Lesson Plan

On the Mayflower Lesson Plan

  • Grades: PreK–K, 1–2

About this book

Grade Level Equivalent: 3.3
Lexile Measure: 740L
Guided Reading Level: P
Age: Age 6, Age 7, Age 5
Genre: Historical Fiction
Subject: Changes and New Experiences, Early Exploration and Settlements, Colonial and Revolutionary America, Friends and Friendship, Travel and Vacations

Overview

The photography in On the Mayflower  is fantastic. It brings to life the voyage of the Mayflower and the hardships faced by the passengers. Students love imagining that they are at sea aboard the Mayflower. I still remember "sailing" on the Mayflower as a kindergarten student in 1975.

Objective

Students will "identify and describe the events or people celebrated during United States national holidays and why we celebrate them." — Massachusetts History and Social Science Curriculum Framework

Materials

  • On the Mayflower: Voyage of the Ship's Apprenctice & a Passenger Girl by Kate Waters
  • hollow blocks
  • refrigerator box (You can use these materials individually, or together. It is not necessary to have both to complete this activity successfully.)

Set Up and Prepare

The building of the Mayflower itself takes anywhere from 20 minutes to an hour, depending on what it is built of, and the amount of detail put into it. You then need to schedule additional time for students to engage in dramatic play.

Directions

Working with small groups of students, use your blocks, and/or boxes, to create the Mayflower. (Due to space, you may decide to only build portions of it.) You might decide to lay down some blue cloth for the ocean, or to make provisions with which to "stock" the ship.

Supporting All Learners

It is sometimes difficult for young children to understand that the photos are not of the actual Pilgrims, but of actors portraying them. It is useful to have this conversation before reading the book.

Lesson Extensions

Make models or drawings of the Mayflower. Scholastic publishes a number of curriculum guides that feature the Mayflower, one of which is listed in Related Resources.

Make labels to put in different areas of the ship. Aft, deck, and rigging could be some of the labels students post.


Related Resources

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