Teachers.netExplore Colonial America!
In Explore Colonial America!, kids ages 6-9 learn about America's earliest days as European settlements, and how the colonists managed to survive, build thriving colonies, and eventually challenge England for independence. How did the colonists build homes, feed and clothe themselves, and get along with the Native Americans who were already here?
“What a pleasure! This hands-on, fun-filled text makes the history of the thirteen colonies come alive for young people. Verna Fisher's text invites, informs, and delights.” —Brennan Pursell, Ph.D., Associate Professor of History, DeSales University
CLEAR REVIEW (SWON LIBRARIES)—This would make a wonderful companion book for teachers focusing on this period in history and looking for interesting facts and kid friendly activities like making a log cabin using pretzel rods and icing, yum. Words specific to the period are defined throughout the book and there are "cool facts” that are just that, they don’t disappoint
Learn about America's colonists, how they learned to survive, and key figures and events that helped shape the country we know today. Several projects and activities weave through each chapter, making this title more fun your young readers. —Chad Young Nashville Parent Book Reviews October 2009
“Ms. Fisher uses humor and hands-on activities to bring history alive. Before I present a historical unit, I usually have to search out maps, photographs, drawings, vocabulary, and activities to enhance the base material. Ms. Fisher did the work for me in her fascinating children's book on Colonial America.” —Susan Aten, elementary school teacher, The Hillside School, Macungie, Pennsylvania
“Will engage children and motivate them to keep reading.” —Sandy Chambers, Ph.D., Assistant Professor, Kutztown University
“Education and understanding our common history is so important. Explore Colonial America! is a great way for children to learn in a fun and easy way. I recommend this book highly.” —Chief Robert Red Hawk Ruth, Lenape Nation of Pennsylvania
“What a pleasure! This hands-on, fun-filled text makes the history of the thirteen colonies come alive for young people. Verna Fisher's text invites, informs, and delights.” —Brennan Pursell, Ph.D., Associate Professor of History, DeSales University
“Verna Fisher's book is a delight for any teacher of elementary and middle school students. The author uses many teaching methods and makes use of history, jokes, and activities throughout the book. Students are exposed to the people and events and experiences of Colonial America in an up-close and personal way. This book may be used in any classroom or home schooled situation.” — Joseph A. DiMauro, OSFS, Ed.D.
BOOKS
Barretta, Gene. Now & Ben. New York: Henry Hold and Company, 2006.
Bordessa, Kris. Great Colonial American Projects You Can Build Yourself. White River
Junction, VT: Nomad Press, 2006.
Burgan, Michael. Life in the Thirteen Colonies: Maryland. New York: Scholastic, 2004.
Burke, Davis. Getting to Know Jamestown. New York: Coward, McCann & Geoghegan, 1971.
DeFord, Deborah H. Life in the Thirteen Colonies: Massachusetts. New York: Scholastic, 2004
DeFord, Deborah H. Life in the Thirteen Colonies: Pennsylvania. New York: Scholastic, 2004.
Doak, Robin. Life in the Thirteen Colonies: Georgia. New York: Scholastic, 2004.
Doak, Robin. Life in the Thirteen Colonies: Massachusetts. New York: Scholastic, 2004.
Earle, Alice Morse. Child Life in Colonial Days. New York: The McMillan Company,1930.
Earle, Alice Morse. Home Life in Colonial Days. New York: The McMillan Company,1965.
Emily, Lauren. Life in the Thirteen Colonies: Connecticut. New York: Scholastic, 2004.
Fisher, Margaret and Fowler, Mary Jane. Colonial America English Colonies. Michigan: Gateway Press, Inc., 1988.
Fradin, Dennis. The Thirteen Colonies. Chicago: Childrens Press, 1988.
Heaton, Vernon. The Mayflower. New York: Mayflower Books, Inc., 1980.
Howath, Susan. Colonial People. Brookfield, CT: Millbrook Press, 1994.
January, Brendan. The Thirteen Colonies. New York: Childrens Press, 2000.
Kalman, Bobbie and Crossingham, John. Colonial Home. New York: Crabtrees Publishing Group, 2001.
Oberle, Nora Polack. The Declaration of Independence. Minnesota: Capstone Press, 2002.
McMaster, Gerald and Trafzer, Clifford E. Native Universe: Voices of Indian America. Washington, D.C.: The National Geographic Society, 2004.
Paulson, Timothy J. Life in the Thirteen Colonies: New York. New York: Scholastic, 2004.
Pobst, Sandy. Life in the Thirteen Colonies: Virginia. New York: Scholastic, 2004.
Pony Boy, GaWaNi. Horse Follow Closely. California: Bow Tie Press, 1998.
Samuel, Charlie. Entertainment in Colonial America. New York: The Rosen Publishing Group, 2003.
Samuel, Charlie. Home Life in Colonial America. New York: The Rosen Publishing Group, 2003.
Smith, Carter. Daily Life: A Sourcebook on Colonial America. Brookfield, CT: Millbrook Press, 1991.
Sterngass, Jon. Life in the Thirteen Colonies: New Jersey. New York: Scholastic, 2004.
Stevens, Peter F. The Mayflower Murderer & Other Forgotten Firsts in American History. New York: William Morrow and Company, Inc., 1993.
Tunis, Edward. Colonial Craftsmen. Ohio: The World Publishing Company, 1965.
Tunis, Edward. Colonial Living. Ohio: The World Publishing Company, 1957.
Worth, Richard. Life in the Thirteen Colonies: Delaware. New York: Scholastic, 2004
Worth, Richard. Life in the Thirteen Colonies: North Carolina. New York: Scholastic, 2004.
Worth, Richard. Life in the Thirteen Colonies: South Carolina. New York: Scholastic, 2004.
Wright, Louis B. Everyday Life in Colonial America. New York: Putnam, 1966.
WEB SITES
Colonial Williamsburg www.history.org
David McHam’s Communication Law Center www.class.uh.edu
Declaration of Independence www.ushistory.org
eHow www.ehow.com
Encarta http://encarta.msn.com/
Family Fun Magazine www.familyfun.com
Federal Reserve Bank of Boston www.bos.frb.org/education/pubs/historyo
George Washington’s Mount Vernon Estate & Gardens www.mountvernon.org
Iroquois Confederacy and the US Constitution Portland State University www.iroquoisdemocracy.pdx.edu
Lenape Nation www.lenapenation.org
Library Think Quest www.library.thinkquest.org
Motivational & Inspirational Quotes by Benjamin Franklin www.MotivationalQuotes4U.com
MSNBC www.msnbc.msn.com
Native American Technology and Art www.nativetech.org
Native Languages of the Americas www.native-languages.org
Organic.org www.organic.org
Orrin Lewis www.bigorrin.org
Scholastic www.scholastic.com/scholastic
Social Studies for Kids www.socialstudiesforkids.com
The Association for the Preservation of Virginia Antiquities www.preservationvirginia.org
The Claude Moore Colonial Farm at Turkey Run www.1771.org
The Colonial Music Institute www.colonialmusic.org
The Electric Ben Franklin www.ushistory.org
The New England Unit of The Herb Society of America www.neuhsa.org
The Thirteen Original Colonies www.scarborough.k12.me.us
MUSEUMS
Colonial Williamsburg www.history.org Williamsburg, Virginia
Frontier Culture Museum www.fronteirmuseum.org Staunton, Virginia
Fort Delaware Museum of Colonial History www.scgnet.us.org Sullivan County, New York
National Museum of the American Indian www.nmai.si.edu Washington, D.C. and New York, New York
North Carolina Museum of History www.ncmuseumofhistory.org Raleigh, North Carolina
The Metropolitan Museum of Art www.metmuseum.org New York, New York
The National Great Blacks in Wax Museum www.ngbiwm.com Baltimore, Maryland
The National Society of the Colonial Dames of America www.nscda.org
Bryan Stone has worked on a variety of professional comics and illustration projects, including drawings for Dartmouth College’s Hopkins Center and a monthly, three page, comic called Onion Head for Bash Magazine. Bryan also self-publishes his comic book, Frogherder. Bryan moved from Alabama to New England so that he could attend The Center for Cartoon Studies. Bryan and his wife, Amanda Ann, live in White River Junction, Vermont. For more information visit his website, www.bryan-stone.com
The colonists’ trip to America took two or three months by sea on large
ships. The ships could be about 100 feet long. These ships had to carry
enough supplies for the long journey. Some of those supplies were
food and water, clothing, guns and gun powder, tools and candles.
The colonists brought the things they would need for their new lives
with them. In this activity you can make your own ship and see if it
floats or sinks.
