Curated OER
A Flip of Life in the 13 Colonies
Fourth graders create a flip book illustrating the 13 original colonies. They study the growth and development of each of the three groups of the original colonies. They use maps to observe and interpret geographic information and...
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My Colonial Life
Students explore American colonial times. In this U.S. history instructional activity, students research typical colonial life and script interviews with people that might have lived during the time period. Students create podcasts of...
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Lesson 11: Printed Materials (Ads and Broadsides) 1780-1820
Young scholars use primary resources (gazettes, broadsides, advertisements) to consider life at the turn of the 18th century in Deerfield, Massachusetts. They infer observations about life in the nascent United States.
Benjamin Franklin Tercentenary
Franklin’s Philadelphia: Another Point of View
While Benjamin Franklin enjoyed fame and success in colonial Philadelphia, that was not the experience of all coming to the British colonies. Young scholars trace the life of an indentured servant using a scholarly biography and reading...
Jamestown-Yorktown Foundation
Life of a Private Lesson Plan
In order to understand the challenges the Continental Army faced during the American Revolution, class members analyze primary source materials including a soldier's journal and an officer's letter, and watch a short reenactment video.
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Life in Ancient Ghana, Mali, and Songhai
Students study the ancient African kingdoms of Ghana, Mali, and Songhai. They brainstorm what they know about ancient African kingdoms before investigating the trade and barter situations, and researching one of the kingdoms for an oral...
American Museum of Natural History
Tools of the Trade
Archaeologist David Hurst Thomas details his search for a lost Spanish Mission on St. Catherines Island, Georgia. A great way to introduce youngsters to the life of and the tools used by archaeologists.
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Changing Attitudes: Aging in America Lesson Plan
Students discuss how the elder members of the community are viewed. Using the internet, they research how this view has changed since colonial times. They also identify ways in which this attitude keeps changing in modern America.
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Jamestown's Economy
Students identify items made in Jamestown and draw conclusions about their economy. In this Jamestown economy lesson, students use the internet to complete a worksheet which required them to look at photographs of goods made in and...
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Colonial Williamsburg
Fifth graders share information on one aspect of colonial life with an email partner each week. They take on the personal of a character from Colonial iamsburg and tell their partner about they have done that day with a focus on a...
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Conflict and Compromise
Young scholars examine opinions about the Boston Tea Party. In this colonial America lesson, students analyze several primary sources about the Tea Party and then write essays that reveal efforts to compromise as well as efforts to...
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Benjamin Franklin's Many "Hats"
Students examine Benjamin Franklin's contributions to the United States. In this Benjamin Franklin lesson, students analyze the sculpted depiction of Franklin by Hiram Powers. Students also study Franklin's life, philosophy, and...
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Entertainment During the American Revolution
What do people do for fun around here? Explore colonial period games, toys, and life with a look at entertainment during the American Revolution. Discover the games, sports, and songs that were popular during the time of the Revolution.
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Social Studies 7th Grade: American Revolution
A basic overview of the events leading up to the Declaration of Independence, this presentation provides students with key terms and facts about life in the thirteen original colonies. The final slide includes an assignment for students...
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Wants Vs. Needs: The Pilgrims sail to America
Students work in groups to create a list of the items needed by the Pilgrims to bring to America. In this wants vs. needs lesson, students must agree on what should be on the list. Students create their list by order of importance....
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Identifying Important Ideas in Expository Text
Pupils identify the main ideas from expository text. In this main ideas lesson, students read a piece of text and practice identifying what is most important. Pupils complete another sample reading with a group then discuss as a class.
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U.S. History: Virginia Assembly in America
Third graders discover the importance of the Virginia Assembly in English America as a governing body. After discussing the formation of the House of Burgesses, they elect their own representatives to make class decisions. In groups,...
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Exploring Life in Jamestown Settlement
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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Philanthropy in History Lesson 3: Self-sufficiency And the Community
Young scholars study the characteristic of self-sufficiency in people that lived during Colonial times. They investigate the contemporary movement of Habitat for Humanity. They listen to the story of Donald Hall's, The Oxcart Man and...
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Exploring Life in Jamestown Settlement
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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Jamestown Celebrates 400th Anniversary
Students view a world map and identify the locations of England and Virginia and discuss what kinds of things they would take with them on this kind of trip. They read the words in the news box on the student page and fill in the blanks...
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Jamestown Changes
Students examine how the Jamestown settlement changed the first few years after it was founded. They take a virtual field trip of Jamestown, read primary source documents, discuss census information, and write a summary of changes in...
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Historical Fashions - Interdisciplinary Experience, Art & Social Studies
Seventh graders research styles, construction, fabrics, colors, and cost of Colonial era clothing. They create a life-sized model of themselves wearing Colonial period clothing and write a report about the clothes they designed.
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A Colony is Born : Lessons 7 - 10 What's My Line?
Fifth graders research their assigned regions, complete regional guide and prepare presentations about the New World colonists. They refer to "Everyday LIfe: Colonial Times" as well as searching marked internet sites.