Daily Life in the Colonies
Aligned to C3.D2.His.5 — C3 Framework for Social Studies State Standards.
What this lesson teaches
Most colonists worked hard from sunrise to sunset. Many families farmed, and children helped with chores instead of going to school full time. People also worked as blacksmiths, weavers, shopkeepers, and craftspeople in growing towns.
Worked example
A colonial child might wake before dawn to feed the animals, carry water, and help make candles or soap. Even young children had daily jobs, because every person's work helped the family survive.
Practice questions
- Name two kinds of work colonists did.
- Explain why children in the colonies often worked instead of going to school all day.
- Analyze how daily life for a colonial child was different from your own life today.
Watch the lesson
Every lesson comes with a video taught in English and Spanish — the same video the QR code in the printed workbook opens.
▶ Watch this lessonEn español
La vida diaria en las colonias
La mayoría de los colonos trabajaban duro desde el amanecer hasta el anochecer. Muchas familias cultivaban la tierra, y los niños ayudaban con las tareas en lugar de ir a la escuela todo el día. La gente también trabajaba como herreros, tejedores, comerciantes y artesanos en los pueblos que crecían.
Ejemplo: Un niño de la época colonial podía despertarse antes del amanecer para dar de comer a los animales, acarrear agua y ayudar a hacer velas o jabón. Incluso los niños pequeños tenían tareas diarias, porque el trabajo de cada persona ayudaba a la familia a sobrevivir.
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