Life in Plymouth Colony

Thanksgiving is on of those events you just HAVE to teach on every year, no matter how old your kids are.  (Or maybe I’m the only one who does that?)  You can check our older study of Squanto by clicking here.

My kids love history, and these history pockets by Evan-Moor are just the thing to help make the learning fun and memorable.   While working through Life in Plymouth Colony both girls created 8 discovery pockets, including:

~Voyage to the New World
~The New World
~Building a Village
~Home Sweet Home
~The Family
~Working in Plymouth Colony
~Going to School
~What Did the Pilgrims Give Us?

Books we used:

Squanto Friend of the Pilgrims; by Clyde Robert Bulla
Squanto and the Miracle of Thanksgiving; by Eric Metaxas
Squanto’s Journey; by Joseph Bruchac
Miles Standish Colonial Leader; by Barbara Witteman
Sarah Morton’s Day; by Kate Waters

We made a diorama of a”keeping room” where the family slept, ate and worked.

The pilgrim paper dolls were a big hit!  The girls continue to play with these daily.

Lindsey enjoyed working on her “stew of good manners”…mostly because most of the items listed are things we do, only worded different.  For example we don’t allow singing at the table, the Pilgrims etiquette was “Sing not, hum not, wriggle not.”   And of course the world famous “Stuff not thy mouth to fill thy cheeks.”

We also made a geese in the garden game.  The original would be made of wood, but ours is made of poster board.   You pull back and forth on the paper strips and the geese rotate towards the garden.

We also made hasty pudding from the recipe included in the history pockets.  Lets just say it wasn’t a big hit with the girls.   But if you’d like to try it, here is the recipe.

1 cup yellow cornmeal
4 cups water
1/2 tsp. salt
pat of butter
maple syrup or brown sugar

1.  In a bowl combine the cornmeal and 1 cup of cold water.
2.  In a heavy saucepan, bring 3 cups of water and 1/2 tsp. salt to boiling.
3.  Carefully stir in the cornmeal mixture, making sure it does not lump. (Easier said than done.)
4.  Cook over low heat for 10-15 minutes, stirring often.  Cool slightly.
5.  Serve the pudding warm with a pat of butter on top.  Add a little maple syrup or sprinkle with brown sugar.

The girls also learned about dame school (being taught by a woman in her home), and we made our own hornbook and New England Primer. 

Now we’re off to work on some thankfulness crafts and start our pre-Thanksgiving day cooking.   Happy Thanksgiving to each of you!