Resources

Colonial America

A WebQuest for 4th Grade

Colonial Resources:

Use the Internet resources below to complete your colonial research. Please also use books from the library!

13 Colonies	Daily Life	Trades & Occupations Colonial Tools	Colonial Children (Life, schools, games. toys)	Life for Colonial Women
Slavery in Colonial Times		Colonial New York	Colonial Food	Colonial Clothes

13 Colonies:

Early America

Colonial New York:

Daily Life:

Trades & Occupations:

	Dictionary of Colonial Trades and Occupations	Apothecary	Saddler
Basketmaker	Blacksmith 1 Blacksmith 2	Brickmaker Brickmaking	Shoemaker Shoemaker/ Cobbler
Cabinetmaker	Carpenter	Cooper 1 Cooper 2	Tanner
Founder	Fur Trader	Gunsmith	Wheelwright
Miller	Milliner	Printer & Binder Bookbinder	Wigmaker Wigmaking Wigs in Colonial Times
Silversmith Silversmithing Example of silver basket made in NY during colonial times from Metropolitan Museum	DOCTORS/MEDICINE Colonial Diseases and Cures A Physick's Guide to Common Diseases & Cures	COLONIAL LAWYER How Did Colonists Deal with Criminals?	Broommaking
Schoolmaster American Schools in the 1600s	Tavern	Shoemaker	Colonial Tools

Life for Colonial Children:

What Was Life Like?

Colonial Manners: *Washington, George. Rules of Civility & Decent Behaviour

School & Education:

Apprenticeship:
The colonists established some public schools but most children of poor families were taught by their parents at home. Because many parents could not read or write they were unable to teach those skills. So their children were taught obedience, religious beliefs and the skills they needed in daily life. Boys learned how to farm, raise cattle and handle a gun for hunting. Girls learned such household tasks as sewing, spinning, weaving, food preparation and food preservation.
In every colony, many poor children got some education by serving as apprentices. Under the apprentice system a boy's parents place him with a master craftsman, tradesman or professional who taught his skills to the boy and provided room and board. In return the boy promised to work hard, study faithfully and be obedient and well-behaved. Girls were "bound-out" as household servants or apprenticed to become housekeepers, cooks or needle workers.

The first book from which the colonial children learned was not really a book at all. It was a thin piece of wood about five inches long with a handle. This wood was covered with a thin piece of paper attached around the edges with a thin sheet of clear horn. The handle had a hole through which string was strung. The hornbook was worn around the neck or hung by the side.
On the paper was printed the alphabet, alphabet letter conbinations, Lord's Prayer and Roman numerals.

Pens for writing were hand cut from the quill of a goose or wild turkey. The tips were sharpened with a knife. The sharp tips were then dipped into ink for writing. Only a few symbols could be written before the quill needed to be dipped again. Writing with a quill was a very time consuming task!

The children of rich colonists attended private schools or were educated by provate teachers called tutors. New England had many private schools called dame schools. Women, often widows, held these schools in their own homes. Church groups also operated schools. the ministers held classes in their homes. Children were taught the alphabet, spelling, writing and simple arithetic. Most of the children paid fees for their education. One of the activities the children enjoyed was a spelling bee. <Click source for author information.>

Games, Recreation & Toys:

Women in Colonial Times:

Slavery:

Food & Recipes:

What's for Dinner? (scroll to bottom half of page when you get to this link)
Food in the 13 Colonies
Colonial Recipes
The Hungry Pilgrim's New England Style Recipes
Recipes from Colonial Williamsburg
- See also "Cook Colonial Food" on the Colonial Fair page.

Colonial Clothes:

Colonial Clothing
18th Century Clothing
A Visual Dictionary of Early American Clothing
- See also Dressing for the Colonial Fair on the Colonial Fair page.

More Resources

African Americans
Aunt Abigail's Cookbook
Colonial Children
The History of the 13 Original Colonies
Archiving Early America: Early American History Documents
Black Life in Colonial America
Everyday Life in Colonial America
Great Colonial Game Book
People of Williamsburg
Politics in Colonial Virginia
Religion in Early Virginia
Trades of Colonial Times

Slave

Chronicling Black Lives in Colonial New England
(http://www.csmonitor.com/durable/1997/10/29/feat/feat.1.html)
Slavery Trends
(http://www.east-buc.k12.ia.us/00_01/CA/sla2.htm)
Introduction to Colonial African-American Life (http://www.history.org/Almanack/people/african/aaintro.cfm)
African American Clothing
(http://www.history.org/history/clothing/intro/aa_cover.cfm)