Our group discussed using the picture book Roanoke, An Unsolved Mystery from History to teach persuasive writing. We pulled together images of primary and secondary sources from the internet that lend themselves to an investigation into one of the seven theories of the outcome of the settlers from the first English colony in North America (for example, firsthand accounts of what was found on the second return, images of the signet ring discovered in North Carolina, quote of the discription of the appearance of Native Americans with Anglo features, etc.)
We decided to read this book slowly, constructing an evidence chart as we go with our classes. Students will then choose the theory that they are most partial to and write a persuasive essay to convince their classmates that their survival theory is the best supported. We are still discussing which goal this lesson best supports--it seems to both connect students with the past and help them to develop the big idea!
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