Click your Colony link below to type your newspaper articles. Your regional editor will copy and past them into your regional newspaper.
Northern Colonies
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Middle Colonies
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Southern Colonies
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Links & Resources
The Colonial Gazette Project
Introduction
Where do YOU get your news about what's going on in the world? Before television, radio and the Internet brought us up-to-the-minute news and entertainment reports, our world relied on newspapers to help spread the word and keep people informed about what was going on in their community. People enjoy reading newspapers for the same reasons they did across time. News articles are concise and to the point, as well as current and relevant to the people who subscribe. You can tell a lot about a community by examining it's newspaper; that's why it is the perfect vehicle in our quest to learn more about life in Colonial America. What would you read in an American newspaper 230 years ago? The Project Our entire class has been sent back in time to 1775 to help create The Colonial Gazette, a 18th century newspaper covering the news and lifestyles of New England, Middle and Southern colonies of the New World. Through thoughtful articles and eye-catching artwork you will create, your readers will learn all about the events , issues, influential people and culture of a unique time in our country's history. Plan on being creative and having fun with the information you find on colonial life - our newspaper needs to make daily colonial life come alive! The newspaper is a collaborative class project. Each person is responsible for researching, writing and submitting a proofread article to The Colonial Gazette. , You may also want to submit advertisements or artwork to the paper. Roles News Editor In the very first paragraph, news reporters tell their readers much of the who? what? where? when? why? and how? of a recent event. Paragraphs are often to the point, brief and state facts. Following the first paragraph, reporters provide further details such as quoting an eyewitnesses or background information. The importance of information in a newspaper article follows the “upside down triangle” model. Focus Question: What important events did or could have occurred that would have made front page news? * Famous Colonial events Link * How to Write a News Story Link Opinion Editor Opinion Editors share their opinions about controversial topics. The newspaper staff hopes these opinions will inspire readers to in-turn share their opinions by writing back to the newspaper. Opinions are also shared through art, called political cartoons. Focus Question: What were some issues back in 1775 that sparked debate between colonists? What arguments could each side make? * A Matter of Opinion - A how-to guide for writing editorials and political cartoons - read these pages in order: Page one, Page two, and Page three. Features Editor Features Editors don't report on late-breaking news. Rather, it is their job to find and write about interesting topics that help people live better lives. Articles about health, travel, cooking, fashion, recreation, education, literature and people are often 'featured.' Focus Question: What was daily life like in colonial America? What could you use from your research to write an article about health, homemaking, entertainment or education? * 18th Century Clothing - Fashion alert! What did people wear back in the 1700's? Find out what the colonists found fashionable at this site! * Colonial Living - History Detectives! Learn about the Springers, a real colonial family, by examining their artifacts and answering clues. Advertising & Art Editor Advertising Editors have an important role in newspaper development. Ads in newspapers help pay the cost of producing each issue. Editors help local businesses design ads that will catch the attention of potential customers. The information and artwork in an ad must be both accurate and attractive. Search for ads and political cartoons in several local newspapers. Look at design layout, font and illustration. Discuss with other Ad Editors what makes a good ad. Focus Question: What kinds of goods or service-type businesses existed in colonial times ? How would they want their ad designed? |
RESEARCHING THE COLONIES AND THE THREE REGIONS– LINKS EVERY GROUP CAN USE:
Early newspapers: Ben Franklin News 1750 | Massachusetts Centennial 1790 13 Colonies - Historical information and useful links about each of the 13 original colonies. Two more choices here: 13 Colonies B and 13 Colonies C. Biographies of Founding Fathers - Find out more about the men who helped create the United States of America. History of Jamestown - Jamestown, Virginia The Daggetts - a Colonial family in Connecticut The Springers- A colonial family in Delaware Colonial Kids: A Celebration of life in Southeastern Pennsylvania in the 1700's Colonial America: 1600-1775 HUGE collection of resources/Web pages Colonial Williamsburg Thirteen colonies: Founders, founding dates, reasons for founding New England Colonies: New England Colonies B: Facts about the New England Colonies. Also try: New England Colonies C. Middle Colonies: Southern Colonies You are not limited to these links. What others can you recommend? *You will explore Webpages from people all over the world who care about colonial history. Because these are real Webpages we're tapping into, not things made just for schools, the reading level might challenge you. Use your teacher and your teammates for help. Also be sure to check out the links each of these sites recommend. You'll find them equally useful. LINKS ON HOW TO MAKE A NEWSPAPER: Parts of a Newspaper Link and Parts of a Newspaper Link B Reporter's Toolbox Link |
Adams National Historical Park
African Meeting House Andrew Jackson's The Hermitage Ben Franklin 300 Black Heritage Trail Boston National Historical Park Bunker Hill Monument Bunker Hill Museum Colonial Williamsburg Concord Museum James Madison's Montpelier Jamestown/Yorktown Victory Center King's Chapel Lexington Historical Society Minute Man NHP Monticello Mount Vernon Museum of African American History Museum of Fine Arts National Heritage Museum Old North Church Old South Meeting House Old State House One April in Boston Park Street Church Paul Revere House Plimoth Plantation Thomas Jefferson's Poplar Forest USS Constitution Museum Walking Tours of Historic Boston - See more at: http://teachhistory.com/2009/12/18/resource-for-teachers-%e2%80%93-timothy-hughes-rare-early-newspapers/#sthash.ugGL6exh.dpuf |