Early Settlement of North America
These sites are about early European settlement of North America. There is information about Spanish, English, French, and Dutch colonization, including period images and maps. Find out what daily life was like for kids, men, and women. Included are three related eThemes resources on Colonial life and occupations/trades.
Grades
- 4,
- 5,
- 6
Links
-
American Journeys
Search this collection of documents and period illustrations that contains over 18,000 pages of eyewitness accounts, from the sagas of Vikings in Canada to the diaries of nineteenth century mountain men. There are teachers' resources and lesson plans for older students.
-
An Ongoing Voyage
This online exhibition contains important background information about the first contacts between American people and European explorers. NOTE: Reading level is too advanced for younger students.
-
America's Library: Colonial America
Read different stories about the Colonial period on this site. Includes a timeline and illustrations.
-
PBS: Daily Life in the Colonies
Move your mouse over the picture to read about different aspects of daily life in Colonial America.
-
Early Exploration and Settlement
When did Europeans first reach North America? Learn about early exploration, John Cabot, and about Norse settlements in the North Atlantic. NOTE: This site includes a guestbook.
-
ThinkQuest: Colonial Kids
Join this celebration of life in 1700s and learn about the colonial lifestyle. Explore this site to learn what kids' lives were like in Colonial times. Read about school, transportation, household chores, and more. Includes activities and videos.
-
Colonial Map Collection
Here is an index of historical maps from the Colonial period.
-
Dutch Colonies
Learn about Dutch colonization along the Hudson River.
-
French Colonies in America
Make a virtual visit to these archeological sites of some of the early French settlements throughout North America.
-
eThemes Resource: Colonial America
These websites are about life in colonial North America, particularly the English colonies. Learn how colonists lived, explore original documents, and find out who lived in these regions before the English settled there. There are interactives, games, quizzes, videos, and more. Included are eThemes resources on the thirteen colonies as well as "The Legend of Sleepy Hollow" by Washington Irving.
-
eThemes Resource: Thirteen Colonies: Daily Life
These sites are about daily life in colonial period. Learn about the colonists' education, clothing, chores, and games. Includes online quizzes and some videos. There is a link to an eThemes Resource on the Thirteen Colonies and the Pilgrims.
-
eThemes Resource: Colonial Craftsmen
These links are about colonial craftsmen. Learn about the trades and occupations of the settlers in the colonies of North America. There are many links to sites with information on the various colonial trades/occupations, some of which were created by students. There are also links to sites on life and customs in New Amsterdam and other colonies, lesson plans and activities on the bartering system and interdependence, and videos on the use of the tools the colonists would have used. Also includes links to the eThemes Resources on daily life in the thirteen colonies and the early settlement of North America.
Education Standards
- UT
- IL
- AR
- AL
- ME
- MO
- NV
- DE
- OK
