VSI: Virginia Studies Investigations

By Susie OrrSocial Studies Specialist

Fairfax County Public Schools2009

Objectives

• Examine primary source images, maps and documents.

• Interpret and classify the primary sources by connecting them to a unit studied about Virginia History.

Essential QuestionsFor each unit, also think about

these questions:

• How has leadership in Virginia changed over time?

• How have leaders in Virginia affected its history?

The Rules

• Work respectfully as a team

• Complete the charts

• Obey the quiet signal

Materials

• Clue bag, one per team

• Clue analysis Recording sheet

• Clue analysis Recording sheet 2

• Group point sheet

• Group Reflection sheet

Defining the Task, part 1• Each bag contains clues about

units previously studied in Virginia Studies class

• The clues in each bag have been scrambled

• Examine the clues and use the analysis sheet to record notes about each clue

• It is the team’s job to determine a unit match for each clue

Let’s See a Sample Clue: describe the item

Select unit by circling

Why did you select this unit?

•Geography•Woodland Indians•Jamestown•Colonial Life•Revolution•New Nation•Civil War•Civil Rights•Contemporary Virginia

Image of Pocahontas

Dressed like an

Englishwoman

Several names are in the oval

Listed that she is wife of John Rolfe

While there is evidence that this person is a Woodland Indian, the dress and information written give a clue to the Jamestown unit as Pocahontas interacted with the English.

Team Negotiation

• The team goal is to collect clues for the unit in which the team already holds two clues, trading away the remaining clues.

• Trade clues with other groups to gather all the clues that match one unit, and give away the clues that do not match.

Clue Analysis Recording Sheet Part II

• New data collection– Team members record data on Clue Analysis

Recording Sheet Part II for the newly traded clues.

– Teams prepare to share their clues and the reasons why each clue matches the selected unit.

– A point system will used during the sharing session.

Earning Points• One point will be earned for each correct match that is

supported with data listed on the Clue Analysis Recording Sheet.

• 2 points will be earned by answering the essential questions, telling how the unit applies to the questions– How has leadership in Virginia changed over time?– How have leaders in Virginia affected its history?

• Up to 3 bonus points can be earned by recording and sharing additional information about the unit to the group. (info learned before in class)

Team Sharing

• Teams take turns sharing the clues that match a unit.

• To earn a point, teams must give a reason for each clue by sharing data recorded on the analysis sheet.

• The correct unit will be revealed during the sharing process.

The Big Reveal• Investigation 1• Investigation 2• Investigation 3• Investigation 4• Investigation 5• Investigation 6• Investigation 7• Investigation 8• Investigation 9

Credits

• For lesson and images, go to www.primarysourcelearning.org

• Images from Library of Congress, Library of Virginia, National Archives, and Picturing America

• Lesson adapted from Historic Site Investigation shared at the 2008 National Conference for Social Studies by Liz Morrison and Susan Petroff of the Parkway School District, St. Louis, Missouri.

• A special thank you to Mrs. Agner’s fourth grade class at Orange Hunt Elementary for field testing this activity!