Students in grade 5 social studies learned about the “lost colony of Roanoke.” We read articles, watched videos and discussed the topic. The students then took a survey to vote on what they think happened. After that, I divided them into groups based on their theories, and the whole class engaged in a friendly debate. The students could speak only when they had the “talking apple.” It was a thought-provoking and positive experience, with students sharing their hypotheses and also developing important real-world traits and skills like patience, kindness and communication. No one will ever know for sure what happened to these lost colonists, but it was interesting to hear the students’ perspectives!
