+
Website
University of Illinois

University of Illinois: The Plymouth Colony Archive Project

For Students 9th - 10th
This resource presents a collection of searchable texts, including court records, Colony laws, seminar analysis of various topics, and biographical profiles of selected colonists. It also includes a search engine and images.
+
Activity
Other

Plimoth Plantation: Make It at Home

For Students Pre-K - 1st
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.
+
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.
+
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.
+
Handout
Mayflower History

Mayflower history.com: Church and Religion

For Students 4th - 8th
Explains the major religious beliefs held by the Pilgrims.
+
Article
Ancestry

Squanto

For Students 9th - 10th
Tells the little known story of the friendship of Squanto, the Indian famous for his kindness to the Pilgrims upon their arrival in the New World, and Ferdinando Gorges, the explorer.
+
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.
+
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.
+
Website
Scholastic

Scholastic: The First Thanksgiving

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
This is a site covering every aspect of the first Thanksgiving ever celebrated. There is a picture timeline, an interactive trip on the Mayflower, and wonderful descriptions of what the lives of the Pilgrims and the Wampanoag Indians...
+
Website
A&E Television

History.com: Thanksgiving

For Students 3rd - 8th
A detailed overview of the first Thanksgiving and the menu that the Pilgrims served which was quite different than the modern Thanksgiving meal. Features videos, a photo gallery, and links to many related articles and topics.
+
Activity
Open Door Team

Open Door Web Site: The First Thanksgiving

For Students 3rd - 8th
This brief article tells of the help the Indians gave the Pilgrims in learning about the land, resulting in the first Thanksgiving.
+
Unit Plan
Open Door Team

Open Door Web Site: The Mayflower and the Mayflower Compact

For Students 3rd - 8th
Although brief, this article gives information about the Pilgrims and "strangers,", size of the Mayflower, and the reason for the Mayflower Compact.
+
Handout
Siteseen

Siteseen: Land of the Brave: William Bradford

For Students 9th - 10th
Overview and biographical facts on the life of William Bradford, a leader of the Plymouth Settlement.
+
Graphic
Curated OER

Educational Technology Clearinghouse: Maps Etc: Plymouth Harbor, 1620

For Students 9th - 10th
A map of Plymouth Harbor showing the landing site of the Mayflower, the Plymouth Rock, and the earl settlement site of the Pilgrims.
+
Graphic
Curated OER

Educational Technology Clearinghouse: Maps Etc: Plymouth, 1620

For Students 9th - 10th
A sketch map of Massachusetts Bay showing the area of the Pilgrim landing on Cape Cod, settlement of Plymouth, and relative proximity to Boston Harbor.
+
Handout
Mayflower History

Mayflower history.com: Fortune Passenger List (1621)

For Students 4th - 8th
Provides the list of passengers who traveled on the voyage of the Fortune in 1621.
+
Unit Plan
Annenberg Foundation

Annenberg Learner: American Passages: Utopian Promise: William Bradford

For Students 9th - 10th
Seventeenth century author, William Bradford, set sail on the Mayflower and embarked on a journey to the New World using his experiences for his writings. Click on "William Bradford Activities" for related artifacts and activities.
+
Interactive
Other

Plimoth Plantation: You Are the Historian

For Teachers 2nd - 8th
What really happened at the first Thanksgiving? Students will explore different aspects of the harvest celebration in 1621 through an interactive program provided by an affiliate of the Smithsonian Institute.
+
Primary
Library of Congress

Loc: Learning Page: Primary Source Set: Thanksgiving

For Students 9th - 10th
A set of primary documents that reflect the Mayflower, Plymouth, Puritans, the first Thanksgiving, and legislation for the holiday.
+
Website
Independence Hall Association

U.s. History: New England Colonies: William Bradford; The First Thanksgiving

For Students 5th - 8th
Plymouth Colony did not suffer the same problems as the English colony farther south, Jamestown. Read about the leadership of William Bradford, and the relationship between the settlers and the Native Americans who helped those who lived...
+
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.
+
Lesson Plan
Scholastic

Scholastic: Lesson Plan: The First Thanksgiving

For Teachers Pre-K - 1st
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.
+
Website
Other

Plimouth Plantation

For Students 9th - 10th
Plimoth Plantation brings us "Living, breathing history," and lots of fun delving into various aspects like the Wampanoag, the English Colonists, the colony itself, and, of course, Thanksgiving - myth and reality. This is a site with...
+
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...