Explore the reasons why European colonists came to America. Review the history of Great Britain, the main colonial power of the era. Teach the children about King James, the expansion of the British Empire and the political and social causes for setting up the original 13 colonies. Discuss religious persecution, and the need for Britain to develop resources, gain wealth and establish dominance over world affairs.
Cover the key events of the colonial period, including the founding of Jamestown in 1607 and the arrival of the Pilgrims on the Mayflower in 1620. Have the children re-enact the first Thanksgiving and the hardships of crossing the ocean in small sailing ships. Write simple plays and direct the children in acting them out, showing the interactions between the colonists and the Native American people, including the French and Indian War.
Tell the stories of Captain John Smith, Powhatan and Pocahontas. Assign the kids stories to read about William Penn, James Oglethorpe, Benjamin Franklin, George Washington and other founding fathers. Instruct the children to write reports about their favorite colonial characters. Have them read their stories to the rest of the class.
Teach the children about aspects of the daily life of colonial-era children. Learn the rules of popular colonial games such as marbles, blind man's bluff and stick-ball. Let the kids play the games at recess. Check out children's picture books about colonial life from the library to illustrate how kids lived, worked and dressed.
Direct the children to do arts and crafts representing details of everyday life in the colonial era. Do drawings and paintings of the Native Americans, Puritans and Quakers. Use paper crafts to show the types of clothing they wore. Build stick and tree bark models of the wigwams and log dwellings lived in by the settlers. Make simple forts, Popsicle-stick clapboard houses and sod houses.