MULTIGENRE RESEARCH PROJECT

Oct. 23, 10

Poplar Grove Plantation Historical Home in Wilmington, NC

Crystal L. Schmidt

E D U 4 5 3 2 F O U N D A T I O N S O F W R I T I N G I N S T R U C T I O N

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Table of Contents

Description of topic page 3 Genres Poplar Grove Plantation Timeline page 4 E-mail to Poplar Grove Plantation Manager page 5 Poplar Grove Plantation School Programs Brochure pages 6-7 Poplar Grove Plantation Halloween Festival Event Flyer page 8 Field Trip Schedule page 9 Journal Entry/Notes pages 10-11 Who Am I Poem page 12

Annotated Bibliography pages 13-14 Cover sheet 2 Intended Grade Level page 15 Invitation to Students page 16 Rubric for Students page 17 Historical Places in North Carolina page 18 List of Genres page 19

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Description of Topic

The genres I used for this project are: timeline, e-mail, brochure, event flyer, field trip

schedule, journal entry/notes, and a poem. I feel like the order I am presenting them shows a

realistic way that it could actually happen. I decided to set up this project portraying the role of

a 4th grade teacher in search of a place to take the students on a fieldtrip. I put the timeline at

the beginning as to make it look like I (the 4th grade teacher) am doing research on historic

places in North Carolina and have come across this bit of information on the Poplar Grove

Plantation. Intrigued by the history of the plantation I then send an e-mail to the manager of

the plantation requesting more information about the facility. In response to my e-mail the

manager sends me a brochure of their school programs and upcoming event flyer. Tours of the

plantation is the main source of income to keep this tourist attraction running so I created the

brochure of the school programs to show the different tour package options there are to

choose from for school programs. The reason I created the flyer is because after doing some

research I found out that the plantation has a Halloween festival every year that has also

become a very important fundraising event for the plantation. I felt that an event flyer would

be appropriate to use to show the importance of this event for the plantation.

I created the field trip schedule to show what a day would look like for a class tour of

the plantation. I chose to write a journal entry/notes page to serve as a reflection of the day

and to highlight important information about the plantation that would have been learned

from the fieldtrip. After a fieldtrip like that I would want my students to write about their

experience. I would give them freedom to write about any part of the trip they liked,

something they learned, whatever they want to write about the plantation. I would also allow

the students to write in any genre that they want. As an example of this assignment, I created a

poem to wrap up the project. The Poplar Grove Plantation main cash crop was the peanut so I

felt a poem about a peanut would be appropriate.

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Poplar Grove Plantation Timeline Wilmington, NC

1795 – James Foy, Jr. (1772 – 1823), purchased 628 acres of land from Frances Clayton. The land is

located on Topsail Sound in New Hanover County and includes the banks of Figure Eight Island

as well as land in Pender County. Transporting goods was much easier using boats and barges

so James built his home close to the water at Futch Creek. He could use the water to transport

his goods to Wilmington. The 628 acre plantation was to become a self-supporting agricultural

community producing peas, corn, and beans and would serve as an aid and resource to

neighboring small farmers.

1849 – The original manor house at Futch Creek was destroyed by a kitchen fire.

1850 – The manor house was rebuilt on its present site by James Foy’s son, Joseph Mumford Foy (1817

– 1861). “Prosperous until the Civil War, Poplar Grove experienced many of the hardships

inflicted by the Union armies on the home front populace throughout the Confederacy.” Joseph

T. Foy (1846 – 1918), son of Joseph Mumford, restored the post-war economy of the plantation

and the peanut became the primary cash crop. (Today, peanuts are North Carolina’s fifth

largest cash crop).

1861 - On the eve of the American Civil War in 1861, Joseph Mumford Foy died. Joseph had 64 slaves

who worked at the plantation and upon his death he had wished that his slaves be freed;

however, the laws prevented this from officially happening. After 1835 the laws of freeing a

slave was this: The owner had to take the slave out of NC and the slave was not permitted to

reenter the state. Joseph’s family unofficially freed the slaves at Poplar Grove Plantation to

honor Joseph’s wish. However, 63 of the 64 slaves who were now free men stayed on the

plantation until the end of the Civil War and farmed the land as tenant farmers.

1971 – Poplar Grove remained under the ownership of the Foy family until its sale in 1971.

1980 – Poplar Grove Plantation opened as a museum and tourist attraction in 1980. Today it has

become a very popular tourist attraction at North Carolinas Coast. TripAdvisor Popularity Index

rated Poplar Grove Plantation #23 of 157 attractions in North Carolina Coast and ranked #4 of

23 attractions in Wilmington, NC.

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From: Schmidt, Crystal

[mailto:schmic06@hpunc.edu]

Sent: Monday, September, 20 2010 7:05 AM

To: Kroeger, Nancy

Subject: Information Requested

Dear Nancy,

My name is Crystal and I am an elementary teacher in the fourth grade. The fourth grade social studies

curriculum focuses on North Carolina and as part of this focus the fourth grade team plans a fieldtrip each

year to a historical site in North Carolina. I noticed that the Poplar Grove Plantation has become a very

popular tourist attraction in the North Carolina coastal region. I would like to find out more information

about your school tour program and events.

Kind Regards,

Crystal L. Schmidt 4th Grade Team schmic06@hpunc.edu

From: Kroeger, Nancy

Sent: Monday, September, 20 2010 11:30 AM

To: Schmidt, Crystal

Subject: RE: Information Requested

Dear Crystal,

Thank you for your interest in the Poplar Grove Plantation. We currently have 3 different program

options for schools. Program 1: A Touch of History - is the plan best suited for grades 4th- 12th. I have

included our most current brochure that will give you more details and information for each program

option. Poplar Grove also plans several different events throughout the year. If you would like to plan

the trip during a time when we are hosting a special event please view our calendar of events on our

website at www.poplargrove.com. This year has already been filled with many exciting news and

celebrations. We just hosted our 30th anniversary celebration at the beginning of the month fore it has

been 30 years since Poplar Grove first opened its door to the public for tours. Our next annual event

coming up will be at the end of October. I have also included an event flyer with more information.

If you have any further questions please do not hesitate to e-mail me or give me a call. I look forward to

speaking with you soon!

Nancy Kroeger,

Poplar Grove Plantation Manager (800)555-5555 ext. 210

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Poplar Grove Plantation

10200 US Highway 17 N. Wilmington, NC 28411

(910)686-9518 / www.poplargrove.com

School Programs

Our school programs will help students understand and appreciate what life

was like in the early 1800s on a southern plantation. Select from one of our 3

school packages and take a step back in history that everyone will enjoy!

Program 3: Hayride and Animals

Recommended Grade Levels: Pre K – 2nd

Approximate Time: 1 hour

Class Size Limit: 30 Students

Schedule: Monday – Friday 9 AM – 4 PM Admission Fee: $4.00 per student; $4.00 per

adult; two complimentary adult tickets per class.

“Perfect for younger children, this program

provides a fun outing plus a glimpse at what life was like on a farm. A hayride through the fields and woods of the plantation gives an

idea of the size of the farm itself, plus a look at the various plants and wildlife you may see. A visit with the farm animals offers a close up look at the varying menagerie of

goats, sheep, geese, chickens and more. You may visit the gift shop, with a special area for children. Time permitting, you may also view

the outbuildings, grounds and gardens.”

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Program 1: A Touch of History

Recommended Grade Levels: 4th – 12th

Approximate Time: 2.5 – 3.5 hours

Class Size Limit: 30 Students

Schedule: Monday – Friday 9 AM – 4 PM Admission Fee: $5.00 per student; $8.00 per

adult; two complimentary adult tickets per class.

“Tour the manor house with a costumed

guide and experience the then and now of six generations living and working on a self-

sufficient southern plantation before and after the Civil War. Visit with two of the

interpretive crafts-people on site and learn about traditional skills necessary to produce every day items. Take a hayride through the

woods and fields of the plantation. Time permitting tour (self-guided) the various

outbuildings; smoke house, kitchen, tenant house, peanut and agricultural exhibit

building, view the grounds and gardens.”

Manor House / Basket Maker / Blacksmith /

Weaver / Hayride

Program 2: Interpretive Crafts

with a Touch of Nature

Recommended Grade Levels: K – 3rd

Approximate Time: 2.5 – 3.5 hours

Class Size Limit: 30 Students

Schedule: Monday – Friday 9 AM – 4 PM Admission Fee: $5.00 per student; $8.00 per

adult; two complimentary adult tickets per class.

“What better way to learn than by seeing

traditional skills demonstrated by two of our craft interpreters? Students will observe

demonstrations of crafts and skills that were daily activities necessary to provide the goods and services in a time before "factory made" became the norm. Visit the farm animals up

close; learn about the days when most families had to care for their own animals that provided food and resources. Appreciate the

difference between then and now by comparing the changes in how we obtain

commodities today. Take a hayride through the woods and fields of the plantation. Time

permitting, you may also view the outbuildings, grounds and gardens.”

Basket Maker / Blacksmith / Weaver /

Animals / Hayride

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Haunted Barn Haunted Hayride Kiddy Fun House

Puppet Show Story Teller

Games Costume Contests Palm Reader

Tarot Card Reader FOOD and much, much, more!

Dates: October 22, 23, 24, 29, 30, 31

10200 US Highway 17 N., Wilmington, NC 28411 For more Information please call: (910)686-9518

Admission is free, activities are individually priced.

Please come and support this annual fundraising event!

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11/19/2010

Field Trip Schedule

Poplar Grove Plantation

7:15 am - Activity Buses begin loading / Student drop off

8:00 am - Activity Buses Depart from School

11:00 am - 12:00 pm Lunch & Restroom Break

11:00 am - Activity Buses Arrive at Poplar Grove

Plantation

12:00 am - 4:00 pm Begin Tour:

1. Manor House

2. Basket Maker

3. Blacksmith

4. Weaver

5. Hayride

6. Restroom Break & Gift Shop

4:00 pm - Activity Buses begin loading

4:30 pm - Activity Buses Depart from Poplar Grove

7:30 pm - Activity Buses Arrive at School / Student pick up

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Friday 11.19.2010

Poplar Grove Plantation

Today the fourth grade team went on a fieldtrip to Poplar Grove

Plantation. Boy was is such a long ride there and back but judging from the

look on the kids faces I can tell the long bus ride did not take any enjoyment out

of the trip for them. I jotted down some key topics discussed during the tour

that I would like to go back and discuss in class.

- The manor house on its present site was built by James Foy’s son, Joseph

Mumford Foy in 1850.

- The peanut became the primary cash crop.

- 64 slaves worked on the plantation; once freed 63 of them stayed until

after the Civil War working as tenant farmers.

- Wooden gutters and downspouts concealed in columns of the manor took

rain water to the cistern on the north of the house. This water was used

for bathing and laundry. Drinking water was carried in from the pump

outside.

- The only building materials purchased were tin for the roof and glass for

windows. The trees used to make the lumber to build the house were

personally selected by Joseph Mumford Foy.

- The tradition of basket making is one of the oldest known to man and one

that continues today with ancient methods and materials. Baskets were

used for: food gathering, food storage, knitting and sewing baskets,

baskets for the kitchen, baskets for transportation, little baskets and great

big baskets.

Page 1

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- “Blacksmiths were the most numerous craftsmen in North America. The

blacksmith at the plantation spent most of his day repairing worn tools

and equipment. At different times of the year plows, corn knives, and

harrows needed sharpening. All year the draught animals had to be kept

trimmed and healthy. “

- Weavers used wool from sheep and cotton from the garden to make fibers.

The fibers are carded into batts and then spun into yarn. Poplar Grove

has a dye garden in front of the Weaver’s Studio. Plants in this dye

garden are boiled to extract the dye color and the plant itself is strained

off. Yarn is then put into the dye bath and simmered. The most common

natural dyes were black walnut, onion skins, golden rod, indigo,

marigold, and madder.

- Joseph Mumford Foy was the first man in North Carolina to grow

peanuts on a large scale. His slaves taught him how.

- The peanut is part of the ‘bean’ family but unlike other beans, peanuts

grow underground.

- George Washington Carver – was a slave born in 1860 and became a well

known chemist. He discovered over 300 uses for the peanut plant some of

which were: peanut butter, paint, salves, bleach, tar remover, wood

filler, washing powder, metal polish, paper ink, plastics, shaving cream,

rubbing oil, linoleum, shampoo, axle grease and many others.

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Annotated Bibliography

Who Am I?

I have been called by several different names,

I am used and needed for many different things

I can be eaten straight for protein, make candies,

bake breads, cookies, cakes, puddings, pies, soups,

salads, sauces, that right!

I can bring forth fertilizer, washing powder,

plastics, linoleum, wallboard, and much, much more

than that!

Deny me from your children and a war may soon unfold,

George Washington Carver made me famous and now you

will find me in just about every home.

I am rich in nutrients and the color of golden brown.

I am small in size and I mature underneath the ground.

Who am I? Take a guess… Do you have the slightest

clue?

Well I am Mr. Peanut, such a pleasure meeting you!

Student Poem

This students’ favorite part on the fieldtrip was

learning about the peanuts. He wrote a poem about

peanuts for his writing assignment in class.

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Brooks, Courtney. (Aug. 1, 2010). New Hanover County News: Poplar Grove Plantation hosts

30th anniversary celebration (Newspaper). Retrieved from

http://www.wwaytv3.com/poplar_grove_plantation_hosts_30th_anniversary_celebration/08/2

010 on September 18, 2010.

This article focused on the 30th anniversary celebration at the Poplar Grove Plantation. Poplar

Grove is the oldest peanut plantation in the south and opened its doors to the public for tours

for 30 years now. The article also highlighted on some of the local artists that had some of their

talents displayed at this event.

Halloween at Poplar Grove Plantation. Retrieved from

http://www.2camels.com/halloween-at-poplar-grove-plantation.php on September 19, 2010.

This site is dedicated to keeping the public informed of different festivals and events worldwide.

This particular article highlights the annual Halloween festival at Poplar Grove Plantation in

North Carolina. It tells you how the Halloween festival came to be and the many events and

activities that take place at this annual Halloween fest.

Pender County NC. (2009). Poplar Grove Plantation (Video). Retrieved from

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ws6hHlatXg0 on September 19, 2010.

This video is a 2 and half minute long highlight of some of the things you will see and learn

during a tour at the plantation. This video was crafted by the employees of Pender County NC

Tourism.

Poplar Grove Plantation Official Website. Retrieved from http://www.poplargrove.com/

This site is the official website for the historic plantation. Here you will find information about

the plantations history as well as the activities and events held at the site.

Poplar Grove Plantation Ratings and Reviews. Retrieved from http://www.tripadvisor.com/Attractions-

g659485-Activities-c5-North_Carolina_Coast_North_Carolina.html on September 19, 2010.

This site gives the public information and travel advice for different locations around the world.

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Here you will find the ratings and reviews from individuals who have been to Poplar Grove

Plantation in North Carolina.

Turgeon, Charlotte. (May 1979) The Saturday Evening Post: Peanuts, Y’all? P. 106-109, 4p. Retrieved

from Academic Search Premier Database on September 19, 2010.

This article discusses how peanuts came to North America from Africa through slave traders

bringing them along to feed the slaves. This article also talks about George Washington Carver

and his discoveries for uses of the peanut plant. Recipes using peanuts are listed at the end of

the article.

USA Today Magazine (June 2008). George Washington Carver: A Mighty Vision Beyond Peanuts

(Magazine Article). Vol. 136, Issue 2757, p. 4-5, 2p. Retrieved from Academic Search Premier

Database on September 19, 2010.

This article is a biography of visionary scientist George Washington Carver. It discusses some of

the many challenges he had to face to accomplish his life goals. His primary goal was to help the

farmer and this article explains how he was able to do just that. In this article you will also find

out how his name is a famous name in the world of the peanut plant.

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Historical Places of North Carolina

4th Grade

September 19, 2010

Multigenre Research Project

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This year in our social studies class we will be learning a lot about North Carolina and its history. Each of you will choose a historical place in North Carolina and research that place for this mulitgenre research project. I am not going to require you to write lengthy essays to present the information that you learn from your research; in fact you are going to present the information you have learned in a totally new way than you have ever done before. You can present your information in several different ways, for example: poetry, brochure, picture book, letter to the editor, etc (I will show examples of different genres in class). I will include a list of different types of genres that you can choose from. You may also choose a genre that is not listed. Directions:

1. Choose a historical place in North Carolina as the topic for your project. Write a brief description telling me why you chose this place. (I have included a list of some of the historical places in NC but you are not limited to pick one from this list)

2. Consult at least 3 sources during your research and find out as much information about your topic as possible. Write a list of the sources you found your information from. Example of sources: internet, books, newspaper, magazine articles, movies, CD’s.

3. Select at least 3 different genres to present the information you have learned. Write a

list of the genres you chose and why you chose them.

4. Design a way to present your project to the class that ties everything together. For example you may do a power point presentation, scrapbook, container, display, etc…

I have included a rubric of how I will be grading your project. This rubric tells you everything that you need to include in your project and how many points each section is worth. I suggest that you use your copy of the rubric as a tracking guide; check off each section as you have completed it to keep up with your progress.

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Rubric

Cover sheet with the title of your project, your name, the date.

______ / 5 points

Brief description of why you selected your topic.

______ / 10 points

Three different genres used to present your information.

______ / 45 points

A list of the genres you used and why you chose them.

______ / 10 points

Design used to present your project is creative and ties everything together.

______ / 10 points

Classroom Presentation

______ / 20 points

Total

______ / 100 points

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Historical Places in North Carolina (You are not limited to choosing from this list. Please let me know the topic you choose before

you begin working on the project)

Alamance Battleground (Burlington, NC) Aycock Birthplace (Fremont, NC) Historic Bath (Bath, NC) Bennett Place (Durham, NC) Bentonville Battlefield (Four Oaks, NC) Blue Ridge National Heritage Area (Asheville, NC) Brunswick Town/Ft. Anderson (Winnabow, NC) Carl Sandburg Home National Historic Site (Flat Rock, NC) Charlotte Hawkins Brown Museum (Sadalia, NC) CSS Neuse / Governor Caswell Memorial (Kinston, NC) Duke Homestead (Durham, NC) Ft. Dobbs (Statesville, NC) Ft. Fisher (Kure Beach, NC) Fort Raleigh National Historic Site (Manteo, NC) Guilford Courthouse National Military Park (Greensboro, NC) Gullah/Geechee Cultural Heritage Corridor (Wilmington, NC) Historic Edenton (Edenton, NC) Historic Halifax (Halifax, NC) Horne Creek Living Historical Farm (Pinnacle, NC) House in the Horseshoe (Sanford, NC) Moores Creek National Battlefield (Currie, NC) N.C. Transportation Museum (Spencer, NC) President James K. Polk (Pineville, NC) Reed Gold Mine (Midland, NC) Roanoke Island Festival Park (Manteo, NC) Somerset Place (Creswell, NC) Historic Stagville (Durham, NC) State Capitol (Raleigh, NC) Thomas Wolf Memorial (Asheville, NC) Town Creek Indian Mound (Mt. Gilead, NC) Tryon Palace Historic Sites & Gardens (New Bern, NC) USS North Carolina Battleship Memorial (Wilmington, NC) Zebulon B. Vance Birthplace (Weaverville, NC) Wright Brothers National Memorial (Manteo, NC)

Historical Places in North Carolina list retrieved from: http://www.ncwiseowl.org/CarolinaClips/nchistorical/default.html

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List of Genres

Adventure Magazine Story Birth Certificate Board Game or Trivial Pursuit with Answers and Rules Brochure or Newsletter Business Letter or Correspondence/Persuasive or Advocacy Letter Chart or Diagram with Explanation and Analysis Classified or Personal Ads Comic Strip or Graphic Novel excerpt Contest Entry Application Dialogue of a Conversation among Two or More People Future News Story Ghost Story Historical Times Context Essay How-To or Directions Booklet Informational Video Journal Entries Letter to the Editor Liner Notes Local News Report Magazine or TV Advertisement or Infomercial Map with Explanation and Analysis Myth, Tall Tale, or Fairy Tale News Program Story or Announcement Newspaper or Magazine Feature/Human Interest Story Obituary, Eulogy or Tribute Personal Letter Picture book Poetry Pop-Up book Power Point Presentation Receipts, Applications, Deeds, Budgets or Other Documents Recipe and Description of Traditional Holiday Events Restaurant Description and Menu Review and Poster for a Movie, Book, or TV Program Schedule/Things to Do List Science Article or Report/Business Article or Report Short Story Song Lyrics Speech or Debate Talk Show Interview or Panel Textbook Article Time Line or Chain of Events Wedding, Graduation or Special Event Invitation

List of genres retrieved from: http://writing.colostate.edu/gallery/multigenre/genrelist.html