Unit Plan: Frontier Life in
Colonial Times
By: Sheri Saunders
What Will Be Covered in the
Unit
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Food
Clothing
Religion
Traditions
Challenges faced by colonists
Changes in native American lives
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Fourth Grade Students
Know idea webs
Know how to represent
information graphically
Know how to use internet
to research topics
Previously read: Indian
Captive: The Story of
Mary Jemmison
Variety of Materials
Objectives
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SS.4.1.1 work independently and cooperatively to accomplish goals
SS.4.4.6 analyze and compare the effects of geographic factors upon
people’s jobs, food, clothing, shelter, services, and interaction with
the outside world.
SS.4.5.13 compare and contrast the cultures of the colonists and
Native Americans and describe the changes that occurred when they
came into contact with one another.
SS.4.1.4 describe forms of diversity in early American society, giving
examples of the strengths/contributions of each (e.g. indentured
servants, slaves, colonists, plantation owners, Native Americans,
merchants)
TEC.4.3.1 use a word processing program to create and format a
document (e.g., paragraph, tabs, justification, margins) and review cut
and paste, spell check, and text formatting.
Materials Needed
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Copy of Indian captive: the story of Mary Jemison for
each student
Notebook paper, notebooks, pencils, poster boards
Prepared green beans, peas, squash, pumpkin, corn, and
venison jerky
Raw potatoes, blackberries, pawpaws, apples,
Samples of clothing people would have worn
Internet access
Intersecting circles and columns handouts
Room for small groups and dramatization
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Web bulletin board
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Websites Used
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Deerfield
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Colonial Kids
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Carol Hurst’s Children’s Literature
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The Peopling of America
Day 1
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Teacher Introduces
Thematic Unit on
Native Americans and
early settlers
Students draw and fill
in K &W of a KWL
chart
Day 2
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Students sample
foods
Students fill out
intersecting circles
handout with what
group would eat what
food
Day 3
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Students observe
samples of clothing
worn by both groups
in the classroom and
on the Colonial Kids
Website.
Students fill out
intersecting circles
chart.
Day 4
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Students research
religions of Native
Americans and
settlers using the
Carol Hurst Website.
Students fill in
column chart.
Students write a brief
paragraph about most
interesting point.
Day 5
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Students research
traditions,
entertainment, or
school life using the
Colonial Kids
website.
Group poster board
presentation.
Day 6
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Large and small
group discussion
about relations
between Native
Americans and
settlers.
Based on book and
Raid on Deerfield
Website.
Day 7
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Small group
discussion continued.
Research relations
using Deerfield and
the Peopling of
America websites .
What could have
happened drama and
reflection on problem
solving approaches.
Day 8
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Students work
individually with
bulletin board.
Finish L of KWL
chart.
Type a paragraph
about what they most
wanted to learn about
and what they learned
about it.
Require Learner Participation
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Group work
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Various projects
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Everyone has a chance to use their unique
abilities
Evaluate and Revise
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Group projects
Individual projects
Filling out information sheets
Observe groups to be sure they are on task
Look at products created by the students
within the lesson.
KWL Chart
Know
Want to
Know
Learned