The purpose of this lesson is to illustrate how the Pilgrims were influenced in developing a community and American democracy. Using primary source documents, this lesson will take a look at the Mayflower Compact and its origins, and will discuss the story of The Pilgrim’s First Thanksgiving....
This lesson introduces the Mayflower Compact. This brief agreement was the first document of its kind designed to bring a community together to focus on the common good. This may be a model for a classroom agreement written by the students.
Students look at The Mayflower Compact and recognize that freedom to assemble and worship was the “Pilgrim's” main goal—worth all the opportunity costs. Students analyze the first amendment of the Constitution to recognize that freedom is a fundamental right in the United States.
In the early political history of this country, the goal of its leaders was to give people freedom to choose many things—where to worship, with whom to assemble, privacy, opinions, etc. It is still the goal today, but the world is not perfect. The students will find examples of loss of freedom...
Students explore the definition of community as a group coming together for the common good. Students work cooperatively to form rules and compare their rules to the compact made by the Pilgrims before they left the boat.
This lesson gives the students background information on the voyage of the Mayflower to America. Students role-play the relationship between the Pilgrims and the sailors.
The purpose of this lesson is to give the children background information on the early pilgrims and the reasons for their migration from England. It will also introduce them to the idea that in leaving their home, the Pilgrims met people of different cultures.
This lesson introduces the students to the definition of philanthropy and tells how the Native Americans were philanthropic toward the Pilgrims. Students carry out their own “random acts of kindness.”
This lesson introduces the voyage of the Mayflower. The students learn the definition of a pilgrim and experience simulated conditions on the voyage.
Students will understand that you find poetry everywhere: lyrics to songs, commercials and rap. They will also realize that philanthropic themes are often found in poetry.