The New Americans: Colonial Times: 1620-1689 (The American Story)
#3 in The American Story Series
What’s inside...
This ongoing series introduces our country's history to young readers in an appealing picture-book format. Clear, simple texts combine with informative, accurate illustrations to help young people develop an understanding of America's past and present. The New Americans is the story of the colonists -- the more than two hundred thousand new Americans -- who came over from Europe and struggled to build a home for themselves in a new world.
Discussion points
What challenges do you think the settlers faced when they arrived in the New World?
How do you think the lives of children in colonial times were different from yours?
Why do you think people chose to leave their homes and move to a new place?
How did cooperation help the settlers survive and build communities?
Can you name some ways in which the settlers adapted to their new environment?
Tip: Role play these questions
Before reading, briefly discuss what your child already knows about colonial times to activate their prior knowledge.
While discussing the book, connect the historical events to your child’s daily life to make the content more relatable.
Encourage empathy by asking your child to imagine themselves in the settlers' shoes, and discuss how they would feel facing similar challenges.
Use a map to help visually locate where the events took place to enhance your child's geographical and historical understanding.
After reading, encourage your child to draw a picture or write a short story about daily life in colonial times to deepen their engagement and understanding.
Key lessons
Example Lesson: Resilience and Adaptation
Explanation: The book portrays the hardships and challenges the early colonists faced and how they adapted to the new environment.
Real-World Application: Children can learn the importance of resilience in the face of challenges and understand that adapting to new situations is a valuable skill.
Example Lesson: Cooperation and Teamwork
Explanation: The settlers had to work together to establish their communities, showing how cooperation was vital for their survival.
Real-World Application: This teaches children the importance of collaborating with others to achieve common goals and can be applied during group projects or team sports.
Example Lesson: Cultural Appreciation and Understanding
Explanation: The book details interactions between the colonists and Native Americans, highlighting moments of cooperation and conflict.
Real-World Application: Children can learn to appreciate diverse cultures and viewpoints, promoting inclusivity and respect in their interactions with people from different backgrounds.
Example Lesson: Problem Solving
Explanation: The colonists frequently encountered problems, from harsh winters to crop failures, and had to find innovative solutions.
Real-World Application: Children can apply problem-solving skills in their daily lives, learning to think critically and creatively to overcome obstacles.
Example Lesson: Learning from History
Explanation: The book provides historical insights into the early days of America, teaching about the consequences of certain actions.
Real-World Application: Helps children understand the importance of learning from the past to make better decisions and to understand their own cultural heritage.