But What Happened?

As alert readers will know, we are just a few chapters away (actually only two now) from finishing our book about the mystery of Roanoke Island. It's by historian Lee Miller.

The kids asked a couple of really good questions today. First off, the chapter ended with Sir Walter Raleigh, who had been the queen's favorite in England, falling out of favor with her suddenly. This was after he had spent years and years being beloved in her eyes, and then it was his plan that finally allowed the small British Navy to defeat the monstrously large Spanish Armada.

The question was, "Why did the Queen of England not like him all the sudden?"

I explained that it was so long ago (the late 1500's) that we simply don't have the primary resources to give us any idea. It's a mystery that we really don't have an definite answer for.

Very similar to this is the reason we still don't know quite what happened to the people left at the Roanoke Colony. We talked about how, these days especially, we would have all kinds of knowledge (although maybe not all of it trustworthy) through the internet, books, and unfortunately now social media. I explained to them that, of course, someone knew--surely Raleigh did, at least--but it is not in any written accounts.

This week, we are starting our research projects in writing. I'm hoping some of the kids actually do find a few roadblocks for what they are trying to find out, and that some of them are even able to find ways around them.

More to come!