Cultural Encounters Reflection

1. What was one thing you learned from the simulations we played in class? How did this help you understand the essential questions better?
I learned that life is unfair but you just have to deal with it. You also need to make the right choices for a good life. This is because, when Mr. Daw(the king) offered us to join him, no one took the offer. Later on in the games, we found out that all of us made the wrong choice because if we have accepted his offer, then we would have gotten more land, food, and water.

2. Reading was a part of Cultural Encounters. When you read the books you were asked to think about your reading. What did you learn about your reading while doing this?
I learned a few things about my character. One thing is that ladies(my character) and gentleman are separated from other people. Another thing I learned is that I am the person who employs people. I cannot live without the people who are thought low. Just like indentured servants, laborers, and many others.

3. Did the journal entries help you to better understand your character? Why or why not? Explain in detail.
Yes. The journal entries did help me have a better understanding of my character. Each journal helped me understand my character better. This is because as I wrote my journals, I got more and more ideas for my character. So I kept on writing until I ran out of ideas.

4. What was the best part of your presentation? How could it have been improved?
I think the best part of my presentation is when Joseph (Michael) tells me that I would have a lot of trouble in the winter, he does an evil laugh and I whine to him. It could have been improved this part by making it even more funny and have Joseph(Michael) run his hands together as he laughs to make it more dramatic.

5. What was the biggest learning you gained from this unit? Explain with details.
The biggest learning I gained from this unit is that life in very unfair. I realized this after all the simulations. Because some people turned out in very bad condition in the first simulation and it was the matter of luck. It wasn't that they didn't have any skills, it's just that they couldn't save all their crops. My group turned out to be the best. We had lots of food, shelter, clothing, and water.

My Journey to the New World

My Journey to the New World

April 6, 1609

Dear Journal,

Sitting on the dock and waiting to board the ship, I thought about what I was feeling. Not knowing if I was feeling scared or nervous I shivered. I really don't know what will happen on the boat. Will sickness and disease spread throughout the ship? What will happen throughout the journey? Leaving is necessary due the way in which I want to follow my religion. The government will not let me do it the want I want to. I brought 5 large trunks of food, valuables, and clothing. I have triplets; Lauren, Emiline, and Charlotte. It's going to be hard to take care of all of them, feed them enough food, and let them be happy. At nine years of age, girls need room to move around and be free.


I don't know how I will communicate with people that don't think, act, or speak the same way I do, but here are some ideas. If they don't speak the same language I do, I would probably act it out the best I can. If they don't think the same way I do, I will explain my idea. If they don't act the same way I do I will tell them about the way I act and maybe they will listen to me. With me I have 3 purses of silver and 1 purse of gold. Even though I have never been on a boat, I think I will be able to survive the two long months of being on the boat with up to 180 people and the crew. I'm going to board the boat now. Wish me luck. I'll write to you when I get on the boat.


Love,

Samantha Lee

April 23, 1609


Dear Journal,

I am feeling homesick but I am not going to show it in front of my children because I am their role model. Plus, I am starting to get sea sick and don't know what to do. What if leaving my country isn't such a good idea after all? I could have just hid in a place where the government wouldn't find me. Now I have nothing. Well, I guess I can't change my mind anymore. My family is feeling really bored and really sick. All we see is people and sea, never any land. I'm trying to get my children out of their boredom by reminding them of what to expect and all the great reasons we are moving to the new world.


My stomach keeps on growling and grumbling but I can't do anything. My limits are five pieces of food a day. I can feel myself getting thinner and thinner. My bones are starting to show through. My body is turning weak and fragile. I am hoping that the boat will stop rocking so wildly but I know that it's not possible. My fear is that the boat gets blown off course by the wind so I won't see land for about a year. I need to work up some strength. Fast. I'll tell you all about my journey later journal. Right now, I need to go take care of my children.


Lots of love,

Samantha Lee


17 May, 1609

Dear Journal,


Finally, land! I ran out as soon as the boat's deck opened up. I felt like kissing the land. My children were also really happy and as soon as they touched land, they started chasing each other like they have never before, screaming and shouting in a happy way. I thought about what had happened on the boat and thought that it was worth it. I had just arrived in the new world.


I was so happy to be off the ship that I had forgotten about the trunks beside me. I threw my hands up and knocked one of my trunks down. I hurried to pick them up and went to find my children. No more soggy food. No more seasickness. No more depression. I was so happy Icouldn't believe it. I had made it. I survived.


Cheers!

Samantha Lee

May 30, 1609
Dear
Journal,
I really made the right choice moving here. The food and sanitation in the colony is much better than England's food and sanitation. My family is happy and so am I. Lauren is really excited and she said that she wanted to live here forever. I have faced the challenge of having to sleep under trees after being in grand homes for so much of my life. I don't really mind very much because at least my lifestyle is better here. I have also started a business and hope it will be successful.

I hope that things will stay this way. My children are always chasing each other. Every hour of every day. My husband works in the same company as I do. The people who live near me are very kind and friendly. We trade all different kinds of foods. My life here is wonderful.

Cheers!
Samantha Lee

June 15, 1609

Dear Journal,

We had some small problems with the Indians. Then one day, I heard the crackling of leaves. There was a man standing right in front of me. He told me his name was Powhatan. I went to him and begged him to give us some food. Solemnly, he agreed. There are not many problems here. One day I met Joseph, a gentleman. He was really nice and had two children. His children started playing with my children as we went off to talk about our life in the new world.


My husband John is very thrilled about the new world. He is always saying that we made the right decision to move here. I think he already said it 20 times. It's getting quite annoying. One little problem is that I'm worried about winter. In winter we won't have shelter since we sleep under trees, but that won't be a very big problem because we could just build a shelter or something like that. Even though I am definitely not getting my precious gloves dirty and sweaty.


Lots of Love,

Samantha Lee

June 30 1609

Dear Journal,

I have come to the end of this book. This will be my last entry. I don't know how many times I said this but I love my life here. My business is very successful and I enjoy my job. I only work two days in a week, but that's enough. When I do not work, I play with my children, lie down under the trees, or trade for some clothing and food.


The best part of the New World is that there are no taxes. Even though the taxes were not very high in England, I like to keep my money for useful things. The conditions in the colony have changed a little in the last several months. Because at first we weren't used to living in the new world, but now, after several months we know our daily routines and what is happening around here. I love the New World. Scratch that... I LOVE the New World.


Bye!

Samantha Lee


Written by Sabrina Lu

Edited and Revised by Halle Lewis


Molly's Dream

What I learned by reading Molly's Dream.

What Dream Does Molly Have?
When Molly grows up, she want to live at the edge of a village and have a pond with ducks and geese. She also wants to have the courage to own and run her own buisness. Also, she wanted to be skilled ad intlligent, just like Mrs. Simmons.

What Will She Need to Do To Make Her Dream Come True?
Molly would need to finish her contract first.Then she would also need courage just like Mrs. Simmons does.

A New Kind of Freedom

What I learned in this story.

What Convinced Johann to go to America?
1. Pastor Vogel told Johann all the good things about moving to Pennsylvania.
2. Johann knew that he was going to recieve 450 acres of land. More than he thought!

How Did He Feel About the Decision Later?
He felt very happy. He recived 450 acres of land and his house was very near a stream. Also, he learned that Penn, a very important person of Pennsylvanina belived in peace. So there would probably be not very many fights or wars.

Immigration

What I learned in watching the brain pop immigration movie.

I learned that...
1. To have more space in where they live.
2. Some people are forced to move.
3. To escape war in their home country.
4. To escape their country's religious and political beliefs.
5. Some people are poor and attracted by the almost unlimited economic opportunity.

Background Questions

Prior Knowledge
What do you know already?

In order to start our exploration of the unit you really should determine what you already know about the essential questions. So, please answer each of the questions according to what you already know (prior knowledge).

You can list ideas, write a paragraph or two, or you can web your ideas; make a mind map. You may also choose to create your response using the computer in some creative way. It is up to you.

Use the space below each question to record your written response, or print out and clip your computer generated response to this page of your booklet.

Essential Question 1: Why do people move?



Here are some ideas of why people move.
1.To see what it is like it a certain city/country so they move there and experience how people live there.

2.Because they don’t like the place they are living currently and so they move to another place where they think they can have a better life.

3.Because some parent’s jobs require working in a certain part of the world.

4.To be closer to relatives.

5.So that children can have a better background of studying.

6.To be able to study in that place.

Essential Question 2: What do we do when other people don’t think, act, or speak the same way we do?


Speak

1.Act it out

Think

1.Explain as simply and easy as you can.

2.See if the other person’s thoughts are correct.

3.Correct them in a way that they can understand.

Act
1.Tell them in a nice manner that they are not acting right.

2.If you are the one acting wrong, correct yourself.