3rd Grade History & Social Studies — Explorers and Settlers — God's Hand in the New World
Students will learn what daily life was like in the American colonies and how faith and hard work shaped colonial communities.
After Jamestown and Plymouth, more and more settlers came to America. By the 1700s, there were 13 English colonies along the Atlantic coast. Each colony had its own character, but they all shared a love of hard work and faith in God.
Colonial children had very different lives from children today. They helped with chores like feeding animals, carrying water, and working in the garden. Many families made their own clothes, candles, and soap.
Education was very important to the colonists. They believed every child should learn to read so they could study the Bible. The first schools in America were started by churches. The New England Primer, one of the first textbooks, used Bible verses to teach the alphabet.
Colonial families went to church every Sunday. Church was the center of community life — people worshiped together, shared news, and helped their neighbors. The church bell called everyone to services and town meetings.
The colonists worked together to build roads, bridges, and towns. They traded goods with each other and with England. God blessed their hard work and faithfulness, and the colonies grew strong.
Make a list of five chores a colonial child might do in a day. Then compare it with five things you do in your day. Draw a picture of a colonial child doing one of their chores.