Competency: Recognize the Thirteen Original Colonies of the United States

Lesson Overview: The purpose of this lesson is to provide students with a deeper understanding of the thirteen original colonies. This is lesson includes, reading, writing, speaking, listening, picture recognition, and a lot of fun and information.
This lesson plan includes the following:
  1. 13 Original Colonies Vocabulary Flash Cards
  2. 13 Original Colonies Vocabulary Pictures
  3. 13 Original Colonies Vocabulary Sheet
  4. 13 Original Colonies Summary
  5. 13 Original Colonies Vocabulary Matching
  6. 13 Original Colonies Dialogue Sheet
  7. 13 Original Colonies Quiz
  8. 13 Original Colonies Map (optional)
  9. 13 Original Colonies: Use the Map to Answer the Questions (optional)

Approximate Time: 2 hours or more
Prerequisite Skills: Map skills, basic understanding of the eastern states of the U.S., numbers, and reading and writing simple sentences.
Prerequisite Vocabulary:
coast
east
eastern
England
Europe
king
numbers
owned
ruled
settled
states
thirteen
Vocabulary:
colonies
cotton
democracy
farmer
immigrants
original
slave
tobacco
Materials Needed: Whiteboard or flip chart, erasable marker, pictures of significance, United States map, and world map.
Equipment Needed: None
Activities:
  1. Explain purpose of lesson. On a map of the United States, show the students where the thirteen original colonies are located. Ask the students if they can name any of the thirteen original colonies.
  1. Introduce vocabulary with 13 Original Colonies Vocabulary Flash Cards. Only practice pronunciation at this point. Have the students pronounce the words aloud as a group and then individually.
  1. Go over vocabulary using the 13 Original Colonies Vocabulary handouts. Carefully explain each word and make sure that students understand the meanings.
  1. Have the students read as you read out loud the 13 Original Colonies Summary. Discuss and check for comprehension. Use 13 Original Colonies Vocabulary Pictures to back up reading.
  1. Allow students 5 minutes to work with a partner in reading this summary. Ask for volunteers to read out loud after practice. Allow each volunteer to read 1-2 paragraphs at a time.
  1. Give students Handout: 13 Original Colonies Vocabulary Matching. Review the answers orally.
  1. Have the students read along as you read the entire 13 Original Colonies Dialogue to them. Once again, check for comprehension. Use pictures to back up information if necessary.
  1. Allow students 5-10 minutes to practice 13 Original Colonies Dialogue with a partner. Make sure they are switching roles and walk around and check for proper pronunciation and for understanding.
  1. Ask for partners to volunteer reading the dialogue out loud to class.
  1. Play a game (Blurt, Jeopardy, Truth or Fib, Family Feud, etc) using questions on 13 Original Colonies Quiz handout. You can develop your own game boards or PowerPoint presentations for games.
  1. 13 Original Colonies Quiz may be given after games or saved for the next class to check on knowledge retention. Review answers orally.

Assessment/Evaluation of Learning:
  1. Observe participation during games/class for understanding.
  1. Evaluation of completed worksheets.

Optional/Follow-up Activities:
  1. Have students write sentences using vocabulary from this lesson.
  1. Play any other game using the information gained in this lesson.
  1. Students can create their own dialogues using the information in this lesson.
  1. Have students label a blank map of the 13 colonies.
  1. Use 13 Original Colonies Vocabulary Flash Cards for further vocabulary development. You may also have the students make up their own flash cards on 3” X 5” index cards.
  1. Give students Handout: Use the Map to Answer the Questions. Have students use U.S. and World maps to answer the questions on this handout. Also give the students Handout: 13 Colonies Map. Have the students work in pairs and allow the students to use handouts and notes as a guide. (The colony of Massachusetts was made up of what are now the states of Massachusetts and Maine.)

2002-2003 ESL Special Project

CaldwellCommunity College and Technical Institute

Basic Skills Department

Lesson Plan: Recognize the Thirteen Original Colonies of the United StatesPage 1