Anne Arundel County Teachers Celebrate the History of America's Original 13 Colonies

Grade Five
Written by C. Hayo
Glendale Elementary
Introduction  |  Task  |  Process  |  Evaluation  |  Conclusion  |  Teacher Resources
Introduction
To celebrate the Fourth of July, the teachers in Anne Arundel County are compiling information about the original thirteen colonies to be displayed at the Maryland State House.  To help with this project, your teacher would like you to create a quilt that commemorates the important historical aspects of each colony and highlights its success.  Your class  will be studying each colony from its settlement until the first Census in 1790. 
Task  (Back to Top)
Your task is to make a quilt using pictures, dates, names and symbols.  In order to complete this project, you and your partner will gather information about the different historical aspects of your colony.  To do this you will:
  1. Visit Internet sites about your colony.
  2. Visit the school's media center or public library to gather books and resources about your colony.
  3. Explore software such as Encarta and Compton's Encyclopedia to gather information.
  4. Use a graphic organizer to gather and manage your research.
  5. Create a graph to display data.
  6. Create a quilt which best displays the important historical aspects of your colony.
  7. Keep a daily reflection journal to describe your feelings, impressions, questions, and comments as you research your colony and make choices for your quilt.
  8. Be prepared to share what you've learned about your colony.
Process  (Back to Top)
Follow the steps to make a quilt using pictures, dates, names and symbols.  Check the rubric to see how you will be assessed for each step.

Step 1:  Research
  1. You and your partner will be assigned a colony to research.  You will visit Internet sites and use other resources to gather information to be recorded on your graphic organizer.
Internet Sites
New England Resources - 
 Massachusetts, Connecticut, New Hampshire, Rhode Island
Middle Atlantic Resources - 
 New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland
Southern Resources - 
 Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia
  1. As part of your research, read about the making of the Constitution.  There were many compromises that had to be made.  Take a look at some of the questions the delegates had to answer  while creating the Constitution.   How do you think your state would have responded to the questions based on what you have already researched?  Justify your conclusions.  (Reflection #1)
Step 2:  Using Math and Graphing Skills
  1. Print out the 1790 Census Data.  Figure out how many white males lived in your colony.  (Add the # of white males under the age of 16 and the # of white males 16 years and older.)
  2. On another piece of paper, create a graph to display the # of white males, white females, free persons and slaves.  Make sure you include all the necessary components for a complete graph.
  3. Based on the census data and  where your state is located, do you think your state relied on slaves for economic reasons?  Justify your conclusions.   ( Reflection #2)
Step 3:  Creating your Quilt
  1. Using the information you have gathered and information from your journal, you and your partner will design a symbol which best represents your colony. Put this symbol on the center square of your quilt.  Your teacher will explain how each square of your quilt will be made.  Tell why you chose this to be the symbol at the center of your quilt.  Explain its importance to your colony.  (Reflection #4)
  2. With your partner, select eight important pieces of information about your colony that will be comprise the other eight squares of your quilt.  You should use a combination of pictures, dates, and names of people.  (Reflection #5)
Step 4:  Reflection Journal - Use the data you collected to support your reflection.
  1. You looked at the questions the delegates had to make while creating the Constitution.  In your journal, tell how you think your state would have answered each question. (See Step 1)
  2. Based on the region where your state is located, do you think your colony relied on slaves for economic reasons?  (Geographic features and Census Data and your graph)  (See Step 2)
  3. You used the Agricultural map to gather information for your graphic organizer.  What elements are missing from the map?  Write a reflection in your journal to tell what elements should be added to this map to make it easier to use. 
  4. You created a symbol for the center of your quilt.  This symbol should be something that best represents your colony.  Tell why you chose this to be your symbol.  Explain its importance to your colony.  (See Step 3)
  5. Tell what you chose for your other eight squares of your quilt.  Explain why these are important aspects of  your state.  (See Step 3)
Step 5:  Presentation of Quilt
  1. Prepare with your partner how you will share your quilt with the class.  
  2. In your presentation, you will describe your quilt to the class so that they can learn more about your state historical quilt before it is put on display at the Maryland State House.
  3. Your presentation should be at least two minutes long, but not longer than five minutes.
Evaluation  (Back to Top)
For each step you follow to complete this Quest, you can earn up to 5 points.  Use the rubric for each step.
Conclusion  (Back to Top)
Congratulations!! Now that you have completed your quilt, it is ready to be displayed at the Maryland State House.  As you created the quilt, you were able to use technology to locate, evaluate and collect information for a variety of purposes.  You also used technology tools to enhance learning, increase productivity, and promote creativity.  Your class has created quilts to show the important historical aspects of each state and highlights their success.  What a wonderful way to help Maryland celebrate the history of America's original 13 colonies.
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