The Colonial Era Unit coming to life!

The other day I was able to pick up 21 carpet tubes (12' long x 5" card tubes) from McNabb's off I-96 (thank you again!).   I told them that my students are going to make them into a log cabin like the early settlers may have lived in (THIS IS TOP SECRET- MOM'S AND DAD'S, YOUR CHILD WILL DISCOVER SOON ENOUGH), so they didn't charge me for them.  Yippee!  I took them up to school today since 20 carpet tubes were kind of in the way in our garage and Di Fisk helped carry them in (Thank you Di!).

Yesterday I was surrounded with paper, books and ideas for the Colonial America unit.  Sorting through the vast amount to information on the Colonial Era and coming up with points that fit my criteria was fun but it took all day.  But I'm pleased with what I came up with.  I think the students will really enjoy the unit and get so much out of it.

I put all the information on Excel with a worksheet for each thing I thought out (it's going to blow Rita's mind when she sees it):

• what I need to do or purchase
• what will be at the center/bullentin board
• events for our Living Time Line - the students will perform short skits that I want to video tape
• vocabulary terms
• famous people of the time
• the post office - This will be going on concurrently since the post office start during that period.
• the culmination activities
• possible order of activities 
• suggestions for the aides

Whew!  It was a lot but I really needed to get it out of my head. It's going to be so fun!  I can't wait to kick it off.