Introduction
On October 12, 1492, an Italian explorer sailing for Spain made an unplanned discovery. Christopher Columbus's discovery of the previously unknown continents of North and South America started a worldwide race of exploration and colonization of this new untouched land. Countries like Spain, France, Portugal and England raced to claim their share of the "new world." Explorers for each country claimed parts of the continents for their rulers, and colonies were established.
England has claimed land along the east coast from the present day states of Maine to Georgia. At first small groups of colonists came to the America, but the need for more people increased as the colonies became established. Cash crops like tobacco, rice and cotton increased the need for laborers. King Charles I of England has hired your advertising company to develop a campaign to persuade more Englishmen to move to the colonies to live and work.
The Task
Your task is to gather important information on the 13 English colonies that have been established in America. You will want to find out the following:
You will use this information to complete the following:
The Process
1. Your teacher will establish your advertising team which will be composed of three members. You will need to decide among yourselves which region each of you will investigate.
2. Print out a map (of the 13 English colonies in America. Place the name of each of the 13 colonies where it belongs. When the map is completed, give to your teacher.
3. Start by printing out the information sheet you will use to collect information on your region.
4. When everyone has finished gathering their information, use the software Timeliner* to construct a timeline showing when each colony was established and by whome. Also include one important item about each colony and its date. When completed give to your teacher.
5. Your final activity is to produce a slide show which will present the information you have gathered on the 13 colonies. Each member of the advertising team should contribute at least three slides presenting the information they have found.
6. Make sure your slide show has a title slide and and ending slide which names the advertising team that has produced it.
Resources and Links
Why should I live in a Southern Colony
Royal School District Web Page
Evaluation
Click here to print a copy of the rubric that will be used to evaluate your work. (not completed at this time)
Conclusion
When you have completed this WebQuest and the slide show, you will better understand why the colonies were divided into three distinct areas. You will be able to list the common characteristics of each region and the differences between each region. In creating your slide show you will have selected those characteristics of each region that would have attracted an immigrant from another country to that region.