Curated OER
Reasons for English Colonization
Students explain the reason for English colonization. They review the reasons for the colonization and settlement in Virginia and trace the route from England to Virginia through the Chesapeake Bay to Jamestown on a map.
Curated OER
Henry Spelman: The Powhatan Indians' English Boy
Sixth graders read and analyze narrative writing by and about Henry Spelman, a boy-laborer who helped settle Jamestown. They read biographical information, discuss the harsh conditions, and write a narrative piece on Henry's experiences.
Curated OER
William Penn's Peaceable Kingdom
Students explain the methods Penn used to attract settlers to his colony. They compare and contrast Penn's account with Daniel Pastorius' account. Students evaluate the effectiveness of Penn's ability to attract settlers to the colony....
Curated OER
The Achievements and Challenges of Zimbabwe
Here is an excellent set of five short lessons and activities intended to help learners not only gain an understand of current issues in Africa, but build critical thinking, synthesis, analysis, expository writing, research, and...
National Endowment for the Humanities
American Diplocmacy in World War II
The end of World War II saw the world deeply changed over the last few years. Four thorough lessons explore post-war Europe, America, and Asia through reading assignments and discussion questions about the Grand Alliance and the signing...
Curated OER
The Restoration Colonies
Explore the earliest American cities in this presentation, which details the demographics, geography, and characteristics of New York, Pennsylvania, and the Carolinas, among others. These slides help to fill in the gap between the...
National Endowment for the Humanities
How "Grand" and "Allied" Was the Grand Alliance?
Learn more about the Grand Alliance with a scaffolded lesson plan that includes four activities. Class members use primary sources to complete a map exercise, understand the goals and objectives of each individual nation, and participate...
National Endowment for the Humanities
Magna Carta: Cornerstone of the U.S. Constitution
High schoolers use the Internet to read a brief description of Magna Carta (link provided). They "walk through" the document with the teacher, identifying four major themes. Young scholars read and discuss "The Rhetoric of Rights:...
Curated OER
Celebrate the Constitution
Students explore the process of writing our Constitution through an interactive program. They are to put themselves in the place of the statesmen and predict how they felt at the time. They compare the founding fathers.
Curated OER
Roanoke- Reading Selection and Questions
In this Roanoke reading and questions worksheet, students read a two page selection about the colony of Roanoke. They answer 3 multiple choice questions, 5 fill in the blank questions, and 2 true or false questions based on the reading.
Curated OER
Georgia
In this Georgia reading comprehension activity, students read a 2-page selection regarding the state and they answer 10 true or false questions pertaining to the selection.
Curated OER
VS.3c
Students examine the settling of the Jamestown settlement and the importance of the Virginia Company of London. Students actively engage in various role-playing activities
Curated OER
The Virginia Assembly
Students examine the first permanent English settlement in America. Using the Internet, they identify the importance of the Virginia assembly. They answer questions based on different scenarios given to them by their teacher and how...
Curated OER
VS.6b
Sixth graders explore, analyze and identify the ideas of George Mason and Thomas Jefferson as expressed in the Virginia Declaration of Rights and the Virginia Statue for Religious Freedom. They list and declare the responses stated in...
Curated OER
The Declaration of Independence
In this social studies worksheet, students locate 54 words relating to the Declaration of Independence in a word search. Students may self correct by selecting the link at the bottom of the page.
Yale University
Colonial Charters, Grants and Related Documents
Scroll to Massachusetts and link to the colonial documents establishing the colonies' earliest forms of government and laying the foundation for self-governing and eventual independence from England. Beginning with The Charter of England...
Yale University
Yale University: Avalon Project: Colonial Charters, Grants and Related Documents
Click on Connecticut for a list of and links to the colony's earliest government documents establishing its laws, religious toleration, and means of taxation.
Yale University
Avalon Project: Charter of Georgia: 1732
This website provides a full-text of the Charter of Georgia written in 1732. Includes link to webpage with links to other colonial charters.
University of Groningen
American History: Documents: The Charter of New England 1620
View the complete text of the 1620 British Charter for the settlement of New England granting authority to colonize and govern.
Other
History of the Usa: Colonial Life: Colonial Government
Find out the similarities and differences between the governments of the English colonies in this detailed account of early colonial government from the 1904 text written by Henry William Elson, History of the United States of America.
Library of Congress
Loc: America's Story: Jamestown
The Library of Congress chronicles the Virginia Company and their settlement of Jamestown, in this fascinating site. Provides photos of the charter, a map drawn by John Smith, and a church tower from the colony.
Other
Savannah Images Project: Timeline of Colonial Georgia
Time line beginning with the birth of James Oglethorpe and ending with his death. Focuses on major events in the history of colonial Georgia, including the granting of the charter by King George and the settlement in Savannah.
University of Maryland
Howard County Public School System: Foundations of American Government [Pdf]
How was the foundation of today's representative democracy established in early colonial America? Students will be able to source three documents and corroborate evidence to draw conclusions about the development of democratic ideas and...
Yale University
Avalon Project: Mayflower Compact 1620
Read the actual words of these earliest Americans and their attempt at self-government with the writing of the Mayflower Compact. Link directly to other colonial charter pages.