Social Studies Storypath Unit

Learning social studies promotes discovery of the global world and students' role in the community. Learning through Storypath teaches students to gather and analize information from the past and use it in a social aspect.   The Struggle for Independence in Colonial Boston by Margit E. McGuire, Ph.D.   "Storypath offers both a structure for organizing the social studies curriculum and an instructional strategy for teaching. The structure is a familiar one: the story" (McGuire). Students learn best when they have an investment into the curriculum. Storypath gives this 'buy in'. Students are first presented with creating a world where they are the characters in the history story. Within this world Ms. Ventura and I will present the students a plethora of facts to make their characters become real. They use the knowledge we give them, along with guided research, to move the story along. We present events to aid in this progresson as well. How Storypath is set up: Creating the setting: Making a wall mural. Creating the characters: Who lives in colonial Boston? What are their names and jobs? Who is in their family? Why did they immigrate? What are their talents? Building context: Using reading, writing, and research to stimilate further discover of their characters' life in colonial Boston. Critical incidents: They face a difficult problem just as we all do in real life where they must make a choice. Concluding event: Students state their choice and have a debate using facts they have learned to back up their claims. Write a letter to speculate the future. Episodes of Colonial Boston: Colonial Boston The Colonists Life and Work in Colonial Boston Taxes from Britain Arrival of British Troops The Boston Massacre A Bold Protest Declaring a Possition What does this all mean for you and your child?     Through the coming weeks ask your child who their character is and what life is life in colonial Boston. As your child builds upon the material they are learning in Storypath you should ask them questions about what they are currently working on. This will help them retain the information. Toward the end of the unit they will be participating in a group role-play town meeting. We will ask them to dress in colonial costumes. You can help your child reseach clothing and find some items that you have from home (authentic costumes are certainly not required). This in class town meeting will be a form of assessment that we will use to gage their understanding of the important issues (significnt events, importance of beliefs and standing up for them). At the end of the unit your child will have a portfolio including all the events and materials they have worked on. This portfolio will be used for a student/parent/teacher conference.      " Stories have helped us create order and make connections between events. Storypath's narrative structure helps students understand concepts that they often find difficult to comprehend in the traditional social studies curriculum" (McGuire).     How you can be an involved parent: Assignment before Storypath begins     Here are some links to help you and your child discuss colonial Boston. Please take a look with your child at one or more of the website research pages I provided. Discuss the time period in regards to people, culture, actions, and clothing. Make any connections that you can. There is no written assignment, however, the students and teachers will review these websites in class. Storypath Assessments Self Assessment Town Meeting CBA Research Paul Revere Boston Tea Party Boston Massacre Congress for Kids Click here to connect back to the Top Page.