Colonial America

The Thirteen Colonies (Y)
This 13-lesson unit for grade 3 from Core Knowledge "explores how three regions of English colonies in North America—Southern, Middle, and New England—developed differently as a result of each region’s geography, climate, and the different religions and beliefs of the colonists settling each area"

Colonial Settlement: An Interactive Timeline (O,T)
"What else was happening during the settlement of the thirteen colonies? In this interactive timeline from A Biography of America, see how other European nations, along with the British, colonized America and how events in Europe impacted colonization." Includes support materials for use with students.

Geography and Its Impact on Colonial Life (O)
"European settlement patterns were influenced by geographic conditions such as access to water, harbors, natural protection, arable land, natural resources and adequate growing season and rainfall. Examine a variety of primary sources to determine why colonists were drawn to a particular region of the country." From the Library of Congress

From Colonies to Independence  (Y)
The Grade 1 Core Knowledge History and Geography unit From Colonies to Independence follows the evolution of the thirteen North American colonies, from their dependence on Great Britain to their victory in becoming an independent nation.

Dumbarton House Educator Resources  (Y,M,T)
Many virtual programs and activities, a book club, online puzzles, and videos are available; additional history lessons are here

Colonial America Lesson Plan (Y,M,T)
From the Gilder Lehrman Institute for American History, "the four lessons in this unit explore the voyage of the Pilgrims to America aboard the Mayflower, the writing of the Mayflower Compact, and the origins of Thanksgiving." Also available in the links on the page is a three-lesson unit where "students will explore the Revolutionary era through three primary sources: an image of the Boston Massacre, the song 'Yankee Doodle,' and the preamble to the Declaration of Independence." Student Activity sheets are also available.

Settling the Colonies (M,T)
"Step-by-step activities to help children experience Colonial America as they draw maps, create timelines, and hold a colonial job fair;" PDF printable for grade 5

Colonial America, 1600-1776  (Y,M,O,T)
Uses children's literature to discuss and discover Colonial America

Daily Life in Colonial Georgia (M,O,T)
"Was Georgia the temperate paradise as originally described by James Oglethorpe? Not according to these reenactors. The first English colonists faced a wilderness plagued by insects, heat, and disease. Of the original 144 colonists, nearly one in three died. An annual re-creation of colonial life held at Wormsloe Plantation near Savannah presents an opportunity for us to observe the colonists’ way of life and see demonstrations of the skills needed to face the challenges of settling the new colony." Includes support materials for teachers and for use with students

Tuscon 1776 (M,T)
"While the Founding Fathers were declaring their independence in Philadelphia, Tucson was a fledgling fort struggling to survive. Local historians give us a glimpse at life in Southern Arizona in July 1776." Includes support materials for teachers and for use with students

Colonial House Educator Resources (M,O,T)
"In Lesson Plans, you will find a series of media-rich lessons designed for immediate use with students. The lesson plans—which adhere to national learning standards— contain comprehensive instructions for classroom implementation, downloadable student handouts, and suggestions for cross-curricular extensions. In Activities, you will find a series of dynamic online activities that engage students in exploring and understanding colonial life in the 1620s." Archived educator resources, some of which (mostly Flash-based activities) are no longer available, that correspond with episodes of the PBS show Colonial House.

Secrets of Spanish Florida (M,O,T)
"The first permanent European settlement in the United States was founded in 1565--two generations before the settlements in Jamestown and Plymouth—not by English Protestants, but by the Spanish and a melting pot of people they brought with them from Africa, Italy, Germany, Ireland and even converted Jews, who integrated almost immediately with the indigenous tribes . . . This collection features video clips from Secrets of Spanish Florida – A Secrets of the Dead Special, including resources about the first true Thanksgiving, Native Floridians and the first free Black settlement in North America—Fort Mose."

The Colonization of the United States (M,O,T)
"Using video segments from the PBS series Finding Your Roots, this lesson explores Spanish colonialism in the Southwest. The lesson also expands the discussion to include other countries that established colonies in North America."

Colonial Williamsburg & Jamestowne

Historic Jamestowne  (Y,M,O,T)
Jamestown Rediscovery is committed to supporting preservation, education, and the archaeological investigation of Historic Jamestowne, the original site of the first permanent English settlement in America.

Historic Jamestowne Lesson Plans (M,O,T)
Lessons on a variety of topics approached from an archeological viewpoint for grades 3-12.

Colonial Williamsburg Educator Resources  (Y,M,O,T)
360º virtual tours, online exhibits, videos, a podcast, crafts, recipes, and more (scroll past the links to the in-person resources)

Bob & Marion Wilson Educator Resource Library at Colonial Williamsburg (T)
"The Bob & Marion Wilson Educator Resource Library features lesson materials developed by historians and educators to address educators’ needs for engaging, inclusive, relevant American history and civics resources. The Educator Resource library includes primary sources, multimedia content, lesson plans, and additional materials for use by teachers, students, and scholars of all ages."

The Colonies and Native Americans

Early Encounters: Creek Nation (M,O,T)
"Learn about the early encounters between white settlers and members of the Creek Nation in colonial Georgia." Includes support materials for students.

French Colonization and Native Americans (M,O,T)
"With a focus on the complex relationships between the French explorers and the Indigenous peoples, this resource provides a unique educational value for viewers of all ages. It offers an in-depth understanding of the motives behind colonization and the impact it had on the Indigenous peoples' culture and way of life." Includes support materials for teachers and for use with students

Empire and Identity in the American Colonies (O,T)
"In this lesson students will examine the various visions of three active agents in the creation and management of Great Britain’s empire in North America – British colonial leaders and administrators, North American British colonists, and Native Americans. Students will assess the identities and relationships of these groups in the context of the Albany Conference of 1754, where they came together at the behest of British officials seeking greater colonial unity in anticipation of a war with France for North American territory." From EDSITEment for grades 9-12

New Amsterdam to New York: Colonial and Indigenous Roots (M,O,T)
"Learn about the Indigenous, Dutch, British, and African roots of New York City in this video from New York: A Documentary Film. Using the Support Materials, students can explore how the Dutch and British colonial period laid the groundwork for New York to become the financial center of the world and how their relationships with the indigenous population impacted the Canarsie and Iroquois." Includes support materials for teachers and for use with students

Where Is Everybody? Teaching With Primary Sources (M,O,T)
"This inquiry kit features Library of Congress sources and identifies areas occupied by Native Americans and owned by European countries in colonial America." Includes support materials for teachers and students.

Conflict in the Colonies

Colonial Reaction to the Stamp Act (M,T)
"Students analyze primary sources to determine colonial opinions of Great Britain's attempts to tax the colonists in the 1760s."

Conflict in the Colonies (M,O,T)
This lesson plan from the American Battlefields Trust covers "how the French and Indian War began to change life in Colonial America and laid the groundwork for future, increased taxation and thoughts of unity and independence."

Colonial Culture & Society

American Colonial Life in the Late 1700s: Distant Cousins (O,T)
"This lesson introduces students to American colonial life and has them compare the daily life and culture of two different colonies in the late 1700s. Students study artifacts of the thirteen original British colonies and write letters between fictitious cousins in Massachusetts and Delaware." From EDSITEment for grades 6-12

Portrait of Colonial Society (O,T)
Using the 1772 portrait by Charles Wilson Peale, "John and Elizabeth Lloyd Cadwalader and Their Daughter Anne," students determine attitudes toward the family during the late 18th century. Includes support materials for use with students.

Money in Colonial Times  (Y)
From the Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia

Colonial Craft Tutorials  (Y, M)
Nine-year-old Sage hosts a web series featuring Colonial Craft tutorials from the 1700’s. She walks you through creating various items from colonial days and gives both historic and modern options. In addition to the colonial craft tutorial, there is always a bite-size history lesson.

A Character's Perspective - Colonial House  (M,O,T)
"Students watch a video segment that shows the reactions of colonists who arrive in America and people who are native to the area as they encounter one another for the first time during a colony settlement reenactment. After analyzing the characters’ responses, the students select a character and write a letter from that character’s point of view that describes the meeting as well as the character’s feelings and/or reactions." Includes support materials for use with students

Anne Hutchinson: Banished (Y,M)
Free PDF book from Core Knowledge

The Lives of Slaves in Colonial America (M,O,T)
"This lesson uses a video clip from Colonial Williamsburg to illustrate the culture and lives of enslaved people brought to colonial America. Students will explore this topic through a vocabulary activity, graphic organizer and by identifying differences between the lives of slaves and their own lives." From C-SPAN in the Classroom

Dress the Part (Y,M)
"Explore how members of the different social strata dressed in the 18th century in this web interactive" from Colonial Williamsburg Education