Teach Colonial America Crafts
Activities to Make American History Come Alive in the Classroom
Need new ideas to make history interesting to your elementary students? These activities, crafts and games will meet all learning styles and extend beyond the textbook.
Getting students interested in historical studies can be challenging. Students of all learning styles need to be involved to make a connection with concepts being taught. The American Colonial Period will come alive as students participate in the following activities:
Colonial Crafts
Here are a few fun projects students can do to get a feel for Colonial craftsmanship. By substituting a few items with more modern materials, students will be assured to have a positive crafting experience.
Students can try their hand at sewing as women in the Colonial Period did, using pre-cut squares of burlap, plastic needles, yarn and stencils. Students should trace the stencil on the burlap square, then sew over the outline with yarn. Using burlap makes it easier for small hands to push needles through the fabric. It is helpful to pre-thread the needles for young students. If desired, all of the finished squares could be sewn together to create a class "quilt".
With the use of large feathers from a craft store(quills) and India ink, students can practice the art of calligraphy. Try using parchment paper or brown paper bags as a background for the writing. Students can also create a hornbook by writing on paper and attaching it to a paddle-shaped piece of cardboard or wood. India ink does stain, so if this a concern, try using water soluble black or brown paint instead.
Students can practice the art of carving, which would have been done with wood, using soap instead . This will enable them to have success in the carving activity and will give them a usable finished product as well. Soap can be carved with plastic knives. Clean up is a breeze with water.
Dolls can be fashioned out of corn husks and corn cobs, pieces of linen, and pieces of wood. Students will also enjoy creating their own first flag, as they think it may have looked, with construction paper strips and pre-cut stars.
Colonial Activities and Games
Making butter is a fun class activity with the use of a medium-sized jar, heavy cream and a marble. Allow students to take turns shaking the jar until the marble is no longer moving through the cream.
The result is a soft butter spread that can be eaten on crackers.
Many games children play now originate from colonial times. Marbles, checkers, tag, and riddle making stem back to this time period. Consider having a class competition with some of these games.
The art of story-telling can be taught by starting the story and calling on students one by one to add
to the story as it is told around a circle. Research your local library for songs which come from this time period and teach them to your students.
Farming, of course, was a very vital part of colonial life, so students should have the opportunity to try growing plants from seed. Create a "miniature farm" with window boxes full of soil, seeds, and plant markers. Allowing students to taste some of the foods typical of this time period is yet another way to involve students' senses. Smoked meats, raw vegetables, homemade bread, stews and cornbread are some examples of foods to include in your colonial feast.
A Colonial Celebration
Students will enjoy dressing up as colonists as well. Costumes do not need to be elaborate. Paper grocery bags make excellent vests for boys and large paper doilies work well as bonnets for the girls.
A fun way to implement all of the above crafts, activities and games is to schedule a Colonial Day. Students can wear their newly created colonial outfits for the occasion. Enlist the help of some volunteer parents to help set up and man the various activity stations for the event. Display finished crafts for all to see, and include journaling about the special day and it will be a fun step back into history for everyone.
