Saugus Public Schools
23 Main Street
Saugus, MA 01906-2347
Teaching with Historic Places
Page 1 of 3
Lesson Plan
A Child’s Life in Colonial Times
School: Waybright Elementary School Contributors: Maureen Boyle
Subject: Social Studies
Grade: 1
Introduction:
This lesson is part of a first grade unit on colonial times which includes learning about the daily
life of a child growing up in colonial Massachusetts. The lesson is taught in two parts. This is
Part 1: A Day in the Life of a Colonial Child.
The Rebecca Nurse Homestead.
During colonial times everyone, including the children, worked very hard. The children worked
from the time they were very young. Parents felt that hard work was good for their children.
Young children picked berries or fed the chickens. By the time the children were six years old,
they were given more responsibility. They gathered wood, cleaned the fireplace, fetched the
water, and cared for younger children. Older boys helped plant and harvest crops. They learned
how to make soap, cook, and sew. At age 13, the children were treated as adults and boys were
expected to learn a trade.
Objectives:
• The students will learn about the houses that colonial children lived in with their families.
TAHG
A Teaching American History Grant
Saugus.net
Saugus Public Schools
23 Main Street
Saugus, MA 01906-2347
Page 2 of 3
Teaching with Historic Places
Lesson Plan
• The students will learn about the daily chores that colonial children were expected to do to
help their families.
• The students will compare their own homes and daily lives to those of colonial children.
Materials:
• Book: If You Lived in Colonial Times by
Ann McGovern
• Large chart paper, drawing paper, story paper, pencils, markers, crayons
• A copy of the song: “We’ve Been Working
‘Round the Village”
Activities:
Tell the children that they will be learning about
the houses that families lived in during colonial
times. Read the sections entitled, “What did
colonial houses look like?” (pp 4-49) from the
book, If You Lived in Colonial Times.
Discuss with the children what they have
learned about colonial houses. Divide a piece
of chart paper into three columns. List their
responses in column one.
Spinning wheel at the Rebecca Nurse House.
Brainstorm ideas about how their own houses
are alike and different from the colonial houses.
List the similarities and differences in column two and three on the chart paper.
Read the section entitled, “Did people work hard in colonial days?” Discuss the chores and responsibilities of colonial boys and girls. List them on another chart.
Discuss the chores that the children in the class have to do at home to help their families. Make
a list of these chores. Compare this list of modern chores to those of the colonial children.
Teach the song, “We’ve Been Working ‘Round the Village” to the class.
TAHG
A Teaching American History Grant
Saugus.net
Saugus Public Schools
23 Main Street
Saugus, MA 01906-2347
Teaching with Historic Places
Page 3 of 3
Lesson Plan
We’ve Been Working ‘Round the Village
(Sung to the tune of “I’ve Been Working on the Railroad”)
We’ve been working ‘round the village
Have no time to play.
Gathering wood and picking berries
These chores fill our day.
We will help our parents daily
With cleaning and cooking and such.
It is good for us, we’re hearing
So we don’t mind too much.
The boys and men they do the hunting,
Fishing, and chopping wood.
The girls and women do the gardening
And cooking food that tastes good.
Making soap and feeding chickens,
Sewing and making clothes to wear.
We all try to work together,
We want to do our share.
TAHG
A Teaching American History Grant
Saugus.net