Jamestown vs. Plymouth

The Ultimate Showdown!

by Matthew Magnani

Introduction | The Task | Process and Resources | Evaluation | Conclusion

Introduction

The colonies of Jamestown and Plymouth were two English settlements during the early days of colonization in America.  Inhabited by ordinary subjects of the King of England, these pioneers started life in the New World with very little and also very far from home.  We know that Jamestown, Virginia and Plymouth, Massachusetts are located in different parts of the country which affected their lives.  

The Task

Your assignment is to discover the many ways in which the two colonies were similar and different, using the links that I have provided.  You will then be responsible for presenting your information in both PowerPoint and Microsoft Word.  Here's a breakdown of the steps:

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Process and Resources

  1. You will be placed into groups of 2 or 3.
  2. Click on this link, Teacher Notes, and follow the steps in order, beginning with your scavenger hunt of Jamestown and Plymouth.  Collect information about each colony according to the specified topics.
  3. Once you've completed gathering information, return to the Teacher Notes page to receive instructions on setting up your PowerPoint presentation.  In PowerPoint, you will compare and contrast the information of the two colonies.
  4. When your slide presentation is complete, visit the teacher notes one last time to follow the requirements of the creative letter.
  5. You will hand in printed copies of:

    IMPORTANT NOTE!! CLICK ME!!

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Evaluation

Below is the rubric that I will be using to grade your work, once I have received it.

Topic

Council

Gentleman/Mistress

Laborer
Scavenger Hunt Sheets Work (handwriting) is very neat; Answers are fully explained and detailed Work (handwriting) is acceptable; Answers are moderately explained Work (handwriting) is sloppy; Answers are minimally explained

 
PowerPoint Presentation 10 completed slides;  full of good information; 5 or more pictures included; printed correctly; no spelling errors 10 completed slides; could use a little more information; 3 or 4 pictures included; printed correctly;  1-2 spelling errors Less than 10 slides completed; little information or information is not acceptable; 2 pictures or less;  printed incorrectly; 3 or more spelling errors
Creative Letter No spelling errors; one page in length; follows format; letter is strongly supported with good information  1-2 spelling errors; less than one page in length; roughly follows format; supported with information 3 or more spelling errors; less than one page in length; does not adequately follow format; not well supported with information
Class Cooperation (based on my observation in class) Worked well with partner; did not cause disruptions in class Cooperated with partner; caused some disruption in class Did not work well with partner; misbehaved during in class

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Conclusion

Congratulations!  You have been successful in researching what life was like almost 300 years ago in America's first established colonies.  Obviously, life was a little harder back then and it took a lot of courage for these people to leave their lives in England to start over in the colonies.  Hopefully you've gained some new knowledge of early colonial life and are looking forward to watching the colonies develop into the basis of our great nation!

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Created by:  Matthew Magnani
Email:  mmagnani@pace.edu
Rye Neck School District
Rye Neck Middle School
7th grade Social Studies
This page addresses Standard 1 of the Learning Standards For Social Studies issued by the State Education Department.
September 2000