Curated OER
Empty chairs
Pupils sit in the middle chair and describe (for a minute or so) the clothes they are wearing. Alternatively, or in addition, members of the group fire questions at the protagonist to get her to describe her clothes.
Curated OER
Japanese Folktales: Animals and Demons
Students compare and contrast the stories from different cultures by studying the folktales of Japan and their use of animals and antagonist characters. Any activity in this activity can be used as a separate activity.
Scholastic
Scholastic: Pilgrim John Howland
Fictional interview with John Howland, a farmer in Plimoth Village in 1621. He describes what pilgrim life might have been like from the viewpoint of a farmer and a man.
Other
San Diego City Schools: The Pilgrim Life Adventure
A lesson plan that has children investigate who the Pilgrims were, where they came from and why they come to America.
Other
Pilgrim Hall Museum: William Bradford
This extensive biography of William Bradford includes links within the text to related primary and secondary sources. Also includes a timeline of Bradford's life. Some documents require Adobe Reader (PDF).
Read Works
Read Works: Pilgrims & Puritans the Pilgrim Home
[Free Registration/Login Required] An informational text about the common house that was home to Pilgrims. A question sheet is available to help students build skills in reading comprehension.
Bibliomania
Bibliomania: John Bunyan Pilgrim's Progress
Providing the text of John Bunyan's "Pilgrim's Progress," this website also has information on the life of Bunyan as well as the characters and significance of his famous written work.
Schools of California Online Resources for Education
Score: Life on Plymouth Plantation
In this activity students will be discovering about the early Americans by looking at a recreation of Plymouth Plantation in 1627.
Scholastic
Scholastic: Lesson Plan: The First Thanksgiving
Teachers deepen students' understanding of the first Thanksgiving as they discuss the Mayflower voyage, life in the colonies, the Wampanoag traditions, and an extensive look into this time period.
Other
Plimoth Plantation: Make It at Home
As part of the comprehensive Plimoth Plantation site, this page gives directions on how to create games that the Wampanoag children and Pilgrim children might have played. Find pictures that show how to make these games.
Other
Plimoth Plantation: 1627 English Village
This site describes what you might see if you make a trip to Plimouth Plantation.
Smithsonian Institution
Smithsonian American Art Museum: Thomas Cole
Thomas Cole is profiled at this site in a format that begins with a brief biographical sketch of his life. His works are then listed by appearance in the museum's database. Each work is presented in thumbnail format with brief...
Other
Quill and Quire: Author Profile: Timothy Findley's Public Face and Price Space
An interesting look at the personal life and writing projects of Canadian author, Timothy Findley. Includes an area where you can search for reviews of Findley's books.
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
Harcourt: Biographies: Anne Hutchinson (Spanish)
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)
Other
Univ. Of North Carolina: William Bradford: 1590 1657
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...
Mayflower History
Mayflower history.com: Tisquantum ("Squanto")
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.
Mayflower History
Mayflower history.com: Massasoit Ousemequin
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.
PBS
Wnet: Thirteen: Colonial House: Fearless and Faithful
A lesson plan based on the PBS program, Colonial House, which aired in 2004. The program is available on DVD and the link to the activity is still available. This lesson plan explores why ordinary people left their homes in Europe to...
Shmoop University
Shmoop: Slaughterhouse Five
Slaughterhouse-Five is a story about what happens after war is over. This interesting and informative site explores the life of Billy Pilgrim, a prisoner of war.
Siteseen
Siteseen: Land of the Brave: William Bradford
Overview and biographical facts on the life of William Bradford, a leader of the Plymouth Settlement.
University of Groningen
American History: Outlines: Outline of American Literature
Department of Humanities Computing provides a brief biography about the life and works of William Bradford (1590-1657).
Washington State University
Washington State University: Literary Movements: The Slave Narrative
In addition to defining "Slave Narrative," this website includes information on the styles and influences associated with slave narratives. Also provided, are links to several examples of nineteenth- and twentieth-century slave narratives.
Khan Academy
Khan Academy: Sanctuary of Bom Jesus De Matosinhos of Congonhas Do Campo
Bom Jesus de Matosinhos in Congonhas do Campo is a sanctuary for many pilgrims in Brazil. This elaborate complex of architecture, sculpture, and painting shows scenes of the life and death of Christ. View pictures and read the history of...
Blackdog Media
Classic Reader: The Celestial Railroad by Nathaniel Hawthorne
Read the short story "The Celestial Railroad" by Nathaniel Hawthorne. In it, Hawthorne parodies the seventeenth-century book "The Pilgrim's Progress", which portrays a Christian's spiritual journey through life.