by Kathy Stemke

Created on: October 26, 2009

For young children, an important purpose for learning history is to make the past become real instead of abstract. Other achievable goals are to develop knowledge of the American heritage, and have a general knowledge of a historical timeline, and important persons of the past.

History instruction can be enhanced by the use of videotapes, and films. But, the use of literature and hands on activities are the best ways to engage children in learning. The following examples of books and activities about colonization can be adapted to any subject.

1. Build models of pilgrim houses with clay, sand, and straw plastered on stick forms.

2. Core and slice apples across, making apple rings. Pass a string through the holes, leaving a space between slices. Hang them to make dried apples.

Grade 1, Yolen, Jane "Roanoke: The Lost Colony: An Unsolved Mystery from History" The surrounding story is fictional but the facts about the lost colony are in this picture book.

3. Taste fresh herbs and then dry them. Plant or design an authentic pilgrim garden.

Grades 3, Penner, Lucille "Eating the Plates: A Pilgrim Book of Food and Manners"

4. Make a model of an early villageUsing descriptions from books, diagram or .

Grades 3, Bowen, Gary "Stranded at Plimoth Plantation 1626" We see daily life in Plymouth from the point of view of an indentured servant in Plymouth.

5. Find examples of words and expressions of early American English. What words do we use today instead of those early words?

6. Write a journal, using the pilgrims language and spelling.

Grades 5, Clapp, Patricia "Constance: A Story of Early Plymouth" The journal of a young girl.

7. Find early songs and categorize them: story, work, spiritual, release, humor. Find current songs that fit into the same categories.

Anderson, Joan "The First Thanksgiving Feast"

8. Compare the individual rights issues in the Mayflower Compact to those in the US Constitution.

9. Make a food taught to the Colonists by Native Americans.

Yerkow, Lila Perl "Slumps, Grunts and Snickerdoodles: What Colonial America Ate and Why"

10. Make a poster showing the reasons settlers came to Colonial America.

Grades 3, Arenstam, Peter "Mayflower 1620" Using photographs the authors tell the story of the original voyage.

11. Divide your class so that half are pilgrims and, half Indians. They can use only non-verbal communication with the other side. Work on a class project together.

Grades 3, Ziner, Feenie "Squanto"

12. Create rustic art with things

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