All Lesson Resources are free and complete for in-class use, requiring no further research by the teacher. Please contact Louise Miller at education@lincolncountyhistory.org to request any of the following Lesson Resources.
Art
Hearts and Art
Students put their imagination and vocabulary skills to use in this lesson. Students learn about the three colonial era techniques for designing cards: pinprick, acrostic, and rebus.
MLR Visual Arts – Grades 3-5 D1-C; Grades 6-8, D1-D.
Designing your own horn-book
Colonial era teachers relied on horn-books as a vital teaching tool. These one page books provided alphabets to copy, illustrations for sounding out words, and a reading piece. This lesson comes with master sheets which allow students to design their own horn-book.
MLR Visual Arts Grades 3-5 & Grades 6 – 8, E1. MRL ELA – Reading R.3. СС SS-LITERACY.L.4.4, 5.4.
English
How Old is that Word?
This exercise highlights twenty-three words. For each word, students learn the date at which the word entered the English language and their original meaning (which in some cases is slightly or totally different from its current definition).
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.L.4.4, 5.4, 6.4. MRL ELA – Language L.5.
Math
The Colonial Orchard
This lesson combines a mix of history, botany, and math skills. Teachers and students can choose from a variety of orchards, and students will learn the names of fruits that were popular during the colonial era.
MLR Social Studies Standard E-1 CCSS.MATH.CONTENT.4.NF B.3, 5.NF.A.2 CCSS MATH.4.MD.A.1, A.2, A.3.
Bartering Works When Money is Short
During the colonial era and well into the nineteenth century, many often purchased goods through barter (trade of goods and labor) as well as coin or paper money. In this lesson, students learn about the currency system of the time and discover how shopkeepers set up their account books. Students try their hand at bartering or purchasing a list of goods. A 1750s account book provides values for the items on their list. Students set up a debit and credit page, create an account, and then calculate costs in pounds, shillings, and pence. The debit and credit columns do not have to balance.
MLR Social Studies Standard C-1, CCSS.MATH.CONTENT.4.NBT.A.1, BA CCSS.MATH.CONTENT.4.MDA.A.I
The Math of Weaving
The students learn the steps involved in setting up a loom to weave a blanket, starting with the number of yards of wool to be spun. In addition to historical background and a work sheet, this resource also includes an illustration detailing the various parts of a loom.
CCSS MATH CONTENT.4 NBT.A.1, A.3 B.4, B.5, 5.NBT.A.1, B.4; CCSS.MATH.4.MDA.A.1. MLR Math- Grade 4, 4.NBT.B.4, 4.NBT.B.5; Grade 5, 5.NBT.B.5. Eras in U.S. History, #2, #3, #4
Social Studies
Native American Names
Many places in our country take their names from Native American words. The lesson includes a mid-eighteenth century map of New England and New York that also shows current state boundaries. Students explore a list of places that retain their Native American names and discover the meanings of the words. Students then research additional town names taken from Native American words and learn their meanings.
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RH.6-8.1, 6-8.3, 6-8.4, 6-8.7. MLR Eras #1, #2, #3. MLR Social Studies–Geography- Grade 4, Geography 2; Grade 5, Geography 2; Grades 6-8, Geography 1, F3, Geography 2, F1, D1. Enduring Themes: Unity and Diversity.
Trading Across The Ocean
The people who populated the American Colonies were rarely self-sufficient. This resource lists a number of countries that exported goods to the colonies. Another list includes items that the colonies exported. Students also learn about sailing routes for trading ships.
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RH.6-8.1, 6-8.3, 6-8.4, 6-8.5, 6-8.7; MLR Eras #2, #3. MLR Social Studies, Personal Finance & Economics, Grade 4, Global Connections; Grade 5, Economics; Grades 6-8, Global Connections D1. Enduring Themes: Supply & Demand.
What to Pack? Advice For Those Traveling to the New World
In 1638, John Josselyn traveled to the Massachusetts Bay Colony. From his experiences he prepared a list of clothing and provisions that folks planning to move to the New World/New England should consider bringing. This lesson provides an abridged copy of that list. Using the list, students consider and discuss why each item was included.
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RH.6-8.1, 6-8.3, 6-8.4, 6-8.6, 6-8.7. MLR Social Studies, Era #2. Enduring Themes: Continuity and Change over Time.
