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The Merits of Pocahontas Examined

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Students continue their examination of the life of Pocahontas. In research teams, they create brief reports of their findings and share them with their classmates. They take notes which could be used in their presentations. As each...
Lesson Plan
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Life in Plymouth - Pilgrim Study Unit

For Teachers 3rd - 8th
Students write a timeline showing significant events in the Plymouth Colony that occurred between 1621 and 1628. They define and illustrate key vocabulary words which are imbedded in this lesson plan. This simple activity is designed to...
Lesson Plan
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Guide to Writing Your Letter Back to England

For Teachers 5th
Fifth graders write a letter back to England from Jamestown. They describe their trip and how they are fairing in the New World. They also discuss how they feel about John Smith.
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The Mayflower Compact

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students use primary source documents to discuss the Mayflower Compact and the story of the first Thanksgiving. They discover how the Pilgrims were influenced in developing a community and American democracy.
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Growing Up

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Students examine the definitions of philantrophy and common good. They identify non-profit organizations in their community and research organizations that existed in colonial times with the same goal in mind. They create a timeline for...
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The English Settle America

For Teachers 6th
Sixth graders compare immigration today with that of the colonial period. They locate colonies on a map and describe reasons their families immigrated to the United States.
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Thanksgiving and Agriculture

For Teachers K - 2nd
Students listen to the book "The Pilgrim Story" and discuss the Pilgrims and why they came to America. Students role play the Thanksgiving story and write about how Pilgrims and Indians relate to them today.
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When Travelers Meet

For Teachers 4th - 5th
Students research life in Colonial America then write and stage a play about life in Colonial times. creating a variety of characters who might have lived at that time. They, in groups, generate seperate lists of characters who would...
Unit Plan
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New England News: All You Need to Know About the New England Colonies

For Teachers 3rd
Students explore the New England colonies inj this five lessons unit. The colonies of plymouth Rock, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, New Hampshire, and Connecticut are highlighted through a variety of techniques.
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Making Faces: Understanding Artifacts Through Design Elements

For Teachers 1st - 2nd
Pupils examine and discuss drinking container artifacts from Jamestown. They view images of the artifacts, discuss their purposes, draw an original facial expression for a brown paper jug, and write a description of the facial expression.
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"You Shall Do Your Best Endeavor" - Working With Primary Documents

For Teachers 3rd - 4th
Students read and interpret primary source documents regarding historic Jamestown. In small groups, they read the primary documents, answer questions, and view online maps of Jamestown Island and Virginia.
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"What Do You Mean?" How Language Changes Over Time

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Young scholars examine words used at Jamestown in 1607. They predict what the words meant in 1607, write sentences using three of them, then analyze the sentences after they have read the actual definitions of the words.
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Henry Spelman: The Powhatan Indians' English Boy

For Teachers 6th
Sixth graders read and analyze narrative writing by and about Henry Spelman, a boy-laborer who helped settle Jamestown. They read biographical information, discuss the harsh conditions, and write a narrative piece on Henry's experiences.
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"it's All in the Cellar"

For Teachers 7th
Seventh graders examine the process of constructing a site plan map at archaeological sites. They discuss the process of mapping techniques and calculation of percentages, create a plan site map of a cellar at Jamestown, and calculate...
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The Demise of Copper's Trading Power

For Teachers 8th
Eighth graders evaluate statistical equations. They examine data from archaeologists at Jamestown, complete statistical equations using the sets of data, and graph the results.
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What Lies Beneath

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Students conduct Internet research on the history and archaeological excavations at historical Jamestown. They explore various websites, and develop a Powerpoint presentation to present to the class.
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Art or Artifact?

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students analyze and discuss illustrations of the New World by John White. They examine the images, answer questions about each one, and write an essay.
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Networking at Early James Fort

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Young scholars examine the impact of global trade on regional civilizations of the world after 1500. They research and analyze images of pottery excavated at Jamestown, and create a poster that presents information about world trade...
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Exploring Life in Jamestown Settlement

For Teachers 3rd
Third graders locate Jamestown settlement on a historical timeline and research colonial life. They name a restaurant, identify who their potential customers might be and prepare a typical colonial menu.
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Exploring Life in Jamestown Settlement

For Teachers 2nd - 4th
Students research a historic timeline and other texts to explore life in the colonies and the Jamestown settlement. Students investigate what the settlers ate while in the colony. Students prepare foods similar to colonists' foods.
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Colonial America

For Teachers 7th - 8th
Students read the novel, The Witch of Blackbird Pond. In groups, they conduct research using the Internet, encyclopedias, and books to gather information on an assigned colony. The projects are presented to the rest of the class.
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State of Affairs Between the Native Americans and the European Settlers

For Teachers 6th - 10th
Students examine relationship and contact between Native Americans and European Settlers, using primary sources.
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Settling America in 1640

For Teachers 2nd
Second graders listen to a presentation on life in colonial America in 1640. They compare early colonial life to the present and use software to write a story showcasing their research.
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Colony of Massachusetts

For Teachers 3rd
Third graders recall the reasons why the Pilgrims came to the New World. They ideology and compare and contrast the ideology of the Puritans and Roger iams. They study the colony of New York.