Aria's Awesome Thomasville Adventure: A Digital Discovery!

Materials You'll Need:

• Computer with internet access
• Notebook and pen/pencil for your awesome notes and brainstorming
• Your choice of digital tools to make your guide (like Google Slides, Canva, a word processor, or even video software!)

Subject Areas: Local History, Civics & Community Studies, Media Literacy, Arts & Culture Appreciation, Digital Literacy & Research Skills, Communication & Presentation Skills

Topic: Exploring Historic Thomasville, Georgia: Its History, Chamber of Commerce, Local News, Welcome Center, Arts, and Culture

Time Allotment: Approximately 3-5 hours, spread over 2-3 sessions (flexible for homeschool schedule)

Welcome, Explorer Aria!

Get ready to embark on a fascinating journey to uncover the treasures of Thomasville, Georgia – all from your computer! You're going to become a local expert and create an amazing guide to welcome new visitors to this historic city.

Your Mission:

To research and learn about Thomasville's history, important community organizations (like the Chamber of Commerce and Welcome Center), local news sources, and its vibrant arts and culture scene. Then, you'll use your findings to create your very own "Welcome to Thomasville" guide!

Learning Goals for this Adventure:

• You'll be able to name at least three cool historical facts or places in Thomasville.
• You'll understand what the Chamber of Commerce and a Welcome Center do for a town.
• You'll find out where to get the latest local news for Thomasville.
• You'll discover at least two exciting examples of arts and culture in Thomasville.
• You'll design a super helpful "Welcome to Thomasville" guide!

Let the Exploration Begin! (Day 1-2: Research & Discovery)

Part 1: Digging into History (Approx. 1 hour)

Thomasville has a rich past! Let's uncover some of its secrets.

1. Start your journey by searching online for the Thomasville History Center. Look for information about when Thomasville was founded, famous people, or important historical events.
   • Search Tip: Look for sections like "About Us," "History," or "Exhibits" on websites.
2. Explore other online articles or resources about Thomasville's historic sites, such as the "Big Oak," local plantations, or its history as a winter resort.
3. Jot down at least 3-5 interesting historical facts or landmarks in your notebook. These will be great for your guide!

Part 2: Community Connectors – Chamber of Commerce & Welcome Center (Approx. 1 hour)

Every town has organizations that help it thrive. Let's learn about some key ones in Thomasville.

1. Visit the website for the Thomasville-Thomas County Chamber of Commerce.
   • What is its mission? What services does it offer to businesses and the community? How does it support Thomasville?
2. Find information about the Thomasville Visitors Center (or Welcome Center). Often, you can find this on the city's official website or the Chamber of Commerce site.
   • What kind of information can visitors get there? How does it help tourists experience Thomasville?
3. In your notebook, write a short summary of what the Chamber of Commerce does for Thomasville and what the Welcome Center offers to visitors and the community.

Part 3: What's News in Thomasville? (Approx. 30-45 minutes)

Staying informed about local happenings is important!

1. Search online for "Thomasville GA local news." Identify at least two different sources (e.g., the website for a local newspaper like the Thomasville Times-Enterprise, or a local TV station news site that covers Thomasville).
2. Browse one of the news sources. Find an interesting local news story (something happening *in* or directly affecting Thomasville, not national news). What is it about?
3. Note down the names of the news sources and a brief summary of one local story. This shows you know where to find current information about the city!

Part 4: Arts & Culture Spotlight (Approx. 1 hour)

Let's explore the creative and cultural side of Thomasville!

1. Search for things like "Thomasville GA arts and culture," "Thomasville Center for the Arts," "Thomasville events," "Thomasville museums," or "public art Thomasville GA."
2. Look for information about:
   • Art galleries or studios
   • Performing arts venues (theatres, music halls) or local performing groups
   • Museums (besides the history center, perhaps those focusing on art or specific local cultures)
   • Annual festivals, cultural events, or community celebrations Thomasville is known for
   • Examples of public art (like murals or sculptures you might see around town if you were there)
3. Choose at least two examples of arts/culture that interest you and describe them in your notebook. What makes them unique to Thomasville or particularly interesting to you?

Creating Your Masterpiece! (Day 2-3: Design Your "Welcome to Thomasville" Guide)

Now it's time to put all your fantastic research together to create your "Welcome to Thomasville" guide. This is your chance to be creative and show what you've learned!

Guide Requirements:

• An engaging title for your guide.
• A brief, welcoming introduction to Thomasville.
• A section on "A Glimpse into Thomasville's History" (include at least 2-3 historical facts/landmarks you found).
• A section on "Helpful Hubs: Chamber & Welcome Center" (explaining their roles in Thomasville).
• A section on "Thomasville's Arts & Culture Scene" (featuring the examples you researched).
• (Optional Bonus) A section on "Stay Updated: Local News Sources."
• Make it visually appealing! Use headings, maybe some (copyright-free if digital) images you find online that represent Thomasville, or your own drawings if you prefer.

Choose Your Format (Pick one that sounds fun!):

• A digital slideshow (e.g., Google Slides, PowerPoint)
• A colorful brochure (you can design it digitally using Canva or a word processor, or make a physical one with art supplies)
• A short "welcome video" (you could be the host, showing pictures and talking about Thomasville!)
• A webpage or blog post (if you're familiar with tools for this, or want to learn)
• A creative poster (if you enjoy drawing and hands-on design)

Spend time designing your guide. Make it informative, fun, and something you'd be proud to share with someone new to Thomasville!

Show and Tell & Reflection (End of Day 3)

1. Present Your Guide: Share your "Welcome to Thomasville" guide with your parent/educator. Explain your choices and what you included. (You could even film yourself presenting it if you made a digital guide!).
2. Reflection Discussion: Chat about these questions:
   • What was the most surprising or interesting thing you learned about Thomasville (its history, Chamber, news, welcome center, or arts/culture)?
   • Which part of the research (history, Chamber/Welcome Center, news, or arts/culture) did you enjoy the most? Why?
   • What was the most challenging part of creating your guide? How did you overcome it?
   • If you were to actually visit Thomasville tomorrow, what's the first specific place or thing you'd want to see or do based on your research, and why?

Fantastic job, Explorer Aria! You've done an amazing job discovering and sharing the wonders of Thomasville, GA. You're practically a local expert now!