Study America Saturday ~ Getting Along

How were your American History studies this week? Write a post about it and link up with us!

This week we watched as John Smith and the early settlers made attempts to get Jamestown up and running with the constant threat of the ambushing indians, starvation, illness, and pompous gentlemen who were trying to run the colony.

Here is specifically what Dawson (and Brynne, at times) did in their studies:

• Analysis of "Powhatan letter to John Smith", America: The Story of Us Episode 1 Guide
• John Smith Character Map notebooking page, Hold that Thought! Beginners History cd
• "On the Trail with Captain John Smith", interactive story and game
• Photo analysis of Revere's Bloody Massacre Engraving, America: The Story of Us Episode 1 Guide
• Internet research of 13 Colonies and 13 Colonies notebooking page, Hold that Thought! Advanced History cd
• History of Thanksgiving activities, American Heritage Education Foundation cd

We are reading the historical fiction novel, Blood on the River by Elisa Carbone. We have enjoyed the accounting by young Samuel, John Smith's servant, of the events of the early days of settling in Jamestown.

After reading about all of the difficulties John Smith had in getting the settlers to allow him to do what he did best (set up a colony, communicate with the Indians, be a leader), Dawson was thrilled to learn that John Smith is credited with the founding of Virginia.

Dawson and Brynne played "On the Trail with Captain John Smith", a simulation of the settling in Jamestown. It tells the story and has lots of interactive games.

Brynne also watched an interactive showing of the story of Pocahontas.

The majority of Dawson's American History studies this week consisted of research and completing notebooking pages. He also wrote two beautiful poems about Native Americans and Early Explorers, concentrating on the use of action verbs.

Next week Dawson will do studies of The Bloody Massacre and Paul Revere's Ride. As we have determined that this U.S. History study is a little meaty for Brynne, she will switch gears and study her first state, Virginia, in her U.S. States study.

Link up your American History post below. Be sure to include in your title an indication of what you studied this week, for easy searching by others (i.e. Journey2Excellence ~ Early Settlers)