Researching and Note-Taking: Becoming an Expert on a Colonial Trade

Fourth graders work in small groups to become experts on different colonial trades in the eighth instructional activity of this unit. Working toward the long-term goal of writing a piece of historical fiction, young scholars read informational texts and work collaboratively to take notes on terms related to their specific trade. Learners practice reading and rereading text, first to get a gist of the content, and second to focus on key vocabulary. Make sure dictionaries are available to support learners in making sense of the different terms they encounter in their reading. This is a great instructional activity that supports young researchers as they work with their peers to become experts on a colonial trade.