Curated OER
U.S. History: The Progressive Era
Young scholars examine the Colonial Revival Movement as a response to industrialization and immigration. focusing on Deerfield, Connecticut, they create a documentary artifact reflecting the period.
National First Ladies' Library
Will the Real Pocahontas Please Stand Up?
Learners explore the life of Pocahontas and Powhatan Indians. After studying information on a given website, students compare and contrast what they read about Pocahontas and what they previously thought of her. They explore life in a...
Curated OER
The Proclamation of 1763
Students consider the impact of the Proclamation of 1763. In this colonial America instructional activity, students determine the how the proclamation affected the British Crown, the colonists, and the Indians and present their findings...
Benjamin Franklin Tercentenary
Benjamin Franklin and the Long Struggle for Independence
Learners explore U.S. history by reading biographical material in class. In this Benjamin Franklin lesson, students identify the life of Franklin and the events that led him to become one of America's first heroes. Learners complete an...
Curated OER
Rules, Rules, Rules
Fourth graders create their classroom rules. In this Mayflower Compact lesson, 4th graders listen to the Plymouth story and learn about the Mayflower Compact. Students analyze the Mayflower Compact and create a class compact...
Curated OER
Into the Wild: Settling the South Carolina Backcountry
Eighth graders select their own plot of land in the Backcountry to settle in the 1700s in SC. Students first find a point for settlement and sketch out the best route from the Lowcountry to arrive at the point. They...
Curated OER
Happy Endings: The Final Battle
Fifth graders explore all the myths of the battle of Yorktown. A variety of primary documents are viewed and analyzed for discussion. They become aware that what one sees and hears is not always as it seems in reality. Each group...
Curated OER
Pilgrim Immigration Lesson Plans: Then and Now
Pilgrim immigration lesson plans offer more than a study of these early settlers. It gives students an insight into modern immigration.
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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The Plymouth Colony
Third graders discuss the book on the pilgrims. They write a poem of the hardships of the boat or on the land. Students write journal entries as a pilgrim on boat or on the land. They complete a collage of the foods that the pilgrims...
Curated OER
No Choice!
Students investigate freedom. In this character development and U.S. history lesson, students participate in role playing in which the teacher assigns recess restrictions including whom they play with and what they play. Students discuss...
Curated OER
The 1726 Casco Bay Treaty Conference
High schoolers simulate the Casco Bay Treaty Conference. They read and discuss an excerpt from the Conference proceedings. They work in groups to discuss the concerns of the Conference and why the Indians conceded. They write a response...
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The Walking Purchase of 1737
Students review the main points of the Walking Purchase of 1737. In groups, they describe how the Iroquois, Minisink, and Delaware Indians felt about the purchase and compare and contrast the different views. They write and perform a...
Curated OER
Corn in Legend and Myth
Seventh graders compare myths and legends about corn and use creative abilities to act them out. In this corn legends activity, 7th graders read background information about corn and its importance. Students work in groups to research...
Curated OER
Thanksgiving and Agriculture
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.
Curated OER
Turkey and Indians
Pupils color pictures and tape one to each side of a piece of cardboard. They line up opposite one another in the middle of the gymnasium about 4 feet apart. Designate each line as one of the groups that corresponds to the pictures on...
Curated OER
Pontiac's War
Learners interpret primary sources concerning Pontiac's Rebellion. They are able to explain the motives behind the attack on the British. Students predict possible outcomes of Pontiac's Rebllion.
Curated OER
Molly's Pilgrim
Students read Molly's Pilgrim and discuss what the word pilgrim means and what they think they look like. In this pilgrim instructional activity, students design a clothespin doll to represent a pilgrim.
Curated OER
Using Math to Draw the Mayflower
Third graders access information from a website about the Pilgrims trip on the Mayflower and discuss the number of people on the ship and the time they spent on the ship. They draw, label and measure the Mayflower to perspective.
Curated OER
Jamestown Journey Part 4
Fourth graders review their prior knowledge from the previous lessons of this unit on Jamestown. After reading a novel, they examine and discuss the life of Pocahontas. Using the internet, they answer comprehension questions and write...
Curated OER
Past Tense Verbs
This activity, which focuses on the Pilgrims, has students practice the use of past tense verbs. Students in the lower grades could complete this fill-in-the-blank worksheet as a review of information learned about Thanksgiving.
Hubbard's Cupboard
The Pilgrims' First Thanksgiving
Students explore holidays by participating in class singing activities. In this Thanksgiving history lesson, students discuss the importance of Thanksgiving Day and read several poems which discuss the history of Thanksgiving. Students...
Curated OER
Kiskiack: Changing Architectural Landscape
Students compare and contrast the changing Native and English colonial architectural landscape of the 17th and 18th centuries. Students research and evaluate how economic technology, and the environment reflected cultural changes in the...
Curated OER
Hull of a Ship
Fifth graders engage in this introductory unit lesson. A bulletin board for the unit be started, Colonial Notebooks be presented to each student, and a pre-test on colonization be administered.