Our local homeschool group had a unit study recently on "The Pilgrims:  The First American History Topic".  Classes were held every Monday from 1-3pm for 4 weeks.  If anyone is interested in making this a future activity for their own homeschool group, I've included the outline of activities.  Otherwise, enjoy the pictures.  J

Week One:  Introduction - Pilgrims leave England, travel to Holland, life in Holland, and leaving Holland.

·                     Hand out notebooks for unit study (includes a three-ring pocket folder that will hold handouts, coloring sheets and other info.

·                     Make a quill pen.

·                     Give out the Mayflower paper diagram that the students may design a presentation for the next co-op.  Younger students can make them by coloring, cutting & pasting.  Older students may make them as complex as they would like (build an actual model, do a diorama, a shadow box, etc.).

·                     Fabric dying - Please bring anything from nature that you think would dye cloth (blackberries, mulberries, cranberries, tea, etc.).  Each student will get a swatch of muslin.

·                     We will give out age-appropriate spelling lists for a spelling bee that will be held at the final co-op.

·                     We will give a book resource list for student & family reading.

Week Two:  Preparing for the journey to the New World, life on the Mayflower, landing & getting started.

·                     Corn husk dolls - We will have some fabric scraps for aprons.  Please bring any scraps that you want to use.  These can be for boys & girls.

·                     Tin can lanterns - Bring your own hammers.  Instructions will be given on week one.

·                     We will be starting our journals.

·                     The students will be presenting their Mayflower models.  Any student wishing to give a 2-minute presentation on their model may do that.

Week Three:  Life in the New World, meeting the Indians, learning a new way of life, and sickness.

·                     Planting corn the Indian way (add chopped up fish/sardines to one cup and see which seed grows more quickly).

·                     Making Pilgrim hats & Indian headbands.  Other artifacts will be on display.

·                     Writing stories on veneer (thin wood - free of charge donated by Old Threshers), using Indian symbols.  Bring your quill pens & ink.

·                     We will be planning our authentic Thanksgiving feast - who will bring what & we will be handing out recipe cards.  Talk about Pilgrim napkins & how they ate.  We will be talking about the different kinds of foods that were available.  Sorry, no pumpkin pie or cranberry sauce!

·                     The students will be presenting their Pilgrim/Indian hut models.  Any student wishing to give a 2-minute presentation on their model may do that.

·                     Hand out scroll for notebook & unit report assignment.

Week Four:  Thanksgiving feast by candle light & our own handmade lanterns.

·                     Student presentations over unit (wear appropriate dress for Pilgrim or Indian).

·                     Thanksgiving feast (turkey with onion gravy, deer, fresh corn soup & popcorn, succotash, Indian pudding, Bannock cakes, cornbread muffins, roasted pumpkin & apples, and other vegetables & fruit).

·                     Have the spelling bee!

·                     Play "pin the feather on the turkey".