The decision to travel to America in hopes of a new life had to be an exciting one. Knowing they would be involved in helping to build a new nation must have been a challenging, yet frightening prospect. Those brave souls who took on the challenge, regardless of their reasons, have to be respected and celebrated today, for they were the backbone of America.

Often with the help of Native Americans, colonial settlers overcame many hardships— from lack of food and shelter to learning new ways of survival. They raised their families in a harsh environment and created a new nation along the way. Rich and poor immigrants from many different countries created a life in a land that offered many opportunities for a better life. This describes Colonial America.

Creative Experiences in Social Studies: Colonial Life is a social-studies unit that offers students a way to study the history of Early America. The original thirteen colonies provide a beginning for that study. Colonial food, shelter, country and city life, crafts and professions, slavery, and technology are topics covered in this book.

Students need to be given the opportunity to discover how strong the founders of our country were. The stories are based upon historical accounts of life in Colonial America. Each story provides the students with a springboard for further research on the topic addressed. Students are also challenged to think through ideas and to develop their own reflections about the information.

Colonial America was an exciting time in history that brought forth many ideas, inventions, and discoveries which are still important to modern-day America.

Download the Table of Contents page here.

Grades 3–5.

The lessons and activities in this book align with the following Common Core State Standards*:
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.W.3.2, 3.4, 3.5, 3.7, 3.8, 3.10; RI.3.1; SL.3.1, 3.2, 3.3, 3.4, 3.6
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.W.4.2, 4.4, 4.5, 4.7, 4.8, 4.9, 4.10; RI.5.1; SL.4.1, 4.2, 4.3, 4.4, 4.6
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.W.5.2, 5.4. 5.5, 5.7, 5.8, 5.9, 5.10; RI.5.1; SL.5.1, 5.2, 5.3, 5.4, 5.6

Ask and answer questions to demonstrate understanding of a text, referring explicitly to the text as the basis for the answers.
Refer to details and examples in a text when explaining what the text says explicitly and when drawing inferences from the text.

Conduct short research projects that build knowledge through investigation of different aspects of a topic.
Recall relevant information from experiences or gather relevant information from print and digital sources; take notes and categorize information, and provide a list of sources.
Cite specific textual evidence to support analysis of texts.
Determine the meaning of symbols, key terms, and other domain-specific words and phrases as they are used in a specific context.
Write informative/explanatory texts to examine a topic and convey ideas and information clearly.

Conduct short research projects that use several sources to build knowledge through investigation of different aspects of a topic.

Engage effectively in a range of collaborative discussions, building on others’ ideas and expressing their own clearly.
Summarize a written text read aloud or information presented in diverse media and formats, including visually, quantitatively, and orally.
Summarize the points a speaker makes and explain how each claim is supported by reasons and evidence.

Report on a topic or text or present an opinion, sequencing ideas logically and using appropriate facts and relevant,

*Authors: National Governors Association Center for Best Practices, Council of Chief State School Officers
Title: Common Core State Standards English Language Arts
Publisher: National Governors Association Center for Best Practices, Council of Chief State School Officers, Washington, D.C.
Copyright Date: 2010