Title: 13 Colonies Research

1.

Summary of Lesson:

2.

Students will use Googles safe search feature, and several online websites provided by
the teacher, in order to research given information about one of the 13 colonies.
Students will be given specific topics, and search for information on those topics, specific
to their assigned colony. They will input the information into a Microsoft Word document,
provided by the teacher.

Performance Objectives:

3.

The student will, after instruction, locate and identify information specific to one of the
thirteen colonies.
The student will, after instruction, record facts about their assigned colony within a
Microsoft word document.

Description of Activity:

Students will first be paired into heterogeneous groups based on skill level, and given one
laptop per pair.
The teacher should model, with a projector and laptop of his/her own, how to locate the
Microsoft Word document with the blank outline that each pair should open on their computer
screens. This can either be preloaded onto desktops, or saved in a schools server, but
directions to open the document should be provided by the teacher.
The teacher should then model how to find information on his/her example colony. Choose
one of the thirteen colonies as an example, and use that information to visit websites and
locate information. This should take approximately fifteen minutes. The teacher will model
how to read to find information once a website has loaded. She will then model how to
toggle back and forth between windows in order to record the information. During this time,
the teacher should explain each of the topics that students are researching. Finally, the
teacher should model how to save the outline, and how to print the finished product. It
should also be noted that the teacher must load the printers drivers to each laptop prior to
class beginning, so that students might easily print when they are finished.
After students have been paired up, and the teacher has modeled her lesson, students
should begin their research over their specific colony.
The teacher should circulate and assist. Students who struggle should be helped by having
the teacher facilitate the finding of hard-to-locate material.
Once students have completed their research, the teacher should again prompt them to save
and print their work. It should be handed in to the teacher for evaluation.

Students should attempt to locate only accurate information from reliable websites, which
give information regarding the time period in question. For example: Wikipedia and Ask.com
should not be used. This information should be shared with students.

4. Descriptors:

Grade Level: 5th

Content Area: Social Studies
Topic Area: 13 Colonies
Technologies Used: Students will be paired into heterogeneous groups based on skill level,
and given one laptop per pair. Students will use Googles Safe Search feature and Microsoft
Word to complete research.
Time Frame: Three 45-Minute Instructional Sessions

b. From the Technology Integration Planning perspective

1.

Description of strategy(ies) you will be using and its/their advantage(s):

2.

Assessment of required resources and skills:

3.

Students will need one computer for each pair. Students will need to have some prerequisite knowledge, such as how to locate information from within a text passage, and
how to use keywords to search for information. This instruction should be given if
students are lacking the knowledge. Students will need to have access to Microsoft
Word, and have a general keyboarding understanding; though proper keyboarding skills
are not necessary. Students will need a basic understanding of how the internet
functions.

Evaluation plan for students performance:

4.

Students will be paired into heterogeneous partnerships, according to skill level, in order
to ensure that there is peer support for difficult tasks.
The teacher is to model and explain each task required for students to ensure that
maximum success is attained.
The teacher will circulate and assist so that scaffolding is possible when students require
it.

There is a rubric provided which outlines how students will be evaluated.

Description of integration strategies:

Students will be paired into heterogeneous groups, according to skill level. This will
ensure maximum efficiency for everyone in the classroom. Students who struggle will

have available peer support, and those that excel can use their knowledge to help others.
Additionally, partners that excel tremendously, and finish earlier than other peer
partnerships may create a PowerPoint in which the information is relayed visually. The
teacher may help provide the necessary pre-requisite knowledge when the time comes.
5.

Evaluation plan for the lesson:

Students will be evaluated on the outline that is turned in. Students should attempt to locate
only accurate information from reliable websites, which give information regarding the time
period in question.

c. From the Universal Design for Learning (UDL) perspective

1.

Describe briefly how you will teach the content:

2.

Content will be taught through direct instruction. Students will have their laptops open, and
follow along as the teacher models an example colony, and researches information from the
time period. Students will be shown several example websites which list helpful information,
though they are able to use Googles Safe Search feature to find additional information.
Describe how you will allow the students to engage in different ways:

3.

Students will engage the teacher as she directs them during the onset of the lesson. They
will respond orally with questions, and visually/written through the use of their computers.
Students will engage with their assigned partners while discussions arise throughout the
duration of their assignment.
Students who wish it may use their textbook to locate information for their colony.
Students who prefer may complete a paper/pencil outline.
Describe how you will assess the outcomes:

Students will be assessed based on the following rubric:

Accuracy

The information is not

accurate and only
insignificantly reflects
the colony during this
time period

The information is
somewhat
accurate and
reflects the colony
to some degree

Information is
accurate and
reflects correctly
the colony at the
time

Founding of
the Colony

Only one of the

required pieces of
information is present

Only two out of the

three required
pieces of
information are

The date, people,

and purpose of the
colony is stated

correct

Geography of
the Colony

Few of the land forms

of the colony are
described

Some of the land

forms of the colony
are described

The land forms of

the colony are
accurately
described

Map

There is no map
presented

A map was
presented, but not
in relation to any
other colonies

A map was
presented, and
shows its relation
to several other
colonies

Everyday
Living

Everyday living
conditions are
described using only
one of the pieces of
required information
and is not accurate

Everyday living
conditions are
described using
only two of the
required
information

Everyday living
conditions are
described using the
information of the
politics, culture,
and religion of the
colony

Major People

Only one major

person from the
colony is listed

A few major
people/leaders
from the colony
are listed

Several major
people/leaders
from the colony are
listed

Economy

The information about

how the people made
their money is
inaccurate

The major source

of income is listed
but not described

The major sources

of income are listed
and described
accurately

Depth of
Information

The outline gives

inaccurate
information

The outline gives

generic
information

The outline gives

detailed
information

Neatness

The outline is not

neatly done and
requires much editing
and revising for
mistakes

The outline is
neatly done, but
has some
grammatical
mistakes/errors

The outline is
neatly produced
with little or no
mistakes

The student hand-out that will be provided to students is attached below.

Original 13 Colonies Project

Directions: You have been assigned one of the original 13 colonies to research. Use Googles Safe Search
feature, as well as the provided information to research your topic. Use the following graphic organizer to
determine what information you need to find about each colony. Both you and your partner should contribute
and collaborate in order to locate and record the information. Please make sure to include all of the following
information from your colony

Name of the Colony:

Name of the Founder(s):

Year the Colony was Founded:

Purpose of Creation of Colony: (Why was it

started?)

Geography of Colony: (Please include some of the major landforms, and geographical conditions of the colony.
For Example: Can you name any lakes, rivers, or mountains? Is your colony in the plains? The desert?)

Religion: (What were the most popular religious beliefs from your colony?)

Culture: (Home Life) How did people spend their time at home? What did they do?

Politics: (What was/were the major political belief(s) in your colony?)

Major People: (Please list all of the major people from your colony, and describe what they did.)

Economy: (Please list the major sources of income for the people of the colony. How did they earn their
income/money?)

Other Interesting Information: (Can you think of something interesting that the class would want to know
about your colony? Each colony generally has some odd piece of information that we would find memorable.
Can you find something?)

Each set of partners will need to turn in the above outline completed a total of up to 45 points.
Happy information hunting!