Colonial Connecticut: Literature and Web Resources

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Colonial ConnecticutLiterature and Web Resources

• Michael Festi
• EDU 553.e25

November 13, 2005
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Introduction
The information found in this presentation is
part of a a larger project entitled Colonial
Connecticut A Teachers Resource Guide. The
sub-topic covered here involves literature and
website resources that may be included in a
Social Studies curriculum unit on Colonial
Connecticut. The intention of this presentation
is to provide a short summary of the literature
and website resources that may be used to create
lesson plans and will be included in the
Teachers Resource Guide.
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Connecticut Standards
The information found herein should conform to
those standards established by the Connecticut
State Department of Education as found in the
Social Studies Curriculum Framework (1998) for
grades K-4.

• Historical Thinking
• gather historical data from multiple sources
• engage in reading challenging primary and
  secondary historical source materials, some of
  which is contradictory and requires questioning
  of validity
• Describe sources of historical information
• Local, United States, and World History
• demonstrate knowledge of major trends in state
  and local history, including history of original
  peoples, early settlements and selected changes
  over the past two centuries
• Historical Themes
• examine family life and cultures of different
  peoples at different times in history
• explain different types of conflict, different
  ways in which conflicts have been resolved, and
  different ways that conflicts and their
  resolutions have affected people
• describe and explain some of the reasons people
  have moved and relate these reasons to some
  historic movements of large groups of people
• describe some goods, products and ideas which
  were exchanged as the result of movement
• Applying History
• exhibit curiosity and pose questions about the
  past when presented with artifacts, records or
  other evidence of the past
• recognize relationships between events and people
  of the past and present circumstances, concerns
  and developments

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Connection to the Standards
Knowing the Connecticut standards that apply to
the unit is important, but it is also important
to note how the resources are connected to the
standards. Historical Thinking While providing
students with a variety of historical resources
(primary and secondary source documents),
students will use these resources to meet the
standards Local, United States, and World History
Students will use available literature and
website resources to learn about Connecticut
(local) history including original peoples, early
settlements, and changes over time. Historical
Themes Through the various literature and
website resources students will develop a greater
sense of life in colonial Connecticut. This
especially holds true for the fiction literature
where students can visualize life through the
eyes of the characters. Applying History
Students should form questions based on the
information they find in the literature and
website resources. It is the intention that
students will connect this information to the
present day in order to determine relationships
between the two time periods.
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Choosing Resources

• When choosing literature and web resources,
  discretion is appropriate. Teachers should be
  familiar with the authors of their sources,
  especially for non-fiction because of the
  presentation of facts.
• The following are questions a teacher might ask
  when reviewing literature and web resources
• Is the author a respected authority?
• When was this resource written?
• Has this information changed over time?
• Does this present information contradictory to
  what students previously believed?
• These questions will help teachers choose the
  best possible resources to provide their students.

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Access to Resources
Most of the literature resources listed here
should be accessible through the Connecticut
Library System. I have had access to all of the
listed literature through either the library at
Eastern Connecticut State University or through
my towns library, the Somers Public Library.
Therefore, these resources should be available
through inter-library loan. Unfortunately, in
order to view the web resources, one must have
access to the Internet. If an Internet
connection is not available in ones classroom,
another option might be to print out the web
resources (or select information) from a computer
that can access the Internet.
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Nonfiction Literature
Nonfiction literature pertaining to Colonial
Connecticut

• Fradin, D.B. (1990). The Connecticut Colony.
  Chicago Childrens Press.
• This is a textbook that provides readers with a
  great deal of information about the colonization
  of Connecticut including Native American tribes,
  the first settlers, and the various Connecticut
  Colonies (three river towns).
• Hakim, J. (1993). Making Thirteen Colonies. New
  York Oxford University Press.
• An informational text about the Thirteen
  Colonies that covers from colonization to
  independence. Not only does this text include
  information about the Connecticut Colony, but it
  also contains information on the other 12
  colonies.
• Whitehurst, S. (2000). The Colony of
  Connecticut. New York Powerkids Press.
• This book accounts for information beginning in
  the 1600s, and follows the trail of Connecticut
  history from Adriaen Block to the inauguration of
  Connecticut as the 5th state in 1788.

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Nonfiction Literature
Nonfiction literature pertaining to the thirteen
colonies and colonial life

• Barrett, T. (1995). Growing Up in Colonial
  America. Connecticut Millbrook Press.
• An informational book about the lives of
  children in colonial America. The book addresses
  the topics of recreation and daily life.
• Carlson, L. (1997). Colonial Kids An activity
  guide to life in the new world. Chicago Review
  Press.
• This book offers a variety of activities that
  can be related to life in colonial America. The
  book includes instructions to make colonial
  crafts and play colonial games.
• Davis, K. C. Schindler, S. D. (2002). Dont
  Know Much About the Pilgrims. HarperCollins
  Publishers.
• An informational book part of the Dont Know
  Much About series. This book provides a variety
  of information about the Pilgrims including
  customs and daily life.
• Hakim, J. (1993). The First Americans. New York
  Oxford University Press.
• A textbook that informs readers about the first
  Americans that lived in the New World long
  before the explorers and colonists arrived.
• McGovern, A. Otani, J. (1964, 1992). If You
  Lived In Colonial Times. New York Scholastic
  Inc.
• In this book, the author attempts to answer
  common questions about what life was like during
  colonial times.

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Fiction Literature
Fiction literature pertaining to Colonial
Connecticut

• Creech, S. (2000). The Wanderer. New York
  HarperCollins.
• This is the story of Sophie, 13, who travels
  from Virginia to Connecticut in order to make a
  transatlantic voyage to England with her three
  uncles and two cousins. Novel.
• Dalgliesh, A. (1954). The Courage of Sarah
  Noble. New York Aladdin Paperbacks.
• This is the story of Sarah Noble who travels
  with her father to New Milford, CT, in order to
  build a new home for her family. This story
  touches on family life and interaction with
  Native Americans. Novel.
• Speare, E.G. (1958). The Witch of Blackbird Pond.
  New York Yearling.
• Kit Taylor sails from the Caribbean to
  Connecticut in order to make a new home. This
  story is about Kit and her struggle to fit into
  her Puritan community.

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Fiction Literature
Fiction literature pertaining to the thirteen
colonies and colonial life

• Bowen, G. (1997). My Village Sturbridge. New
  York Farrar, Straus and Giroux.
• Set in1827 Sturbridge, MA, this is a fictional
  tale of a 15 year-old True Mason who wishes to
  continue his apprenticeship with the master
  engraver. Picture book.
• Bruchac, J. Shed, G. (2000). Squantos Journey
  The story of the first thanksgiving. New York
  Harcourt Inc.
• This story is narrated by Squanto and offers his
  account of the first thanksgiving with the
  Pilgrims, a unique perspective. Picture Book.
• Fleischman, P. (1990). Saturnalia. New York
  HarperCollins.Set in 1681 Boston, William is a
  Narragansett Indian boy whose village was
  attacked. He has been apprenticed to a printer
  but hopes to find some trace of his family. He
  is believed to be the sole survivor of the
  attack. Novel.
• Locker, T. (1991). The Land of Grey Wolf. New
  York Dial Books.
• A Native American boys account of the arrival
  of white settlers to his tribes land. Picture
  Book.
• Yolen, J., Stemple, H.E.Y. Roth, R. (2004). The
  Salem Witch Trials An unsolved mystery from
  history. New York Simon Schuster.
• This book provides a historical account of the
  events of the Salem Witch Trials. The authors
  pose the question was their actual witchcraft in
  Salem or was it colonial hysteria. Mix of myth
  and fact, Picture Book.

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Web Resources
Web resources that pertain to Colonial
Connecticut

• The Connecticut Historical Society -
  http//www.chs.org/
• An informative website about the Connecticut
  Historical Society, a non-profit organization
  that aims to, collect, preserve, and interpret
  the history of the diverse people - past and
  present - who have made our state their home.
• Connecticut History Online - http//www.cthistoryo
  nline.org/
• A collaborative website with the Connecticut
  Historical Society that provides users with
  photographs, drawings, and prints. Spans a great
  range of Connecticut history.
• Colonial Connecticut Records - http//www.colonial
  ct.uconn.edu/
• This site is provided by the University of
  Connecticut and contains records from Colonial
  Connecticut that span from 1636-1776. Another
  great site for primary source documents.

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Web Resources contd.
Web resources that pertain to Colonial
Connecticut

• The Connecticut Colony - http//colonialancestors.
  com/ct/ct23.htm
• This site provides the user with information on
  the Connecticut Colony and the three river towns.
  It also contains links to information about the
  other 12 colonies.
• The Mashantucket Pequot Museum -
  www.PequotMuseum.org
• The main site for the Mashantucket Pequot
  Museum located in Mashantucket, CT. It contains
  Information on Native Peoples of Connecticut.
  However, this site is no substitute for an actual
  visit to the museum.
• Connecticut History for Kids - http//www.kids.sta
  te.ct.us/history.htm
• This site is geared towards children. The site
  contains information about early Connecticut
  history along with links to other interesting,
  informational sites.

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Town Websites

• Most Connecticut towns have websites that
  contain information about their towns history.
  Also, many towns have historical societies that
  have information on their respective towns
  history. Both of these sources can be helpful in
  learning about Colonial Connecticut. Examples
• A List of Connecticut Historical Societies
  Museums
• The Windsor Historical Society
• Wethersfield Town Website
• New Haven History