Artifact Bag Reflections.....

The three pictures below are artifacts archaeologists have found during colonial America in Jamestown Virginia. I have chosen these items because they are all items used by the residents of Jamestown during colonial times. These items represent the life of these particular colonial people. Using these items in the classroom, allows me to show students how life was for the people of Jamestown. I decided to use Jamestown specifically since it is America’s first permanent English settlement.  In 5^th grade students learn about colonial America in social studies. What better way to teach students about colonial times, then introducing them to the artifacts that represented America’s first permanent settlers. These artifacts enhance my teaching and students understanding about the way of life for these people. Looking at the fish hook students will understand the people at this time used this tool for food especially fishing. The candlestick will create an understanding for students that people at this time used candles for light instead of electricity. The coin will allow students to understand even people at this time used money. Using artifacts will not only enhance students’ understanding, but will engage them in a meaningful learning experience. The artifacts will increase their curiosity and students will be eager to learn more about the people who lived during colonial times.

Book

The book Jamestown America’s First Permanent English Settlement by Carole Marsh is a wonderful book to share with students. Though it’s not a picture book, it has informative paragraphs on the aspect of Jamestown life. This book has supplemental activities for students to work on, and enhance their learning and understanding on Jamestown life. The book provides activities such as crafts, short answer questions, true/false, and matching for students to review the history of the Jamestown settlers. The book also provides students with the most recent archaeological excavations. This book with its simple activities and informational paragraphs is a great way to engage students in learning about colonial times. Students not only learn through reading and looking at the images, but they increase their knowledge by working on the activities. This is a good book for elementary school children. It is an easy read, and the directions are very understandable for students to independently explore complete. Since these book provide students with information, pictures, and activities that can enhance students learning, this is why I choose this particular book.

Picture Book

The picture book If you lived in colonial times by Ann McGovern is a good book to use when teaching students about colonial times. Though it’s not a book solely centered on Jamestown specifically, it still gives students an understanding of colonial times with its detailed descriptions and pictures. This book allows students to explore the various customs of the colonial age in an informative and entertaining way. Through its illustrations students will be able to visual develop a better understanding of the life of the people during this period. The illustrations and the storyline will engage students to want to learn more about colonial times. The best thing about the book, it is an easy read that can be easily read and understood by all students (5^th grade). Since this book has many benefits for students and will allow them to develop a better understanding of this colonial age, this is the reason I have chosen this book.

Websites  

• Ø  http://www.preservationvirginia.org/rediscovery/page.php?page_id=173
• Ø  http://www.socialstudiesforkids.com/articles/ushistory/jamestown.htm

The first website is a great website for teachers and students to use to rediscover Jamestown. It allows them to explore and learn about the history of the first English permanent settlement in the new world. As they explore the website, they learn about the story, its people, and the things that were a part of their lives. The website is very informative and has many artifacts with brief descriptions that will enhance the learning of students. The artifacts on the site are very useful for teachers. As teachers teach about colonial times in Jamestown, they can show students the different artifacts.  When students visually see the artifacts, they develop a boarder understanding, and their speculation about the artifacts increases.

The second website is students centered. It’s a great website for students to use to develop a better understanding of colonial times. It provides students with fun facts, and articles that are age appropriate for them. Students can independently research and find articles that interest them. When students read age appropriate articles that interest them, they enhance their learning and understanding of colonial times. This website is also good for students to explore at home, or good website teachers can have students explore to complete certain assignments.

                 

The artifacts with the standards (5^th grade) align well with the social studies content of colonial America. The students are able to inquire and explore colonial America through the use of the artifact bag. The artifact bag enhances their learning. Through the artifact bag students are able to explore and apply their own critical thinking. This in return engages them, while most importantly students learn more about the life of these settlers. In my opinion, I think the artifact bag is a great tool to use to engage students in social studies learning. This activity not only activates the knowledge of students, but it allows them to deepen their understanding of colonial times. Social studies is not always the most thrilling subject for elementary school children, but the artifact bag can really increase their interest.  The artifact bag is an activity I hope to incorporate in my social studies lessons one day.