Activity Overview
Once students have learned about the 13 colonies, they can create a travel brochure! This is a fun way for students to demonstrate what they've learned about one of the colonies. They can choose the colony or the teacher can assign them. In this activity, students will create a travel brochure for a colony, including examples of natural resources, jobs, and other opportunities the colonies sought out.
Students can print and fold their brochures and use them as part of a presentation. They can pretend to be a tour guide or a travel agent trying to convince people to move to the colony!
You can also find more brochure templates to add to this assignment if you want to provide students with a few options.
Template and Class Instructions
(These instructions are completely customizable. After clicking "Copy Activity", update the instructions on the Edit Tab of the assignment.)
Due Date:
Objective: Create a brochure that advertises all the opportunities that can be found in your chosen colony!
Student Instructions:
- Click "Start Assignment".
- In the picture boxes, choose pictures, symbols or illustrations that represent the job opportunities and other positive aspects of your colony.
- In the text boxes, include information about your colony. Add a slogan or catchy phrase to entice the viewer!
- On the backside, write in more detail about the natural resources, job opportunities, freedoms and government offered by your colony. Include more pictures or symbols to accompany your text.
- Save and exit when you're done.
Requirements: Must have at least 3 pictures/illustrations and at least 3 captions that describe your colony as well as a slogan or catchy phrase.
Lesson Plan Reference
- [ELA-Literacy/W/5/2] Write informative/explanatory texts to examine a topic and convey ideas and information clearly.
- [ELA-Literacy/W/5/4] Produce clear and coherent writing in which the development and organization are appropriate to task, purpose, and audience. (Grade-specific expectations for writing types are defined in standards 1-3 above.)
- [ELA-Literacy/W/5/7] Conduct short research projects that use several sources to build knowledge through investigation of different aspects of a topic.
Rubric
(You can also create your own on Quick Rubric.)
| Proficient | Emerging | Beginning | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Organization | Examples are accurate, complete, well organized, and easy to understand. | Examples are somewhat accurate, complete, well organized, and easy to understand. | Examples are not inaccurate, incomplete, disorganized, and difficult to understand. |
| Illustrations | Illustrations depict the written description with clear visuals of appropriate scenes, characters, items, etc. | Illustrations depict the written description but are unclear or incomplete. | Illustrations do not make sense with the written description. |
| Spelling and Grammar | Spelling and grammar is mostly accurate. Mistakes do not get in the way of understanding. | Spelling is inaccurate and hinders full understanding. | Text is difficult to understand. |
How to Collaboratively Produce Brochures on Economic Aspects of the Colonies
Introduction and Team Formation
Begin by introducing the concept of the project: creating a brochure that focuses on the economic aspects of one of the 13 Colonies. Explain the significance of understanding different colonial economies and their impacts on the development of the United States. Divide the class into teams, each assigned to a different colony. Ensure diversity within teams to promote a range of ideas and perspectives. Discuss the importance of collaboration and clearly define the roles within each team, such as researcher, writer, designer, and editor.
Research and Information Gathering
Guide each team to conduct detailed research on their assigned colony's economy. Key focus areas should include major industries (like agriculture, trade, or manufacturing), types of labor used (such as slavery or indentured servitude), natural resources, and any unique economic practices or challenges. Provide resources like textbooks, online databases, and library access for comprehensive research. Encourage teams to use credible sources and to note down references for their information.
Designing the Brochure
Instruct each team to start designing their brochure. This should involve planning the layout, writing informative and engaging content, and creating or selecting appropriate visuals (images, graphs, etc.). Offer a variety of materials for brochure creation, including paper, art supplies, and access to digital design tools. Encourage creativity in design but emphasize the importance of accurately representing historical facts.
Presentation and Group Feedback
Once brochures are completed, have each team present their work to the class. They should explain their colony's economic aspects and the creative choices they made in their brochure. Following each presentation, conduct a feedback session where students can offer constructive criticism and discuss what they learned from each brochure. This encourages critical thinking and helps students learn not only from their own research but also from the work of their peers.
Frequently Asked Questions about 13 Colonies Travel Brochure
What information should be included in a travel brochure for one of the 13 Colonies?
A travel brochure for one of the 13 Colonies should include key information that highlights the colony's unique characteristics and appeal. This typically involves a brief introduction to the colony’s history and founding. The brochure should detail the colony's geography, including its climate and notable natural features, as these greatly influenced lifestyle and economic activities. Information on major economic activities, such as agriculture, trade, or manufacturing, is crucial, along with notable crops or products. The brochure should also describe the social and cultural aspects of the colony, including information about daily life, religious practices, and any unique customs or traditions. Additionally, including major historical sites, landmarks, or events can provide a sense of the colony's historical significance. Visual elements like maps, drawings, or period illustrations can enhance the brochure's appeal, making it both informative and engaging.
What were the distinct features of each of the 13 Colonies?
Each of the 13 Colonies had distinct features shaped by geography, economy, and culture. The New England Colonies (Massachusetts, Connecticut, Rhode Island, New Hampshire) were known for their rocky terrain, harsh winters, and a focus on fishing, shipbuilding, and later manufacturing. They had a strong religious foundation, primarily Puritan, and a focus on community and education. The Middle Colonies (New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware) featured fertile soil, diverse agriculture (especially grains), and were culturally and religiously diverse, with a significant Quaker population in Pennsylvania. The Southern Colonies (Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia) had a warm climate and fertile soil, ideal for tobacco, rice, and indigo plantations that relied heavily on enslaved labor, and they typically had a more aristocratic social structure.
What are effective ways to design worksheets that support research on the 13 Colonies for the brochure project?
Effective worksheets for researching the 13 Colonies should guide students through the key aspects they need to investigate for their brochure project. They can include sections with targeted questions on geography, economy, social life, and historical events to help students gather comprehensive information. Comparison charts can be useful for students to contrast different colonies. Including a section for sources and notes can encourage students to track their research. Worksheets can also have creative elements like mind maps or brainstorming spaces for students to jot down ideas on how to present their findings in the brochure. Additionally, incorporating critical thinking questions that prompt analysis of how certain factors like geography or economy influenced the development of the colony can deepen students’ understanding. These worksheets should serve as a structured yet flexible guide to help students compile thorough and accurate information for their brochures.
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