Early Settlers #2 – Pilgrims

The next Colonial settlement we read about were the Pilgrims who arrived on the Mayflower in 1620 and settled in Plymouth, Massachusetts.

We made stereotypical costumes (easy Pilgrim hat tutorial here)

Squanto taught the Pilgrims to plant corn so we made a pictures showing his method by gluing a goldfish & 3 corn kernels topped with soil. I HIGHLY recommend Squanto and the Miracle of Thanksgiving by Eric Metaxas. It is a beautiful, informative, and faith written book. There is a LOT about Squanto that I did not know!

We practiced writing like the Pilgrims did with a Quill feather. We made our authentic “ink” using dirt, water, and charcoal. It came out great and the kids thought it was hilarious!

We also talked about Colonial food. Cooking was hard work and dangerous as they cooked over an open fire. They grew their own vegetables, made their own bread, milked cows for milk, churned mil to get butter, and used corn a lot! To reinforce we had Johnny Cakes, traditional colonial dish with corn (see Great Colonial American Projects for recipe). We also had Pumpkin Pie to celebrate the 1st Thanksgiving.

We read Samuel Eaton Pilgrim Boy to see what a day looked like for a Pilgrim boy. Then we talked about what Colonial life would have been like for kids.  Goofy thought it was HILARIOUS that boys wore dresses until they were 7! Then we made our own marbles to play with like Colonial kids did.

 

We read some excellent books this week:

       

       

And we added to our Colonial America Book. Here are additional pages (both with text and blank) on Squanto being taken, Squanto helps the Pilgrims, Food in Colonial America, and Clothes in Colonial America.