This page contains the books and materials (plus reviews) used in our American history curriculum topic 11. This topic in our curriculum will explore the Pilgrims, Plymoth Colony, the Mayflower, Squanto, Thanksgiving and more.

Books and Materials for Topic 13

Icon Key and Explanations

Pilgrims –Complete Theme Unit Developed in Cooperation With Pilgrim Hall Museum,  K-3 (Susan Moger)

You can use this book instead of History Pockets for a change. See the schedule for what the book contains. It has a nice variety of activities and a pull out poster!

There are a couple of “classroom” activities mentioned…they are easily adapted to a small family (use stuffed animals instead of classmates for the “how crowded was it on the Mayflower: Move Over” activity).

Topic 13

History Pockets: Life in Plymouth Colony (K-3)
You will not need this if you choose the activity book above (Pilgrims - Complete Theme Unit).
It's just a matter of preference. This partictular History Pockets book has a lot of simple projects - many of them cut and paste. There is also some vocabulary, simple writing projects, coloring (or painting), a word find puzzle and much more. Instead of making the pockets, my son glued most of the material into his history notebook. The exception was the diorama of a "keeping" room.

Click here to view this entire history pockets book, page-by-page, at Evan-Moor.

Topic 13

If You Sailed on the Mayflower in 1620 (by Ann McGovern)
This is another wonderful, engaging question and answer book in the "What If" series by Ann McGovern. I found it to be informative without being overwhelming with fun and humorous illustrations. Our children not only enjoyed what they read but retained it! This is a must-have, if you can get it. :-)

Topic 13

Squanto, Friend of the Pilgrims (Clyde R. Bulla)
This was one of my favorite books as a child so I just had to schedule it in! This story covers not only Squanto's time with the Pilgrims, but also his previous capture and time spent in England.

Topic 13

Sarah Morton’s Day (Kate Waters)
My kids love the photographs in this book. They make history seem to come alive! The pictures were taken at Plymouth Plantation and really help children "see" what life was like during "Pilgrim times".

Topic 13

Samuel Eaton's Day : a Day in the Life of a Pilgrim Boy (by Kate Waters)
My kids love the photographs in this book. They make history seem to come alive! The pictures were taken at Plymouth Plantation and really help children "see" what life was like during "Pilgrim times".

Topic 13

Thanksgiving on Plymouth Plantation (Time-Traveling Twins) (by Diane Stanley)
This book was a huge hit with our son. He really loved the pictures and enjoyed such features like the "then and now" pages on Thanksgiving foods. Be advised: this book mentions children drinking beer.

Topic 13

This Country of Ours Selections 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, and 22
*This is an optional read-aloud from a free online text.
17. HOW THE REDMEN FOUGHT AGAINST THEIR WHITE BROTHERS 18. HOW ENGLISHMEN FOUGHT A DUEL WITH TYRANNY
19. THE COMING OF THE CAVALIERS
20. BACON'S REBELLION
21. THE STORY OF THE KNIGHTS OF THE GOLDEN HORSESHOE
22. THE STORY OF THE PILGRIM FATHERS

Three Young Pilgrims (Cheryl Harness)
"When Bartholemew, Remember, and Mary Allerton and their parents first step down from the Mayflower after sixty days at sea, they never dream that life in the New World will be so hard. Many in their Plymouth colony won't make it through the winter, and the colony's first harvest is possible only with the help of two friends, Samoset and Squanto. Richly detailed paintings show how the pilgrims lived after landing at Plymouth, through the dark winter and into the busy days of spring, summer, and fall. Culminating with the excitement of the original Thanksgiving feast, Three Young Pilgrims makes history come alive. "
We really enjoyed this book and also loved the pictures. This is a worthy addition to your book basket or your permanent shelves.

Topic 13

Magic Tree House Research Guide: Pilgrims (by Mary Pope Osborne)
This informative book is great for your book basket or a source for a simple report.

Topic 13

The Pilgrims of Plymoth [videorecording] / produced for Weston Woods by King Productions. Weston, Conn.: Weston Woods Studios, 1993.
This video is an adaptation of the 1986 book of the same title, written by Marcia Sewall. It chronicles the day-to-day life of the early Pilgrims in the Plymouth Colony.

Topic 13

Mayflower: A Story of Courage, Community, and War (by Nathaniel Philbrick)
This books is NOT for your kids, but for you! I decided to do a little extra reading about the Pilgrims and picked this book up from the library. I it found to be very informative and interesting. It reads like a "documentary" - this is the "real" story, not the "watered-down" version for the kiddies.

If you are looking for a good read and would like to fill in this study for yourself with some depth, you might consider it.

PLUS

American Kids in History

Children’s Treasury of Virtues

The Story of the U.S.A. Book 1

History Pockets: Colonial America

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