This week has been full of learning. In social studies we have been focusing on the history of the Middle Colonies. On Wednesday we read a document, an old document, a primary source that William Penn, the founder of Pennsylvania, wrote in 1682. Unfortunately we did not get the real document, only copies, but it was still cool to see what he wrote. He wrote about how King Charles the Second gave him a piece of land which William Penn decided to call Pennsylvania, meaning ‘Penn’s Woods’. William wrote: “I the said William Penn, have declared, granted, and conformed…these liberties, franchises, and properties, to be held enjoyed, and kept by the freemen, planters, and inhabitants of the said province of Pennsylvania forever.” He meant that this place would be kept free and enjoyed forever. This was a big thing to say for that time.
To me it was interesting to see how William Penn and Roger Williams were the same. They were both founders of a state and both had big ideas about freedom. They also both had ‘William’ in their names. I think that this is one of the most interesting things that the fifth grade has learned so far in social studies.