Art Prints
Beautiful images by famous artists inspired by the voyage, arrival, and celebrations of the people of the Mayflower. Download them for free!
The Mayflower: A Classroom Research Center
Fate Cards
32 cards retell events from the voyage of the Mayflower in 1620 through the words of a child. These observations are paired with quotations from William Bradford's journal describing the events--original language, spelling, and punctuation. They are a great way to introduce the difference between primary and secondary source material, and will definitely spice up your study of the Pilgrims.
Thematic Teacher
Educational Materials for Literacy Through Art, Science, and Social Studies.
The story of the Mayflower voyage and the early days of the Plymouth Colony are fascinating and predominant in the culture of the United States. Three different accounts and journals exist, along with the logs of the Mayflower and the Speedwell. This is a rich source for student exploration as history detectives in using primary source materials, albeit one-sided. Students select one of the people who traveled on the voyage to the New World in 1620, and research, using primary source materials (and other books that you may provide) what happened to them during the trip and the first year at the settlement. They then relate their experiences by writing a journal, relation, or diary of the events speaking as the person they represent. It is an exciting and authentic way to learn about the early origins of the United States.
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These items are also available separately:
Ship Posters
Four posters depicts the Mayflower as many historians believe it existed. They can be stapled on top of each other to give the illusion that students are looking into the ship, displayed separately on your classroom walls, or placed in your research center. The posters are 11X17 and can be printed using a standard printer, or a large format printer.
Parent Newsletter—Send home a month or two before beginning the unit to solicit help in preparing materials.
Posters
- Four posters portray the ship as historians believe it was built. The posters may be stapled on top of each other to give the illusion students are looking into the ship.
- Two worksheet provide practice on using a map scale, and labeling a diagram.
Research Materials
- People of the Mayflower Cards: Seventy-two people who traveled on the Mayflower are portrayed on these cards. Students will choose one of them to represent and research through this center.
- Dictionary/Game Cards: Vocabulary words are given as a dictionary display might be, and matched with a picture. The cards may be printed, collated, and held together with a ring clip to form a little dictionary for your center. Title pages show the word with a larger image and may be matched with the definition pages to play games such as "Old Maid" and "Go Fish", a fun way to learn new words.
- Ship's Logs: Student-friendly versions of the logs of the Mayflower and the Speedwell are included. Each log comes with a script version which has the original language (although not the original spelling), and a print version which contains a simplified version for easier student use. There are a total of 6 logs.
- Journals: William Bradford's journal, Of Plymouth Plantation, comes in two versions as well: the original language, spelling, and punctuation, and a simplified version with modern language, spelling, and punctuation (38 pages). Mourt's Relation, written by Edward Winslow to his friend Mr. Mortimer, is also included in the two formats (60 pages). It describes the first year of the colony in greater detail.
- Fate Cards: A set of cards tell of events that occurred during the voyage in the voice of a child. Each card also includes the event as told by William Bradford. These cards can be ordered by time, used as primary and secondary source examples, and serve as models for student writing.
- Display Cards: Modeled after the plagues contained in museums, these 8.5X11 cards tell about life on board a ship in the 1600s.
- Artifacts: Letters, birth and death records, obituaries, and other items are primary source materials for student research. They provide clues about the subject's life, and are a good exercise in deduction and drawing conclusions as the students learn more about their subjects.
- Art Prints: The Mayflower and the first thanksgiving have given artists much fodder for their craft. These prints are a good secondary source of information.
- Maps: Primary source maps, as well as route maps are included.
- Mural Directions and Cutouts: Directions are given for a simple yet attractive mural background for the center. Ship and title cutouts are included.
Research Center
Students select a member of the Mayflower voyage, and research the incidents of that person's life during the voyage and the first year in New England.