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Lesson Plan
Better Lesson

Better Lesson: Pictures and Text Work Together Too!

For Teachers K - 1st Standards
The class will read the informational text "Together They Were Better". As the teacher reads the book aloud, she/he will use the illustrations from each page to give students clues as to the text on the page, helping them to see the...
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Unit Plan
Ancestry

The Pilgrims and Plymouth Colony: 1620

For Students 9th - 10th
Study guide with loads of information about the pilgrims. Details everything from the religious beliefs of the pilgrims to what the Mayflower looked like, to the dogs on the ship, furniture, clothing, descriptions of medical practices on...
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Graphic
PBS

Pbs Learning Media: Thanksgiving

For Students 9th - 10th
The United States, over hundreds of years, has come to observe a national holiday for giving thanks: Thanksgiving. This set of primary resources containing images and documents provides a window into this time period.
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Primary
This Nation

This nation.com: Mayflower Compact

For Students 9th - 10th
This site provides the full text of the agreement between the settlers at New Plymouth, 1620.
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Website
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt

Harcourt: Biographies: Anne Hutchinson (Spanish)

For Students 9th - 10th
A review of the events in the life of Anne Hutchinson, a brave, early American settler. Learn how Anne Hutchinson felt about religion and the way people should worship God. (In Spanish)
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Website
Digital History

Digital History: Founding New England

For Students 9th - 10th
A brief look at Squanto, the Native American who aided the Pilgrims as they settled Plymouth Colony.
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Lesson Plan
Schools of California Online Resources for Education

Score: Life on Plymouth Plantation

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
In this activity students will be discovering about the early Americans by looking at a recreation of Plymouth Plantation in 1627.
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Unit Plan
Other

Pilgrim Hall Museum: History Paintings

For Students 9th - 10th
This website from the Pilgrim Hall Museum contains a collection of various history paintings depicting the pilgrims. Each image is annotated with a brief summary of what event the painting is depicting and general information about the...
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Website
Other

Univ. Of North Carolina: William Bradford: 1590 1657

For Students 9th - 10th
Contains brief biographical information about William Bradford, presented in an easy to read outline format. Lists a chronology of major dates in Bradford's life, his occupations, a list of major writings and their publication dates, and...
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Website
Smithsonian Institution

National Museum of the American Indian: Beyond the Thanksgiving Myth [Pdf]

For Students 4th - 8th
This study guide gives information about the Native Americans who were living in the area where the Pilgrims landed in 1620 and information about the new settlers too. The myth of the title concerns the friendly meal shared by the...
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Website
Independence Hall Association

U.s. History: The New England Colonies

For Students 5th - 8th
New England colonies and society were very different from the Jamestown and subsequent Southern colonies. Find out the reasons the colonists had for founding the New England colonies.
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Handout
Mayflower History

Mayflower history.com: History of the Mayflower

For Students 4th - 8th
Outlines the history of the ship that brought the Pilgrims to the America, the Mayflower.
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Handout
Mayflower History

Mayflower history.com: Tisquantum ("Squanto")

For Students 4th - 8th
A detailed biography of the life of Tisquantum, known as Squanto. Covers some history of the Plymouth Colony and of relations between the colonists and the native peoples.
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Handout
Mayflower History

Mayflower history.com: Massasoit Ousemequin

For Students 4th - 8th
A biography of the life of Massasoit, the leader of the Wampanoag. It describes his interactions with the Plymouth Colony settlers and treaty negotiations between his tribe and the colony.
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Handout
Mayflower History

Mayflower history.com: The Militia and Fort

For Students 4th - 8th
Describes the fortifications that were put in place by the Pilgrims to protect Plymouth Colony from attack by other Europeans or hostile Indians.
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Handout
Mayflower History

Mayflower history.com: Cooking and Food

For Students 4th - 8th
Describes the diet of the Pilgrims, beginning with the voyage across the ocean, then what they were able to catch or harvest from the land when they arrived, and what they learned from the native peoples. Also describes some recipes the...
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Handout
Mayflower History

Mayflower history.com: Church and Religion

For Students 4th - 8th
Explains the major religious beliefs held by the Pilgrims.
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Activity
Read Works

Read Works: Squanto Was a Helper

For Teachers K
[Free Registration/Login Required] An informational text about a Native American named Squanto who helped the Pilgrims. A question sheet is available to help students build skills in reading comprehension.
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Activity
Read Works

Read Works: Pilgrims and Puritans Who Were the Pilgrims?

For Teachers 3rd
[Free Registration/Login Required] An informational text about Pilgrims who eventually made their new home in America. A question sheet is available to help students build skills in reading comprehension.
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Activity
Read Works

Read Works: The Story of the First Thanksgiving

For Teachers 2nd
[Free Registration/Login Required] An informational text telling the story of the first Thanksgiving. A question sheet is available to help students build skills in reading comprehension.
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Activity
Read Works

Read Works: The Story of the Pilgrims

For Teachers 2nd
[Free Registration/Login Required] An informational text about the colonists' journey on the Mayflower and their first year in Plymouth. A question sheet is available to help students build skills in reading comprehension.
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Activity
Read Works

Read Works: American Government the Mayflower Compact

For Teachers 4th
[Free Registration/Login Required] An informational text about the Mayflower Compact, why it was written, and how it paved the way for democracy. A question sheet is available to help students build skills in reading comprehension.
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Activity
Read Works

Read Works: The Pilgrims' Path

For Teachers K
[Free Registration/Login Required] An informational text about the Pilgrims sailing from England to Massachusetts. A question sheet is available to help students build skills in reading comprehension.
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Activity
Other

Who Were the Pilgrims?

For Students 9th - 10th
A good general overview of who pilgrims were and how they came to America. Includes the journey over on the Mayflower and the Native Americans who helped them.