanent
English settlement was started in the state where we live. Even though
Jamestown eventually grew into a thriving colony, its early history is full of
hardship. Typically, students are fascinated by the challenges the Jamestown
settlers experienced, making this a great unit to get students excited about
Virginia Studies. Here are seven Jamestown activities you can use to help build
that excitement!
*This post contains an affiliate link.
Model the Jamestown Ships
When teaching Jamestown history, you have to go back to the
time when the settlers were preparing to leave England. There were three ships
that left, taking Englishmen to the New World. Before they left, a charter was
signed by the king, describing the specific purposes of the venture. To help
students learn about the ships and reasons for English colonization, I have
students make a mobile. Each of the ships hangs from the mobile. On the back of
each ship, students write one reason for English colonization.
Make a Jamestown Virginia Map
I am always looking for ways to integrate math and Virginia
Studies. One way to do this is to have students create a map of the historic
Jamestown settlement. I give students grid paper and instructions. They must
create the map by locating and connecting points on a coordinate plane. This is
one of my favorite Jamestown activities because it helps students to work on a
challenging math skill in a fun way.
Build a Jamestown Fort
The triangular fort the settlers built at Jamestown is another
way to integrate math and Virginia Studies. Have students build a model or
create a diorama of the fort. After students have constructed their forts, use
the models to start a discussion. Ask students why they think the Jamestown
settlers built the fort in the shape of a triangle instead of a square or
circle. What were the advantages and disadvantages of the triangular shape?
Play On the Trail of Captain John Smith
Students love to use technology in the classroom, and
National Geographic has created an awesome computer game that can be used as
one of your Jamestown activities. In the game, On the Trail of Captain John Smith: A Jamestown Adventure, students play games and watch short videos about the
challenges the Jamestown settlers experienced during their first year. The goal
of the game is to help the settlers survive. My students absolutely love this
Jamestown interactive!
Read a Book about Jamestown History
Did you know there are several works of historical fiction
that provide accurate accounts of the Jamestown settlement? One of my favorites
is A Lion to Guard Us by Clyde Robert Bulla. In the story, three siblings
travel to Jamestown, hoping to find their father after the death of their
mother. The book details the challenges the settlers faced, both while at sea
and when they arrived at the Jamestown settlement.
I always use this book during my ELA time when teaching
Jamestown history as a way to integrate Virginia Studies and ELA. Some years, I
have used it as a read aloud. Other years, I have used it for guided
instruction.
Visit Historic Jamestown
As residents of Virginia, many of us have easy access to the
actual site where the original Jamestown colony was built. While visiting
Jamestown, students will get to explore a life-size replica of the fort and see
activities that would have been performed by the settlers. Best of all, most
tours can be aligned with the SOLs. If you are interested in visiting Historic
Jamestowne, make sure to call and book your tour at least 30 days in advance.
Make Jamestown Colony Games
I am a big fan of project-based learning! I try to
incorporate a project at the end of each Virginia Studies unit. I usually end
my Jamestown lesson plans, with a board game project. Students work in small
groups to create a game, using the information they have learned. The objective
is for students to successfully get the settlers from England to Jamestown and
have them survive the first year. This is one of my students’ favorite
Jamestown activities! After they have finished, we keep the games in the
classroom. Students then use them as a review activity throughout the school
year.
Conclusion
Using an assortment of fun Jamestown activities is a great
way to get students excited about Virginia Studies. Most of the activities
listed above can easily be replicated in your classroom, but if you are looking
to save time, be sure to check out Jamestown Unit and Virginia Studies Unit Bundle. Most of the activities listed here and many more can be found in these
resources!
Also, make sure to bookmark Virginia is Teachers so that you
never miss any of our tips for teaching Virginia Studies. Next month, I’ll be
sharing ways to teach a Virginia Studies unit about Colonial Virginia. Until
then, I hope your students have fun with these Jamestown activities!
No comments
Post a Comment