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This Thirteen Colonies unit proves that history lessons don’t have to be boring! Included are 15 exciting lessons about the Southern, Middle, and New England colonies. Even better, I’ve made it as easy as possible for teachers to implement.
Why I created this unit
Table of Contents
Week 1: The Southern Colonies
- Colonization Introduction—PowerPoint presentation & KL worksheet
- Jamestown Simulation—activity where students act like the settlers of Jamestown and make decisions about their survival with article and student worksheets
- History of the Southern Colonies—article about the history of each Southern colony and comprehension questions
- Life in the Southern Colonies—task cards about aspects of Southern life (religion, education, social classes, etc.), student recording sheet, and reflection
- All About the Southern Colonies Game—student information booklet, jeopardy questions, and jeopardy board (covers the Southern Colonies’ economy, geography, important people, Native Americans, & religions)
Week 2: The New England Colonies
- The Mayflower and Plymouth Colony—facts about New England, article about the Mayflower and Plymouth Colony, interactive timeline, and reflection
- Early American Constitutions—activity analyzing The Mayflower Compact and The Fundamental Orders of Connecticut, simulation where students create their own constitution
- Puritan Life—artifacts about Puritan life (religion, education, social classes, etc.) and student recording sheet
- The Salem Witch Trials—article about the Salem Witch Trials, evidence activity, and student booklet about the important people in the Trials
- All About the New England Colonies Game—student information booklet and jeopardy questions (covers New England’s economy, geography, important people, Native Americans, & religions)
Week 3: The Middle Colonies
- New Amsterdam to New York—facts about the Middle Colonies, article about the British taking over New Amsterdam, two reader’s theater scripts, and comprehension check
- Fur Trading Simulation Game—article about colonial fur trading, materials to play a fur trading simulation game (name tags, goods for trading, rules, awards, etc.)
- The Quaker Way of Life—article about Quakers in the Middle Colonies, articles about different aspects of Quaker life (religion, education, social classes, etc.), rubric for student posters and presentations, and note taking sheet
- All About the Middle Colonies—student information booklet, and jeopardy questions (covers the Middle Colonies’ economy, geography, important people, Native Americans, & religions)
- Comparing and Contrasting the Colonies— sorting mats and cards to compare and contrast the Southern, New England, and Middle colonies
13 Colonies Unit Help For The Teacher
- Table of contents (also available in the preview)
- Suggested pacing guide
- 15 lesson plans
- Answer Keys (Of course!)
- Editable end-of-unit test and study guide
- Easy printing file with all student worksheets and articles
How can this unit be for grades 5th-8th?
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