A Web Quest

By Elizabeth George Speare

Introduction:

The Witch of Blackbird Pond is an intriguing story of suspense, romance, and superstition. Set in colonial New England, the story unfolds around a young woman, Kit Tyler, who has just left her life of luxury and happiness in Barbados to travel to Wethersfield, Connecticut to live with her relatives who she has never met before. In this Puritan society, life is very different for Kit. Will she fit in? Or will she be accused of being a witch just because she is different?

Information Resources:

King Charles III Proclamation: http://www.historyplace.com/unitedstates/revolution/proclaims.htm

Daily Life in the Colonies: http://www.pbs.org/ktca/liberty/perspectives/dailylife.html

Colonial Cottage Museum: http://www.colonialcottagemuseum.co.nz/

Colonial Williamsburg: http://www.history.org/

Colonial America: http://www.mce.k12tn.net/colonial_times/colonial_america.htm

Colonial Family and Community: http://www.hfmgv.org/education/smartfun/colonial/intro/index.html

Colonial Maps: http://scarlett.libs.uga.edu/darchive/hargrett/maps/colamer.html

Puritans: http://www.ga.k12.pa.us/academics/LS/4/sstudies/Colonial/4K/4k98/4knkm.htm

Carding Wool: http://wneo.org/halefarm/family/cardingwool.htm

Candle Making: http://www.candlemaking.org.uk/melting.html

Candle Making: http://members.iinet.net.au/~campbell1/candles.htm

Chronology of Salem Witch Trials: http://www.salemweb.com/memorial/

Salem Witch Trials: http://www.salemwitchtrials.com/

Wethersfield, Connecticut: http://www.wethersfieldct.com/

Quill Pens: http://familyfun.go.com/crafts/season/feature/famf97project/famf97project19.html

Tasks:

· Research what a colonial ship might have looked like. Draw a diagram or picture and label the following parts: hold, cabin, storeroom, mast, forecastle, steerage room, deck, hull, stern, rudder, and starboard.

· Puritans had to make their own cloth material most of the time since it was costly to purchase. They saved every scrap of material. Make a braided rug or a patchwork quilt using material scraps.

· Make a list of the foods eaten in colonial times.

· Write to Salem, Massachusetts or Wethersfield, Connecticut and ask for tourist information. Make a display of the information you receive.

· Make a quill pen using a feather. Write a note using tea, oil, and vinegar for your ink.

· Research games, toys, and dolls from the colonial times. Try making one.

· Mercy’s job was to card the wool. Research the process. Write about or illustrate the process.

· List the steps for making soap.

· List the steps for making candles. Try making some yourself with your parent’s help. Demonstrate the process to your class.

· Research the Salem witch trials. Give an oral or written report.

· Draw a map showing where each of the main characters were born and the route they traveled to their present home.

Procedures:

Choose any five of the above activities to complete. Use the website pages listed under “Information Resources,” or you may use any other resources that you choose. Make sure that all work you do is quality work that can be shared with your teacher and classmates.

Evaluation:

Criteria	Excellent x 4	Good X 3	Fair X 2	Poor X 1	Totals
All work should include accurate information. (5 points)
Models, samples, displays, and demonstrations should also include a written explanation. (5 points)
Written reports should be written legibly with correct grammar and spelling. (5 points)
Sources used should be cited correctly. (5 points)
At least five activities were completed. (5 points)
Comments/Grade:

Conclusion:

Reading The Witch of Blackbird Pond is both a reading adventure and a history lesson. Hopefully, by accomplished some of the activities included in this web quest, students will gain experience and understanding about the life and times of the early colonists in Puritan New England.