Introduction
Then and Now
Almost 400 years ago the Pilgrims came to our continent and the settling of America began. As the United States grew, settlers, or pioneers, moved across the country. The lives of these people who lived so long ago were very different from ours today. But not everything was different. You will discover how these people of long ago lived and how their lives are the same as or different from ours.
Task
How Have Things Changed?
You will look at the life of the children who came with their parents on the Mayflower to settle in this country. You will find out how their lives are like yours today and also how they are different.
Next you will look at some objects that were used during the pioneer times. some of these objects would have been used by children and others by adults. Your task is to figure out what their purpose was. You will need to figure out if we use anything to do the same tasks today and how these objects are alike and different.
Process
Pilgrim Life
Step 1: Use the paper in your packet titled How We Live. Fill in the boxes on the left with details about your life today.
Step 2: Go to the websites below. This will give you information on how a child lived during the time of the Pilgrims. Fill in the boxes on the right with details of his or her life in the past.
Pilgrim child's daily life: You only need to read the left side about the Pilgrim children. It starts by telling you about their houses. The brown and yellow dots above the picture take you to the other pages about the house. When done with houses, click the blue word at the top for Clothes. Look at all the pages for clothes, then click on the blue word Food. Continue until you have finished all the topics.
A Child's Role: When the page opens up click on the red words, Pilgrim children, to go to the proper section.
Step 3: Compare and contrast your life and the life of a Pilgrim child. This means you are going to look at what you know and decide how they are alike and different.
Use the paper called Alike and Different. Read each of the boxes you filled in on your last paper. Write at least five things that were the same for you and the Pilgrim children. Also write at least five things that were different about the way you live and the Pilgrim children lived.
Turn your papers into your teacher.
The Pioneer Times
Step 1: Watch the video below to see and hear the story of a young boy and his families that went west from Massachusetts to Illinois.
If you drove from Massachusetts to Illinois today it would take about 16 or 17 hours of driving. How long did it take this family to make the trip?
As you watch the video, pay attention to the things they brought with them, what they were wearing, how they slept, and what modes of travel they used.
The Long Journey West - video
Step 2: Figure out what pioneer household and farm items are and what they were used for.
In your packet there are some photos of items from pioneer times. With each item from the past there are pictures of 3 modern items we use today. One of these modern items is used for the same purpose as the pioneer item. You will choose which items you think match and tell why you think they match.
When you are finished, turn these papers into your teacher.
Evaluation
Your teacher will check over your papers.
You will be graded on how well you explain what the likenesses and differences are between today's life and the Pilgrim life.
On the pioneer objects pages you will be graded on how well you support your idea of what the pioneer object was and how it was used. If your reasons make sense, it does not matter if you figured out the true use of the pioneer object.
Conclusion
We hope you enjoyed learning a little about everyday life in America many years ago!
Do you think you would have enjoyed living then?