Introduction
Essential Question: How Is Life Today Different Than Life Long Ago? 
Pilgrims made the treacherous journey to America from England searching for a better life. The trip was not an easy one, it was long and conditions were dangerous. It was crowded and there was not much fresh water and food. The passengers could not change their clothes or bathe for 66 days! Imagine you were on this journey, how would you feel, excited to begin a new life in America or scared? Would you be smelly?
Task
Key Vocabulary: Colonists, Pilgrims, Mayflower, treacherous, journey
Envision that you are a colonist, and choose one of the following:
Write a letter to a loved one back in Europe, tell them about your trip on the Mayflower and describe life in the colony. Tell what you eat and how you get your food?
Make a journal of at least 5 entries, tell about your daily life. Do you go to school? Do you have chores?
Dress up as a pilgrim and introduce yourself to the class. Have props that help describe your life as a settler, (i.e. mixing bowl or fake animal furs).
Process
Day 1: Visit https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h102eWmDRsg
Write 5 facts you learned about the pilgrims' life from the video in your writer's notebook. (For the learner that requires differentiated instruction, have the paraprofessional work with him or her. Facts may be recorded inthe voice recorder or on the I-pad.).
Day 2: Take the Virtual Field Trip to Plymouth Rock https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p5qi3Meqy24
Write the Key Vocabulary words in your writer's notebooks, work with your assigned partner to provide definitions.
Day 3: Read the Fun Facts About the Mayflower: Spoiler Alert-There Were No Bathrooms!
http://www.teenkidsnews.com/index.php/about/faq-s/item/787-mayflower
Along with your partner, assigned by your teacher, make a Venn diagram comparing and contrasting life in 1620 and life in 2016
Day 4: Work on Your Letter, Journal or Oral Presentation
Day 5: Watch Your Classmates' Presentations with Respect, Prepare to Learn Even More About Colonists and Life in 1620.
Would you want to have been a pilgrim? Do you think life would be exciting?
Evaluation
Social Studies Project Rubric
Score Levels |
Content | Cooperative Work with Partner | Neatness | Spelling and Mechanics |
| 4 |
|
|
|
|
| 3 |
|
|
|
|
| 2 |
|
|
|
|
| 1 |
|
|
|
|
Conclusion
In this lesson, you learned about the pilgrims and their voyage on the Mayflower. You took a Virtual tour of the colony at Plymouth Rock. You were able to compare and contrast life in the late 1600s to life as it is now.
What are some ways you think we could make this lesson better?
Credits
This assignment was to help students facilitate their own learning through the web. It adheres to the Arizona State Standards, Strand 1, American History, Concept 1 -3. It enables studnets to utilize theri research skills for history adn early civilization as well as it discusses early civilizations. This webquest also adheres to the CCSS. ELA-Literacy R.L. 3.1 by having students effectively demonstrate text comprehension. It aligns with CCSS-ELA-Literacy RL 3.4 becasue it allows childrent to determine the meaning of words and phrases within the text through inference.
Teacher Page
The following is a fun activity to demonstrate the way passengers on the Mayflower may have felt. You will need: masking tape and visuals for ELL such as pictures. Make the outline of a ship on the floor with the tape, make it only big enough for the class to fit in with no extra room. Tell the students to go "pack". (grab their backpacks and a couple of folders or books). Turn of the lights and have the class squeeze into the boat with their belongings. Have them sway slowly at first, then hit a "storm" and have them sway faster. Ask them if they feel sea sick. Make them hold their bellies and groan. Tell them they are starting to get smelly because they have not washed in days! Ask them if they feel crowded.
