Homestead | Project Based Learning

Have your students use their creative, critical and historical thinking skills to learn about life in Early Canada as people migrated west and settled on the prairies in this low prep unit. Students take on the role of documentarian reporting on the life of a family as they settle on a homestead on the Canadian prairies.

This project based learning task includes:

• a complete lesson plan for teachers explaining how to do the project with students
• quick modifications for differentiation
• conceptual learning activity about the challenges of living on the prairies during the time of settlement
• student planning pages
• tips for project based learning
• three different students task checklists
• assessment rubrics
• student examples of the map, visual representation and written portions
• teacher background knowledge
• student reflection pages
• blank Alberta map
• suggested web links to use for reference
• more information in the preview
  

In this task students will:

• create a map of the location
• develop a visual representation of what the homestead looks like
• write a report outlining the family's move to starting a homestead. They will describe nearby towns, access to water, how and what they will build, potential animals or crops that can be raised and explain the chores and responsibilities for the family.

Students need to have a basic understanding of the basic geographic knowledge of prairies in order to be successful. Having an understanding of the basic homestead life will help.

This activity has been tested with three different groups of grade four students and is a HUGE hit. Students have made homesteads that included diagrams, Lego®, Minecraft®, cardboard and even one made of sticks and moss.

This task aligns with:

• the Alberta Program of Studies for Grade 4 Social Studies

This task supports:

• any lesson covering early settlements in the west or Canadian prairies.

Check out our other Social Studies products.

• Homestead Life Drama Circle is perfect to help build some background knowledge for your students while they work on this project.

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What our customers have said about this product:

***Engaging activity that got my students interested and sparked some good discussions. (Thank you!)

***A really fun and unique project - the students were so engaged and loved this assignment. Thank you! (Thank you Buyer!)

Thank you for your consideration! Happy homesteading from the Brain Ninjas!