back to the homepagelibraryclassroom resourcesfor familiesabout this sitesitemapsearchback to Thinkport
Classroom Resources
Special Site Features

Using the Site with Less Skilled Readers

Video Clips & Scripts

Printable Resources

Narrated Selections

Special Background Information

Lesson Plans

About Site Organization

What Equipment Do I Need to Use the Site in My Classroom?

Teacher Tips

General

For Each Interactive

Lesson Plans

  • Exploring the Chesapeake (Chesepiooc) (Student view)
    Before the colonists arrived in Maryland, the Chesapeake Bay was called Chesepiooc by the Native American tribes in the area. In this activity, students use the Explore the Great Shellfish Bay interactive map on the Exploring Maryland's Roots Web site to learn about key geographic characteristics of the Chesapeake Bay and experience what the Bay was like when explorers first arrived in the area.
  • Werowance, Tayacs and Witchotts Oh My! (Student view)
    The village Werowance is preparing to give the yearly gift to the tayac, the most powerful chief in the area. What is a Werowance and what will the village receive in return for the gift? In this activity, students use the Visit the Maryland Woodland Indian Village interactive and find the answers to these and other questions through a series of interview questions.
  • Growing Pains (Student view)
    In this activity, students have the opportunity to travel to the year 1685 and explore what life was like for the people who lived in St. Mary's City during this time period. Students visit the Tour the Growing Colony interactive and go on a scavenger hunt to find information about the people and places of 1685 St Mary's City.
  • Can You Dig It? (Student view)
    Was this piece of deer bone used as a slingshot, for making needles and fishhooks, or was it simply leftover from a meal? Students have the opportunity to go on an archaeological dig and uncover the history of the Yaocomaco Indians in this activity. By using a virtual interactive site, they will 'dig' to discover artifacts and learn about the history of the Yaocomaco Indians.
  • Work Your Fingers to the Bone (Student view)
    Students will travel back to 1685 to learn how the people of St. Mary's City made their living through this activity. As students explore the Tour the Growing Colony interactive, they will examine how tobacco, plantations, slaves, and indentured servants each played a pivotal role in the colonial Maryland economy.
  • Where in the World is Marie's Land? Part One (Student view)
    In Where in the World is Marie's Land? Part One, students explore the pros and cons of traveling to the New World. Students experience the adventure of going from the streets of London to colonial Maryland on board the ship Ark. Through the virtual interactive, they make choices about the journey and learn about ship life from crewmembers. Students finish the voyage in Where in the World is Marie's Land? Part Two.
  • Where in the World is Marie's Land? Part Two (Student view)
    In this activity, students continue their journey on board the Ark that they began in Where in the World is Marie's Land? Part One. Students use the Journey to a New Life interactive to identify the dangers that people faced when traveling to the New World, especially unexpected ones at the end of the journey.
  • Who is Buried in the Lead Coffin? Part One (Student view)
    In conjunction with a second activity, Who is Buried in the Lead Coffin? Part Two, students participate in an archaeological dig and discover why it took almost two years to open up what was found under a chapel in St. Mary's City. Through the use of the Solve the Mystery of the Three Lead Coffins interactive they also learn about the process of an archaeological dig and use their critical thinking skills to make predictions during the dig.
  • Who is Buried in the Lead Coffin? Part Two (Student view)
    By using the Solve the Mystery of the Three Lead Coffins interactive on the Exploring Maryland's Roots Web site, students become detectives and solve a mystery from colonial times! This activity picks up from Who is Buried in the Lead Coffin? Part One and allows students to use archaeological terminology to discuss the solution of the three lead coffins mystery in St. Mary's City.
  • Plan Your Plantation (Student view)
    You have just arrived in Maryland. You have a lot of work to do. You must choose where to place your house, crops and livestock. These are all huge decisions and will determine your success in the new world. To make these important decisions, you need some information. The land here is different from England. Get to know the new land and success will be yours, barring no natural disasters!
  • Plantation Life Exhibit (Student view)
    In this activity students become curator of their own museum exhibit reflecting the daily life of an early settler in Maryland. Students begin by interviewing experts in the "Ask an expert" interactive to learn what settlers tasks were in their daily lives. Using that information students select artifacts to include in their museum exhibit that are representative of that lifestyle in the "Build Your Own Museum" interactive.


back to top