Social Studies 13 Colonies Project
Background: A press kit is used by public relations/marketing firms to promote goods or
services a company or organization wants to sell. You will be constructing a press kit to
encourage people to come to your colony to live. Your press kit will be sent to Europe and parts
of it will run in newspaper to promote the life in your colony.
Directions:
1. Choose one of the thirteen colonies to research.
2. Complete all steps listed below to receive full credit.
3. Bring your completed press kit to class on Wednesday, October 16th.
Requirements for the Press Kit
1. Fact Sheet and backgrounder
This is a document that lists (using bullets) general information or facts about the
colony you have selected. These must be significant and important facts.
Please be sure to include at least fifteen facts.
2. Biography
~This is a document that tells the factual story of one important person who had
great influence on your colony. For instance, you may choose to write a
biography about the first governor.
~It must be at least five paragraphs long.
3. Advertisement
~You will create an advertisement that would be able run in a newspaper .
~Your advertisement must be factual, interesting, and creative (color).
~It is intended to encourage Europeans to come to live in your great colony.
~For size, it must be one piece of computer paper.
4. Press Release
~This is a one-page document (at least), which is written in letter format, it
will be addressed to Europeans and published in the newspaper.
~It must include information about your colony which would show it in
a positive light. It is intended to entice someone to come to your colony.
~It should have contact information at the top (company name, address).
5. Bibliography/ Works cited page
~All of the sources you use should be cited here.
~Books should have title, author, and page number.
~Websites should have the exact website listed.
6. Project presentation
~You must compile all four parts into a folder with pockets.
~The press release and the advertisement go on one side, the facts
sheet and biography go on the other.
~You need a business card to be inserted or glued inside the folder.
~The cover should have some basic information and pictures of your colony.
~The presentation must have a PowerPoint presentation. The presentation needs to be at
least five minutes but no more than ten minutes. Your goal of the Presentation will be to
persuade your audience to come to your colony.