Smithsonian Institution
National Postal Museum: Letter Writing in America
Article from the National Postal Museum on letter writing in America and how it became important as a tie between people exploring or settling in the new world and the sponsors or loved ones they left behind. With primary source material.
Colonial Williamsburg Foundation
Colonial Williamsburg: The Randolphs
Learn about the Randolphs, a wealthy family of influence in Colonial America.
Colonial Williamsburg Foundation
Colonial Williamsburg: Eighteenth Century Music and Dance
Site provides lesson that examines the role of dance and music in Colonial Williamsburg. Interactive group activities highlight this lesson.
Read Works
Read Works: Growing Up Long Ago
[Free Registration/Login Required] An informational text about the typical life of a child during the 1800's. A question sheet is available to help students build skills in reading comprehension.
Virginia Historical Society
Virginia Museum of History and Culture: Early Images of Virginia Indians
A collection of images of early Virginia Indians that includes information on interpreting the images and shows fanciful images that were not historically accurate.
Colonial Williamsburg Foundation
Colonial Williamsburg: Redefining Family
This site from the Colonial Williamsburg Museum explores the different "families" of colonial Williamsburg. Content includes a focus on each cultural group: white, Native American, and black.
Colonial Williamsburg Foundation
Colonial Williamsburg: A Colonial Christmas in Wiliamsburg
Site offers a glimpse of Christmas Celebrations in Colonial Virginia.
Colonial Williamsburg Foundation
Colonial Williamsburg: Gardening in the 18th Century
Site offers students the opportunity to design their own gardens. Several disciplines can be used through this imaginative group lesson.
Colonial Williamsburg Foundation
Colonial Williamsburg: Travel in the 18th Century
This site has a lesson plan that contrasts the methods of travel during Colonial Times, with those of today.
Library of Congress
Loc: America's Story: Phillis Wheatley, Poet
A brief look at the fascinating life of African American poet, Phillis Wheatley. Provides two portraits, and a sample page from Wheatley's collection of poems.
Colonial Williamsburg Foundation
Colonial Williamsburg: Christmas in Colonial Virginia
Detailed description of a typical Colonial Virginian Christmas celebration and how it differs from the modern Christmas.
Washington State University
Washington State University: Timeline of American Literature 1750 1799
Timeline of the social, political, and literary history of Colonial America and the United States, from 1750 to 1799. Contains information about writers of the period, along with portraits and links to related websites.
Black Past
Black Past: Phillis Wheatley
This on-line encyclopedia article gives information about Phillis Wheatley, the Boston slave who surprised colonial America with her poetry. She was the first African-American woman to have her work published.
Library of Congress
Loc: Sourcing a Document: The First Thanksgiving
In this activity, students discuss the reliability of a painting of the First Thanksgiving to introduce the idea that is crucial to consider a source's date.
PBS
Pbs Africans in America: The Boston Massacre
From its series entitled "Africans in America," PBS offers a comprehensive overview of the Boston Massacre from the viewpoint of the poor, the oppressed, and enslaved or free Africans. The article highlights how these individuals were...
Other
Toys and Games for Kids in Colonial Maryland
Use this site to learn the many different ways that Colonial children entertained themselves. Find out about the games they played, toys they had, and how they even made some chores into games.
Alabama Learning Exchange
Alex: Our Original Thirteen Colonial Settlements
After students have researched one of the thirteen original colonies, they will be asked to present a flyer encouraging others to come settle in their assigned colony. Oral presentations to the class must be accompanied by a written...
Alabama Learning Exchange
Alex: Life in Colonial America
This lesson presents an explanation about who the early colonists were and why they came to America. Young scholars will explore their lives and the economy by navigating the Internet. Students will conclude the lesson by completing a...
Alabama Learning Exchange
Alex: Creating the 14th Colony
After studying the 13 original colonies learners will create their own colonies in cooperative groups. This will help students understand the difficulties the colonist had to endure in learning to work together. Learners will have to...
Alabama Learning Exchange
Alex: The American Spy in Me
This is a fun and innovative lesson plan that will allow students to travel through history in a most unique fashion. Through Internet research and video conferencing students will get a real blast from the past. Students will hold on to...
Louisiana Department of Education
Louisiana Doe: Louisiana Believes: Social Studies: Grade 5: Religion in Colonial America
This sample task contains a set of primary and authentic sources about Puritans and the role religion played in the Puritan society of colonial America.
Alabama Learning Exchange
Alex: Learning About Colonial Life
This is a group activity that allows students to use predictions to learn about the lifestyle of American colonists.
University of Groningen
American History: Outlines: The Colonial Period
Background information about the literature of the Colonial period in American history. Discussions of capitalism, Puritan theology, and stewardship as found in the thought and literature of the period.
University of Groningen
American History: Outlines: The Colonial Period
A brief discussion of the colonial period in the United States. Includes information on New England, the middle colonies, and the southern colonies. Also, find out about the early government, and the French and Indian War.