Colonial Hands-On History Projects to Bring Early American History to Life
When we study Early American History, I include as many colonial hands-on history projects as possible to bring the subject to life for my older kids. I know there are teens who feel that history is dry and boring, but I say that’s just because they spend too much time reading a textbook instead of working with their hands. Instead, use American history activities in your homeschool.
In the 1600 – 1700s, brave and adventurous men and women came to here to explore unknown lands and new opportunities. Their search for personal and religious freedoms lead to the settlement of our original 13 Colonies and eventually a new nation. A very exciting time!
Stories paint a picture of life during this time, but tweens and teens can get a better understanding of what life was like for the American colonists with the help of these creative projects.
Colonial Hands-on History Projects and Activities
Build an American Early Settler Wattle & Daub House
Build a home like the ones used by the settlers in Jamestown.
Corn was a staple of the colonial diet. Learn to make 2 quick and tasty dishes from the time – Johnnycakes and Spoon Bread.
Get a sense for the scale and detail of the original Jamestown settlement while creating your own replica.
You child can be the star of their own movie by acting out important scenes from Early American History or use their computer
and items around the house to make stop-motion animated films.
Further your family’s study of this interesting time in our country’s history with this fun unit study that includes notebooking pages, writing prompts, discussion questions, crafts, and more!
Learn with American Girl Dolls
If you have an American Girl doll fan in your house, use them and their stories to learn about American history.
Use a variety of resources to find answers to some very interesting trivia questions about the Liberty Bell.
Make map work more interesting by drawing, tracing, building and even eating your map creations!!
With a few simple items you can make games and toys that children of all ages enjoyed playing in colonial times.
Recreate Ben Franklin’s Inventions
He is often referred to as one of our county’s “Founding Fathers,” but Benjamin Franklin’s contributions reached well beyond his politics and diplomacy. He was also a writer, printer, scientist and inventor.
Create an engaging travel brochure to share information about your favorite colony.
As you can see, there are a ton of things you can do to make Early American History fun for your homeschooler. Hopefully, you’ve found the perfect project to add to your lesson plans.
More Fun Early American History Activities
- American Revolution for Kids: A History with 21 Activities
- Ben Franklin Inventions You Can Build Yourself
- Great Colonial Projects You Can Build Yourself
- Revolutionary War Days: Discover the Past with Exciting Projects, Games, Activities, and Recipes
What’s your favorite way to make history exciting for middle school?
