COLONIAL DAYS PATCH PROGRAM
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All levels need to only complete 3 requirements

1. Settlers from England began arriving in America in the early 1600's. By the 1730's there were thirteen English colonies with over 600,000 settlers. Where was the first colony founded and when? Name three of the thirteen colonies and choose one to learn more about. You can use our state kits to complete this portion.

2. Today, you can visit restored historical villages recreating the colonial time period. Visit a historical site or learn more about a historical site or reenactment depicting this time period. This can be conducted on line, with books, or within your schools. http://www.history.org/ OR http://www.history.org/kids/

3. Common jobs during the Colonial days were shoemakers, silversmiths, milliners, blacksmiths, coopering, saddlemaking, wigmaking, and shoemaking. Research one of the jobs and learn more their daily activities such as what they created and for whom?

4. Women cooked in the kitchen on an open fire. There was no electricity or stoves to cookmeals. Choose a recipe or food from the colonial days to try. Ham and Cherry Sauce, bread pudding, buttermilk biscuits, gingerbread cookies, or maple fudge.

5. Some colonists had only two outfits, one for every day and one for special occasions. In addition, girls could only wear dresses and all ladies were to keep their head covered at all times. Learn more about the ladies clothing during the colonial period. Some examples are: pattens, muff, mitts, mop hat, drawstring bags, stomachers, and night gowns.

6. Wigs were popular for men as were walking canes. The majority of men wore breeches that came to the knee. Learn more about mens clothing during the colonial period. Some examples are: tri-cornered hats, coats, vest, buckle shoes, cloaks, cravat, and shirt.

7. Much of the furniture during the colonial period was brought from England but soon craftsmen were recreating the furniture in America. View household items from Colonial times on websites, books, historical sites or events. How are they different from today? Examples include: four poster bed, clothes press, bed warmer, tea set, clothes press, and dining room tables.

8. The majority of the children's toys and games were made by hand or purchased at the milliners shop. Choose one game to complete or learn more about OR choose a toy to play with or observe. Some examples include: graces, hoop and stick, rag dolls, corn husk doll, checkers, marbles, dominos, Nine Men's Morris, and chess.

9. Many families had teatime every day between lunch and dinner. Other popular drinks were hot cocoa, cider, and coffee. Girls were taught at a young age how to serve tea, accept tea, and basic manners at the table. Learn colonial tea time manners, enjoy teatime food, have a tea party, practice table time manners OR learn how to set a table properly.

10. Before Colonial children could learn how to read they had to learn the alphabet. They practiced writing their alphabet with a hornbook, a piece of wood with the written alphabet taped to the front of it. Practice writing your name in cursive or try to write a complete sentence. Make sure it is your best handwriting. For extra, use the old English test to write your letters.

11. Colonists wrote all their letters with an ink well and a quill pen. The quill pen was simply a sharpened feather. Create a craft that represents the colonial time period. Examples are quill pens, dried flower sachet, quilting, cross stitch, decorative pillow, silhouettes, or memory box.

12. Before newspapers were widely available, local news and information was passed by word of mouth. Each town had a town crier. Their job was to call out the news and read official proclamations to the people gathered in the general meeting place in town. Colonial residences were generally categorized by landmarks rather than street addresses. Have the participants' think of a well-known landmark near their home to create their address. Let them create postcards or letters to send to one another. They can be delivered at the next function together. Historical postcards are available on line at http://www.history.org/kids/