The English Colonial Museum was scheduled to open next month, but thieves broke in recently and stole eight exhibits on the New England, Middle and Southern colonies! The director of the museum has asked The Spence School for help with recreating the lost exhibits and we have chosen YOU to participate in this collaboration. Working in research teams, you will learn about the history of colonies in each region and develop an informative visual display. Upon completion of the display, you will act as docents (museum guides) for your exhibit, teaching visitors about what you have learned.
The research on your assigned colony must focus on the following:
- Indigenous Populations: Who were the Native American tribes who inhabited the land? How did they live? What was their system of government?
- Reasons for Settlement: What were the reasons for the European settlement of your colonies/region?
- Native American and European Interactions: How did Native Americans and Europeans interact with each other in your colonies/region? What was the result?
- Geography and Climate: What was the geography (physical features) in your colonies/region? What was the climate (long term weather patterns) like in your colonies/region?
- Industry and Economy: What were the dominant industries in your colonies/region? What was the economy of the region? Who contributed to the economy and how?
- Colonial Governments: What type of government(s) existed in your colonies/region? How did the government work? Who could participate? Who could not?
- Religion: What role did religion play in your colonies/region?
- Education: What was the education system in your colonies/region? Who was educated? How were they educated? Who was not educated?
- Artifact: Each person in your group must select an artifact that was used in your colonial region during the 1600s/1700s. Please include the name of the artifact, who used it, what it was used for, and how it was used.
