Saturday, October 8, 2011

Charlie Brown Classic

Happy Columbus Day!

Let's Get it Started!!!

Well, our wonderful fall break is coming to an end and it is time to get back to school!! I am so excited as we continue our unit on Early Explorations of North America. During this unit we will be learning about the many explorers who risked their lives in hope of finding land and riches in the New World. As Monday is the National Holiday of Columbus Day, we will start with him and continue with other explorers from Europe. Explorers such as, John Cabot, Amerigo Vespucci, Ponce de Leon, Ferdinand Magellan, Hernando Cortez, Jacques Cartier, Francisco Coronado, Sir Francis Drake, Sir Walter Raleigh, Samuel de Champlain, Henry Hudson, La Salle, and our favorite Daniel Boone will be studied. Of course this list of explorers spans a time of about 275 years so we will learn as much as we can in the next 2 weeks.

Since our field trip to Frankfort is coming up on Oct. 27, we will be doing extensive research on Daniel Boone before we visit his gravesite. Students will be given time in class to research about the life of explorer, Daniel Boone. Then, they will create an essay about him using the information they have found and recorded. Each student will be given a format for writing this essay that will help them and they will be responsible for their own research. We will be using the standard writing process of brainstorming (research), write a rough draft, revise, edit and publish.  This Essay will count as 2 grades for the 2nd nine weeks.  Students will not only be learning about Boone but also how to apply proper research and writing skills.