13 Colonies Unit
April 20-April 24 Lessons
3rd Grade E-Learning
Monday
Monday
Before we begin to learn about the 13 colonies, you may ask yourself:
WHAT IS A COLONY?!
No, it’s not where ants live! A colony, in this history unit, is referring to a place that is settled by a group of people, who are not usually from that place.
People from Europe sailed across the ocean to N. America to start these colonies BUT they were still being ruled by the country they came from.
Monday
The first colonies in North America were along the eastern coast. Settlers from Spain, France, Sweden, Holland, and England claimed land beginning in the 17th century.
WHY WOULD THEY LEAVE THEIR COUNTRY TO COME TO NORTH AMERICA??
Here are some things these people were in search of:
* To start a new life
* A chance to make $$
* Get away from bossy Kings and Queens
* Over crowded cities
* Religious freedom (so they could practice any religion they wanted)
* And maybe even find gold and spices!
MONDAY
Watch This Video to Learn More!
MONDAY
The 13 colonies were in three regions. They were different in many ways, but also similar. Throughout the rest of this unit, we will be learning about each region and what made it special!
Go back and watch the video ONE MORE TIME! Then write down 1 fact about each region on a homemade chart or a printed version of the:
Colonial America Three Regions Chart
MONDAY
Tuesday
The 1st Colony!
Tuesday
The first permanent settlement in North America was an English colony called Jamestown. It was settled in 1607 in what is now Virginia. The Pilgrims followed, in 1620, and set up a colony at Plymouth, in what is now Massachusetts.
Look at this map. You can see the order in which the colonies were settled!
Which region had the LAST colonies created? Hmmmm I wonder why that was??
Jamestown
Tuesday
Jamestown was the first colony made by a man named John Smith. You may remember him from the story about Pocahontas!
Who do you think John and his men encountered when they landed in Jamestown??? Think back to our last history unit….
You guessed it!!! The NATIVE AMERICANS!!
Tuesday
Not only did the Europeans have to fight off the Natives, but winter was coming and these people did not know how to build houses in this new land or what animals to hunt for food….things were not looking good for them!!
Tuesday
The people who survived that first winter, learned from the Powhatan Native Americans and eventually became “friends”. The colony of Jamestown was part of the middle colonies, which is what we will be learning about next week.
TOMORROW, we will head up North to the NEW ENGLAND COLONIES
Wednesday
Wednesday
Today you will be watching a video that introduces the New England Colonies! Pay attention...you may need to know some of this information later on!
Wednesday
After watching this video, add some facts into your homemade or printed chart from yesterday!
Thursday
Thursday
Today, you will be reading this one page informational sheet about the New England colonies. Then you will complete the activities! :)
New England Colonies Reading + Activities
MORE VIDEOS-- just for fun!
13 Colonies Song
Jamestown Colony Song
by Mr. Bett
Virtual Tour of Plymouth Plantation
Pilgrims by Mr. Bett