Curated OER
American Colonial Life in the Late 1700s: Distant Cousins
Students research how early colonists lived. They investigate late 17th century colonist's lives from Massachusetts and Delaware. Using their research, students write historical fiction in the form of friendly letters between the two...
Curated OER
A Lesson to Accompany "Benjamin Franklin and the Birth of a Paper Money Economy"
Students examine the role of money in the colonial economy by participating in a trading activity. In this colonial economy lesson plan, students complete an activity to learn about colonial trade and what happens when there is a lack of...
Curated OER
Colonial Society on the Eve of Revolution 1700-1775
Six slides show maps, graphs, and trade routes showing the demographics and economy of the early colonial economy. No text is included in this presentation, it is for supplemental use only.
Curated OER
Colonial American Trade, Currency, and Economy: The instability of a colonial economy
Students view an image of Nathanial Hurd's "Table of Conversions." They will work in small groups to complete a worksheet. Students participate in a discussion about colonial Boston's economy. This lesson plan is a precursor to a visit...
Roy Rosenzweig Center for History and New Media
Differences Among Colonial Regions
Classes look at and analyze primary source images to explore the differences between the colonial regions during the Revolutionary era. They break into groups to tackle each region and then present their findings to the class. A final...
Curated OER
Jamestown's Economy
Students identify items made in Jamestown and draw conclusions about their economy. For this Jamestown economy lesson, students use the internet to complete a worksheet which required them to look at photographs of goods made in and...
Curated OER
Colonial Currency
Fifth graders develop a common currency. For this colonial currency lesson, 5th graders exchange beads, rice, coins, and paper bills for goods and services. Students explore web tools to research ways colonists used money, even if it was...
Curated OER
The Colonial Workers Web
Students explore how workers, both today and in colonial times, worked within their societies to produce specialized goods and services and became interdependent. They explain how people became less self sufficient in their economic...
Council for Economic Education
Trade in Colonial America / NAFTA
Learners learn the how trade impacted the colonial economy. They analyze the the benefits of NAFTA and learn the advantages to both the United States and Mexico.
Curated OER
Jamestown's Economy
Learners examine goods made and used by Native Americans and colonists at Jamestown. They complete a worksheet noting characteristics of the objects. They answer questions to make generalizations about scarcity and trade.
Curated OER
American Life in the 17th Century: 1607-1692
What was American life like during the 1600s? Help your class discover facts about the unhealthy conditions at Chesapeake Bay, the tobacco economy, Bacon's Rebellion, colonial slavery, the Salem Witch Trials, and colonial life. Slides...
Curated OER
Life in the Colonies
What was life like for the early colonists? Read along with an informational presentation, rich in text. Colonial slavery, slave culuture, colonial religion, and the Great Awakening are all described in full. Tip: The resource could be...
Curated OER
A Lesson to Accompany "Benjamin Franklin and the Birth of a Paper Money Economy"
Students investigate the role of money in the colonial economy. In this colonial economy instructional activity, students participate in a trading activity, read the booklet "Benjamin Franklin and the Birth of a Paper Money Economy,"...
Jamestown-Yorktown Foundation
Colonial Tobacco Economy
Tobacco as money? Middle schoolers investigate how eighteenth-century Virginia farmers used tobacco as a cash crop to buy tools, livestock, and household goods. They also examine the connection between tobacco production and the slave...
Curated OER
Crossword: Introduction to Colonial America
In this crossword worksheet, students read 14 clues pertaining to colonial America. Students place their answers in this puzzle which does not have a word bank.
Curated OER
Early Colonial Labor Force: Indentured Servants and Slaves
Young scholars study the labor force used during Colonial America. For this Colonial America lesson, students discuss labor types used in the colonies. Young scholars read about indentured servants and the use of African slaves. Students...
Curated OER
Plantation Economy Discussion: Activity 6
Lead your class in a discussion on the many components of plantation economics during the colonial period. This presentation is comprised of a single slide which houses 13 discussion topics related to plantation economy. Note: Use this...
Curated OER
What can money tell us?
High schoolers study the physical presence, imagery and written text on a reproduction of colonial currency. They apply their research to a modern day quarter to compare and contrast two coins. In addition, they design their own colonial...
Curated OER
The Trading Post with the Most: Colonial Dorchester's Settlement and Economy
Eighth graders explore the Dorchester settlement, In this American colonial history instructional activity, 8th graders examine primary resources and maps from the Dorchester trading post in order to learn about its contributions to the...
Curated OER
Can't You Make Them Behave, King George?
Fifth graders describe the changes in King George III's policy toward the American colonies by sequencing key events between the French and Indian War and the American Revolution. They explain the colonial reactions to command decisions...
Curated OER
An Empire in the Balance
Eleventh graders investigate the role of New York state during the American Revolution. In small groups, they research a particular region within colonial America, analyze primary source documents, complete Document Analysis Sheets, and...
Read Works
Plymouth Colony
Read about the tumultuous beginning to the United States with an informational text passage about Colonial America. As young researchers peruse an article about the arrival of the Mayflower, the settlers' relationship to the neighboring...
Curated OER
Bossy Britain Upsets Colonists
Students examine the causes of dissatisfaction that led to the American Revolution. Then they make a Flap Vocabulary Book and glue on a map of the thirteen colonies and make a title page called "Road to War in it." Students also...
Curated OER
American Colonists Protest Song
Students explore the role of protest songs. For this early American history lesson, students research the acts passed by the British that angered colonists. Students then listen to protest songs from contemporary American history prior...