Description
Colonial America Unit – VA SOL USI.5
This Colonial America Unit is a hands-on unit that combines history and language arts skills! Everything you need for teaching about the first English colonies, the 13 colonies, colonial regions, colonial people, and the French and Indian War is included in these unit plans. Save time planning and your students will love completing the hands-on activities found in this unit.
For a closer look at the activities in this unit, see the product images at the top of the page!
What topics are covered in this Colonial America Unit?
This Colonial America Unit includes 8 detailed lesson plans. All lessons are hands-on and incorporate literacy skills. Students will investigate–
- the reasons why some of the earliest English colonies were founded including Roanoke, Jamestown, Plymouth, and Massachusetts Bay
- the significance of Virginia as one of the most populous and wealthiest colonies
- the founding of each of the 13 colonies
- the characteristics and differences between the New England, Mid-Atlantic, and Southern colonies
- examples of interdependence and specialization within the 13 colonies
- the ways colonial jobs contributed to the growth of the 13 colonies
- the similarities and differences between colonial people groups including landowners, farmers, artisans, clergy, merchants, women, indentured servants, enslaved African Americans, and free African Americans
- the changing economic and political relationships between the colonies and Great Britain
- the main reasons for and outcomes of the French and Indian War
- the ways the French and Indian War contributed to the American Revolution
What types of resources are included in the unit?
A variety of no-prep activities are included in these unit plans.
- worksheets
- passages with comprehension questions
- hands-on activities
- centers
- sort
- posters
- games
- quiz
- test
- word wall cards
- timeline of suggested activities: Provides a timeline for using the activities included within this unit and provides links to websites featuring videos about concepts being taught.
- answer keys included throughout
Students will become fully immersed in learning about Colonial America as they create timelines and projects, complete hands-on activities, and research past events!
Are digital resources included?
All of the passages and comprehension questions, most worksheets, the quiz, and the test within this Colonial America Unit are also included in an interactive Google Slides format and can be shared with students using your Google Drive.
Video tutorials are included to help you share interactive Google Slides with your students.
What standards are covered?
This Colonial America Unit is specifically aligned with the 2023 Virginia U.S. History SOL USI.5, although it closely matches most U.S. History standards related to teaching about colonial America.
What are other teachers saying about this unit?
- “This Colonial America Unit has everything you need to teach Colonial America. The lessons and activities were enjoyable, and I really appreciated how easy this unit was to teach! Thank you!” (anonymous)
- “I absolutely love this resource because it has EVERYTHING you need for each day’s lesson. It even has the daily lesson plan to go by, along with links to short videos to spark interest. I also appreciate having both the digital and PDF versions since I have many students learning remotely while quarantined. If I could give 10 stars, I would. Thank you for giving me some time back!” (Stephanie H.)
- “Love this unit! It hits on a multiple of skills including reading and writing. Excellent!” (Kathryn B.)
Don’t Miss Out!
You don’t need to spend hours creating your Colonial America Unit! These lessons require minimal prep work and are easy to implement whether teaching in-person or virtually. Students will also enjoy learning about colonial life as they complete hands-on activities and read passages.
You may also be interested in:
- Colonial America Escape Room
- Colonial America Task Cards
- U.S. History Unit Bundle
- U.S. History Escape Room Bundle
- U.S. History Task Cards Bundle
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Other Information:
©Meghan Vestal, Vestal’s 21st Century Classroom. All rights reserved. This product is to be used by the original downloader only. Copying for teachers, classroom, department, school, or school system is prohibited. This product may not be distributed or displayed digitally for public view. Teachers may NOT upload the product to school/district servers, or to any website, or share digital or print copies. Failure to comply is a copyright infringement and a violation of the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA). All sales are final.











Jamie H. –
Great way to pace Unit
Unit is updated to the New standards and has a variety of resources to have students engaged in the lesson.
Originally posted on TPT
Candace R. –
Great social studies resource for kids
Great filler for students – Would use this again in my classroom-fun activities
Originally posted on TPT
Ashley C. –
Great resource
These units are wonderful with engaging lessons for students.
Originally posted on TPT
Nicole P. –
A well-crafted resource
This is a great resource that fits the standard and has nice graphics and engagement for my students.
Originally posted on TPT
Anonymous Buyer –
This Colonial America Unit has everything you need to teach Colonial America. The lessons and activities were enjoyable and I really appreciated how easy this unit was to teach! Thank you!
Originally posted on TPT
Anonymous Buyer –
This helped me so much, our new unit isn’t out yet having this available was awesome and it was so easy to use and had everything we needed.
Originally posted on TPT
Nancy L. –
I really like this resource, but some of my lower students needed extra support with it.
Originally posted on TPT