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Activity 2.7: Colonial Newspaper
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Lesson #2: The Lands and the Peoples of Colonial North America

Activity 2.7: Colonial Newspaper


A sample of a Colonial Newspaper. Take a look at the number of letter “f”s in the article. They actually are not “f”s but rather what were called long “s”s. Just so you know, “f” was used in place of the letter “s” even though it still made the “s” sound. This practice disappeared around 1800 because many felt it was complicated and old fashioned!

Newspapers have until recently been the most widely read media here in the United States. There was a time in the late 1800’s when many American cities had five or more newspaper companies publishing 3 or more editions of newspapers everyday! Times have changed, but American newspapers still have deep roots in the colonial era when any recently printed newspaper was passed around the community so that all people could read it. In this activity, you will use all of what you have learned so far to create a colonial newspaper.

Benchmark:

5.3.1.3.1: Locate and identify the physical and human characteristics of places in the North American colonies.

Learning Target:

I can…create a colonial-styled newspaper using historical research skills.

Essential Question:

How do I locate and identify the physical and human characteristics of places in the North American colonies?


To complete Activity 2.7 please follow the steps below:

STEP 1: Create a newspaper that contains news stories that might have happened during this time period. To help you with your research, links to information for Northern, Middle, and Southern Colonies are located at the bottom of the page. Using the Colonial Newspaper Template your newspaper should contain all of the following:

  1. A masthead (this is the part that is at the top of the front page and contains the name, date, location, and things like weather)
  2. 2 news articles (be sure to tell who, what, where, when, and why---the 5 w’s)
  3. 1 editorial (give your opinion about something. One example would be an editorial where the editor of the paper gives his/her opinion slavery or the strict rules of the Puritans.
  4. 1 special feature (is it travel? the arts? sports? cooking?)
  5. Fill in any spaces with ads, illustrations, or comic strips related to the colonial period!

STEP 2: Make sure your articles address any 2 of the following:

  1. Describe early English attempts at colonizing and the early failures.
  2. Explain English financing of a colony.
  3. Summarize how Jamestown was founded and grew.
  4. Analyze the problems of Jamestown. In other words, why did it almost fail numerous times?
  5. Explain why the Pilgrims established Plymouth Colony.
  6. Explain why the Puritans established the Massachusetts Bay Colony.
  7. Trace the founding and growth of the Middle Colonies.
  8. Explain how economics influenced the development of the Southern Colonies.Hint: Think about slavery.
  9. Identify unique reasons for the founding of Georgia and Maryland.

You will want to include at least 5 of the following terms, ideas, or people in your 2 articles, 1 editorial, 1 special feature, and ads, illustrations, or comic strips:

  1. John Smith
  2. Pocahontas
  3. John Rolfe
  4. John White
  5. Virginia
  6. Jamestown
  7. Sir Walter Raleigh
  8. William Penn
  9. Pennsylvania
  10. Native American
  11. persecution
  12. joint stock company
  13. charter
  14. climate
  15. The “Starving Time"
  16. slave
  17. indentured servant

STEP 3: You may want to include an “interview” with a historic figure for a news story or special feature. Make your paper as historically accurate as possible.

STEP 4: Proofread! Neatness is good. Use this rubric to be sure that you have followed all directions and your work is as good as possible.

Northern or New England Colonies Sources:

Social Studies For Kids
Kid Info: Northern Colonial Regions
Video on the New England Colonies
New England Colonies Information

Middle or Mid-Atlantic Colonies Sources:
Kid Info: Middle Colonies
Video on the Middle Colonies
National Humanities Center: Middle Colonies

Southern Colonies Sources:
Kid Info: Southern Colonies
Video on the Southern Colonies

General Colonial Research:

Colonial Overview

STEP 5: Please submit your finished newspaper using the upload button located at the bottom of this moodle page. Please answer with proper response construction and make sure to include your name properly on the assignment. Name, Course, Grade, Date.