Lesson Plan for “Pilgrims and Puritans” Website
The site was created by Rachel Jensen for Ms. Martin’s third grade class at Harrington
Elementary in Lexington, MA.
Purpose: Supplement for the social studies unit of Pilgrims and Puritans, while integrating technology into the students’ studies.
Location/Materials: Computer lab, handout, pencils.
Goals of the lesson: The students will enhance their reading and technology skills while learning about the similarities and differences between the Pilgrims and the Puritans, as well as the geography of Massachusetts.
Objectives:
•
The students will be able to write down at least 2 things about Pilgrims and Puritans related to their lives, work, and play.
• The students will be able to show on a map where in Massachusetts the Pilgrims landed and where the Puritans landed and approximate where they are on a map.
•
The students will be able to distinguish the ideological difference between Pilgrims and
Puritans and why they moved to the New World.
Technology Requirements: The lesson will be taught in the computer lab in which there will be at least one computer between 2 students. In the case where the lesson has to be taught in the classroom instead, it will require a projector, laptop, and if possible, a Smartboard. A screen can work as well.
Massachusetts Technology Standards:
G3-5: 1.14 Explain and use age-appropriate online tools and resources (e.g., tutorial, assessment, Web browser). To satisfy standard 1.14, I will explain the format of the website so they will be able to navigate around the site, use the tabs within the site, take the quiz, and look at the rollover images.
G3-5: 2.5 Work collaboratively online with other students under teacher supervision . To satisfy standard 2.5, the teachers will be going around to the computers to assist and supervise. The students will be working with a partner by reading text to each other and navigating around the site to explore Pilgrims and Puritans together.
Lesson Procedure : The 3 rd graders will be paired up and will share a computer. The purpose of this is so that the students work together and practice their reading skills by reading to their partners. Another reason is to facilitate discussion based on what they learned from the site.

Massachusetts Standard Curriculum Framework:
3.4 Explain how the Puritans and Pilgrims differed and identify early leaders in Massachusetts, such as John Winthrop; describe the daily life, education, and work of the Puritans in the
Massachusetts Bay Colony. (H, E, C) The lesson is based on partners taking turns reading about
Pilgrims and Puritans together. As they navigate the site, they will fill out a handout with questions regarding information that the students find on the website. These questions will emphasize the similarities and differences between Pilgrims and Puritans, as well as assess reading comprehension.
Detailed Procedure:
1.
Introduce topic of the lesson: Pilgrims and Puritans.
2.
Briefly go over worksheet and explain expectations: write in full sentences and answer the questions as best as you can.
3.
Explain the format of the site: links to different pages, tabs on the content pages, and how to get help with hard words by clicking on them. Try to make this interactive by asking them “Where should I click if I want to know more about Pilgrims?”
4.
Have the partners read through the first content page to each other, discuss what they learned, and answer questions. Teachers will be walking around to make sure they stay on task.
5.
Repeat directions for content page 2.
6.
Have the partners read through the second content page to each other, discuss what they learned, and answer questions. Teachers will be walking around to make sure they stay on task.
7.
Give directions for content page 3.
8.
Have the partners read through the third content page.
9.
Explain quiz and have the partners take the quiz.
10.
Redirect attention to front and ask the students to share what they learned.
To wrap up the lesson, the class will share what they have learned just as they do with any other activity and lesson. Also discuss the advantages or drawbacks of working in partners.
Assessment:
Each student is expected to fill out a handout while exploring the site. This will be used to assess their reading comprehension. The handout will also have a section for their “I wonder” questions if their reading has sparked more questions regarding Pilgrims and Puritans.
Also, the students will be asked to go home and write a five or six sentences about how their families’ lives are the same or different from the Pilgrims or Puritans.
• Example sentence: My mom is different from a Puritan and Pilgrim mom because she has a job outside of our house.
This activity is to assess whether they recognize the roles of people in their communities.