The first wave of immigrants to America was the Native Americans.  They arrived here 10,000 years ago, and developed a way of life very different from that of the Europeans who arrived here later.  Massachusetts' tribes included Nausets, Nipmucs and the Wampanoags.  They lived from the land, hunting and fishing, and eventually growing corn, beans, squash and other crops. 

Europeans used the coastal waters for fishing and developed trade with the Native Americans long before they settled here.

Our program concentrates on the New England colonists of the early years.  The first colonists to arrive on Cape Cod were the Pilgrims, who set foot in Plymouth in the winter 1620.  Unlike the Native Americans, Pilgrims built wooden homes.  They planted large gardens, kept livestock and cut forests for timber.  Native Americans taught them how to hunt and fish, and make their crops grow better. 

Once they were settled, the colonists built schools, churches, and farms.  They made almost everything they needed, grew their own food, or hunted for it.

Pre Visit

	Activity: PreK-K 1) Find out how the colonists lived.  Did colonial children have toys?  2) Read a story about a Native American or a colonist.
	Activity: Grades 1 - 3 1) Learn about Colonial Times from library books.  2) What years were considered Colonial? 3) Make a list of all the things you think you have that colonial children didn't have then draw a picture, putting yourself into the story.
	Activity: Grade 4 1) Who where the colonists, and where did they come from?

Post Visit

2) Draw a classroom mural that shows what you might be doing, and how you would dress, if you lived in colonial times.

	Activity: PreK-K 1) Learn to sing some colonial songs, such as "Here we go round the Mulberry Bush" or "London Bridge is Falling Down".
	Activity: Grades 1 - 3 1) Look around your classroom and school.  Now that you have learned about colonial times, make a new list of things you have that colonial children didn't have.  Is it different from the first list?  What did they have that you don't have?
	Activity: Grade 4 1) Contact your local heritage or historical society for more information about your town in colonial times.  Can they tell you where old schools were in your town?  Visit some colonial sites, such as the Bradford House in Kingston, or the Old Harlow Fort House in Plymouth.  2) Describe how you might spend your day if you were a child in Colonial times.  Would it be different for boys and girls?