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Lesson 11: New England Colonials: John Stebbins
and Ebenezer Wells (1691-1758)
1 class period (85 minutes)
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| Key Content Ideas Taught in this Lesson and
Teacher Background |
Two figures that were prominent in Deerfield's
colonial history are John Stebbins (and Ebenezer Wells ( 1691-1758).
Through examination of the Stebbins' and Wells' documents, homesteads
and artifacts, students can gain insight into these colonial men's
families, their community involvement, their social position, and
their belief systems. Students will use the Memorial Hall website
to find evidence and then analyze their findings to develop an understanding
of each of these men. In addition, the students will be taught how
to read a genealogy such as the one found in Sheldon's History
of Deerfield.
Teacher Background Essay: Creating
a Geneology
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| Intended Learning Outcomes |
Understandings
Students will understand:
- that in Massachusetts there was no division of church and state
as we understand it, and this condition influenced every aspect
of daily life.
- that land ownership conferred power because it was a determinant
of wealth, and a prerequisite for political participation.
- that it is valuable to study the lives, actions, ideas, political
experiences, and judgments of people in the past.
- that it is important NOT to judge people in the past by today’s
notions and beliefs.
- how historians approach their work, using both artifacts and
documents.
- that both primary source materials and interpretive materials
of all types are rich sources of historical evidence.
Skills
Students will be able to:
- transcribe a primary document.
- use a variety of primary source materials, to analyze these
sources, and to make logical inferences and supported conclusions.
- make reference to previously presented material.
- utilize technology to research information and present project.
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| In Preparation for Teaching |
Read the Teacher Background Essay: Creating
a Geneology, using John Stebbins as a model.
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Primary and Secondary Sources:
1. Memorial Hall Web site for information about
Ebenezer Wells and John Stebbins.
2. History
of Deerfield, by George Sheldon, Volume II, pages 317 -
318 (about Stebbins).
Other:
1. Newsprint and markers.
2. Access to computers.
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| Activities |
Materials in Context |
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Activity 1
1. Demonstrate to students how to read
and interpret the genealogy of John Stebbins, using the
sample from Sheldon's History of Deerfield.
2. Using an example in their own family,
or one that the students make up, develop a genealogy that
extends four generations, demonstrating an understanding
of the
design of a genealogy.
3. Go to the Memorial Hall website to
find information about both Ebenezer Wells and John Stebbins.
Describe the search for information. Using the information
found, write a biography of each of these men.
4. As a class, share the biographies with one another.
Assignment:
1. Draw a tombstone for John Stebbins, using a paint program.
Include an appropriate epitaph. In a short narrative, tell
about the symbolism on the stone and the type of stone used.
How does his stone compare with that of Ebenezer Wells'
gravestone on the web site?
2. Continue work on the Colonial person
for the final presentation.
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History
of Deerfield, Volume II, pages 317 - 318
Ebenezer
Wells' gravestone
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The assessment will be based on the development
of the descriptions of the two men as well as the final art project
depicting Stebbin's stone.
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