Brief Description

Students will write four letters, from four different points-of-view and for different audiences.  The letters will conclude a Social Studies unit on Christopher Columbus and early exploration.  The contents of the letters should include information that they’ve learned, and should be factually accurate.  Copies of the letters will be sent to The Write
Source, a online site for  publishing student work.

Standards and Frameworks

Technology Standards

• 3T-E1. Use formatting capabilities of technology tools for communicating and illustrating
• 3T-E3. Publish and present information using technology tools.
• 4T-E2. Use technology tools for individual and collaborative writing, communication and publishing activities to create curricular related products for audiences inside and outside the classroom.
• 4T-E3. Collaboratively use telecommunications an online resources

• W-E1.Use correct spelling, punctuation, capitalization, grammar and usage, along with varied sentence structure and paragraph organization, to complete  effectively a variety of writing tasks
• W-E6.Write formal communications, such as personal or business letters, messages, directions and applications, in an appropriate format and for a specific audience and purpose
• 1SS-E5. Describe the causes, course, and consequences of early European exploration of North America, with emphasis on:
• 1SS-E6. Describe the political, religious, and economic aspects of North American colonization, with emphasis on:

Academic

• Using information obtained from a Social Studies unit on Christopher Columbus and early exploration, the students, using correct letter format, will write four letters, each which convey a different point of view and are written for a specific audience and purpose.
• Using their Social Studies text, the novel, Pedro’s Journal, and a Six Traits Rubric, as references, the students will include in their letters, accurate historical information as described in the references, and evidence of the Traits of “Voice,” proper “Conventions,” and “Ideas/Content” regarding factual accuracy.

• In a computer lab setting, students will create, save, and print a document using Microsoft Word, which will meet the requirements for student publications at The Write Source web site. These documents will then be submitted to The Write Source for consideration and possible publication.

Students will be familiar and proficient with programs such as Word and Kid Pix, for the purposes of creating, saving, and printing a document. They will also need to know how to self-edit their work by using the spell checking capabilities of Word.

• Social Studies Text- United States-Adventures In Time and Place or similar text
• Pedro’s Journal by Pam Conrad or similar literature
• Writer’s Express or similar Language Arts text
• Classroom computer and printer
• Computer lab access and printer is recommended
• Writing materials- pencils, black ink pens, calligraphy or quill pens, if available; Paper, which, if possible, can be made to resemble parchment (can be done by wrinkling the paper and staining it in a water and tea solution)

For SEI and Special Education Students:

• Modification to the work ie fewer letters
• Individualized help when needed, with teacher and/or peer
• Flexibility with the due date
• Dictate final draft, if necessary
• Adjustment to the work environment, ie allow time to work in the resource room with the resource teacher
• Dictate ideas for placement on a graphic organizer, to help with initially getting started and moving in the right direction

Procedures

1. This assignment is based on studying Christopher Columbus’ voyages and Early Exploration.  Gathering of information was previously done, through reading, studying, and discussing information presented in the Social Studies text, as well as a variety of read alouds that are based on this theme.  As a class, we also did a literature study of the book, Pedro’s Journal by Pam Conrad.
2. Students should already be familiar with different letter writing formats, due to previous class activities, in which letter writing was required. They should also be fairly comfortable with self-editing and peer-editing, and the Steps in Writing Process (Prewriting, First Draft, Revising, Proofreading, Rewriting and Publishing), which they are to follow.
3. As a class, the Writing Traits of “Conventions”, “Voice”, and, “Ideas/Content” will be reviewed and modeled through examples.
4. Students will hand write first drafts of the following four letter topics, using the stated points-of-view and specified audience

a. As one of Columbus’ crew to a relative or friend back home
b. As Columbus wring an entry in his journal
c. As a Native American dictating a letter for the King and Queen of Spain
d. As themselves in present time to Columbus. This letter should describe some things of today that might amaze Columbus if he were still alive; feelings and/or thoughts about Columbus; his voyages; his leadership; his attitudes, etc.
1. Students will self, peer, and teacher edit the first drafts of each letter and revise for

final drafts.
*   Optional Step- Students can design stationary that matches the time period, and
     creates a more “authentic”  look to their letters.
2. They will hand write final copies for the first three letters using black ink pens, or

calligraphy-type pens, if available.
3. Students will go to the computer lab where they will use Word software to complete a final draft of their fourth letter, which will represent modern day technology.  Students can also create personalized stationary for this purpose, which represents present time. Three copies will be made of their final fourth letter. One for each of the following: for submission to The Write Source,  for a class book, and a copy for taking home.
4. Prior to student work being submitted for possible publication on The Write Source site, students will take home and fill out permission slips provided by The Write Source and the District.
5. Upon receiving signed permission forms, the students’ final writing samples will be sent to The Write Source via regular mail.   This is the only way in which they will accept writing samples.
The Write Source
P.O. Box 460
Burlington, WI 53105

Students will be assessed based on completing four letters, unless special accommodations have been specified, which include the previously stated objectives.

Content will be evaluated for the following Traits: “Voice”, “Conventions” and “Ideas/Content,” for factual accuracy.  The rubric “Using The  6+1 Writing Model” from Rubistar has been customized to assess the students writing samples for the above Traits. Go to http://rubistar.4teachers.org/ and at the box Enter your saved rubric's ID type 537336 and click on View.