Thompson


 * Indentured Servitude **


 * Objectives**:

Students will write an opinion piece on historical events. Students will gain an understanding of indentured servitude Have you ever thought what it would be like to be an indentured servant during colonial times? Why would anyone want to be in that position? Believe it or not, there are differing points of view to be considered on this topic.


 * Lesson Plan**:

Fifth grade and older students can analyze this topic through the following teacher directed lesson plan. This lesson can be completed over several days to a week.




 * Work samples:**

Students recorded their daily thoughts and feelings into a reflection journal. Each day, at the end of our lesson, the students were able to draw a small picture and add a quick-write paragraph to include what new information they learned, personal connections, and any feelings that accompanied the lessons. This allowed me to see their perspectives on what they learned along the way, as well as allowed the students to reflect on what they were learning.





The students worked with a primary source, a letter written by an indentured servant, John Frethorne. They gathered information about his story and sorted the information onto a group poster.



Once the students gained some knowledge of indentured servitude through both the PowerPoint and the primary source, we brainstormed together to find the positives and negatives of being an indentured servant.



The poster was displayed for the following day's assignment, a 5 paragraph essay on whether the student would want to be an indentured servant during colonial times. The persuasive, or opinion, essay was a multi-paragraph writing that expressed the student's opinion. Each student was free to select one point of view or the other and then use three pieces of evidence to prove their points. Students wrote from both sides!



Through this lesson, I found that students appreciated a clearer understanding of what indentured servitude was, who was involved, and what outcomes were possible. Students showed that they can connect to history, and can form their own opinions about past events. The lesson plan proved to be a positive learning experience for all students in my fifth grade class.