Henry J. Sage
Sage American History: The Puritans of New England
A description of religious strife and factions in the 17th Century. Provides a detailed and comprehensive account of the Puritans, their life and culture, as they migrate to America and establish themselves in New England.
Khan Academy
Khan Academy: American Indian Culture of the Plains
The Plains Indians had a dynamic society that changed over time. See how the introduction of the horse changed their way of life. Read about their religion, societal structure, housing, and tools. Included are pictures, maps, critical...
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.
PBS
Pbs Learning Media: Colonial House
Colonial House video segment in which Colonists and the Passamaquoddy people encounter each other for the first time in a reenactment of a New England settlement in 1628. [4:38]
Colonial Williamsburg Foundation
Colonial Williamsburg Foundation: Treasure Trek
Take a scavenger hunt in a colonial town. Try to find objects that the colonists would have used in their daily lives.
Alabama Learning Exchange
Alex: Colonial Network News: Ben Franklin Flies a Kite
The students will create a news program about Benjamin Franklin and life in colonial times. The students will work in groups of complete research and prepare a video presentation. Students will utilize books and various web sites to...
Smithsonian Institution
Smithsonian American Art Museum: Young America in Art
An historical site from the Smithsonian American Art Museum that shows the growth of America through art work by over 45 artists. This site by the Smithsonian Institute has fascinating images showing American artists depicting the...
National Humanities Center
National Humanities Center: Toolbox Library: English Iii, American Beginnings: 1492 1690
Three seventeenth-century buildings, two portraits, and three original accounts from Virginia and the Carolinas about the qualities and conditions of life in these southern English colonies that led to success and growth.
EL Education
El Education: Native American Living
Students study Native American life and stereotypes during pre-colonial times. Then they create a historical magazine providing information and illustrations about pre-colonial Northeastern woodland tribes.
Books in the Classroom
Carol Hurst's Children's Literature Site: Colonial America
A detailed resource of recommended children's books on Colonial America, including discussion and research starters, teaching activities, and title suggestions.
Tom Richey
Tom richey.net: Native American Cultures 1491 1607 [Ppt]
Presents key ideas for examining the cultures of Native American tribes that lived in North America in early colonial times. Discusses the major groups, the way of life of each group, and where they lived.
Ducksters
Ducksters: American Revolution for Kids: Daily Life During the Revolutionary War
Kids learn about daily life during the Revolutionary War including homes, clothes, food, school, and other fun facts. Take a quiz at the end to see what you learned!
Metropolitan Museum of Art
Metropolitan Museum of Art: Coffee, Tea, and Chocolate in Early Colonial America
Several examples of pots for coffee, tea, and chocolate from the colonial period. Learn how Americans adopted the practice of drinking coffee and tea, and how this practice affected society, daily life, and the decorative art created by...
Other
Early American Paintings in the Worcester Art Museum
A site with examples and information about early American paintings from 1671-1829. Use the timeline to click on a time period, or click and select by artist, genre, or place of origin. Also includes an extensive bibliography.
History Teacher
Historyteacher.net: Late 17 C and 18 C American Society: Quiz (1)
This 11-question multiple choice quiz is immediately scored and includes a variety of questions covering life in the early colonies.
Other
The American Revolution: Life of John Dickinson
This resource presents an account of the life of John Dickinson (1732-1803) along with some family history.
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.
Colonial Williamsburg Foundation
Colonial Williamsburg: Politics in Colonial Virginia
This site explores the politics involved in Colonial Williamsburg, leading up to the American Revolution. Content focuses on famous speeches, documents, and influential people.
University of Groningen
American History: Outlines: Colonial Economy
Whatever early colonial prosperity there was resulted from trapping and trading in furs. In addition, the fishing industry was a primary source of wealth in Massachusetts. But throughout the colonies, people relied primarily on small...
Curated OER
National Park Service: Joseph Bellamy House: The Great Awakening in New England
This site describes the influence of the Reverend Joseph Bellamy and religion in 18th century colonial life. This lesson plan has excellent information, an inquiry question, historical context, maps, readings, images, and activities.
Library of Congress
Loc: Mathematician and Astronomer Benjamin Banneker
Learn about the life and accomplishments of Benjamin Banneker, an African American mathematician and scientist. Also contains portraits and a map of New York, which can be enlarged for a closer view.
EL Education
El Education: Native American Living Then and Now
After studying Native American life in colonial times and comparing it to both stereotypes and truths about modern-day life for Native Americans, students create a book providing illustrations and information about past and present culture.
Other
Illinois State Museum: Native American Food
Experiences during the colonial years certainly were not the same for different cultural groups. This site compares and contrasts the housing, clothing, food, religion and family life of Native Americans, French settlers, and African...
ClassFlow
Class Flow: Colonial Differences
[Free Registration/Login Required] Students learn to understand Colonial American regional differences by applying knowledge of places, resources, economics, land climate, products and trading centers. Extension of knowledge to include...