Comparing Jamestown and Plymouth Colonies

Not all colonies were formed by great explorers, and not every one was formed for the same reasons. In this activity, students will compare and contrast the two early English settlements of Jamestown and Plymouth. This activity requires students to create a grid storyboard (suggested size is 4x2 or 6x2). Students will use their research to identify the following aspects of both colonies:

1. Location
2. Reasons for Each Settlement
3. Difficulties faced
4. Governments
5. Interactions and treatment of Native Americans
6. Religious Differences

Students Can Collaborate!

Teachers may wish for students to work together on this lesson which is possible with Storyboard That's Real Time Collaboration feature! With Real Time Collaboration, students can work on the same storyboard at the same time which is perfect for this lesson! As teachers know, collaborating on assignments allows students to think on a deeper level while increasing their communication and problem-solving skills. Collaboration can also help cut down on the time it takes to complete a storyboard. While there is no set limit to the number of users who can work on a storyboard at once, we recommend five users or fewer for optimal performance. All of our assignments default to individual. To make this lesson collaborative, teachers must enable collaboration for the assignment within the "Edit Assignment" tab.

Extended Activity

Students can create a timeline or timeline poster that represents the major events that took place in one, or both, of the colonies. Students will represent events such as the initial landing, establishment of government, numerous hardships encountered, and a major unique event for either Jamestown or Plymouth.

Student Instructions

Create a grid comparing and contrasting the Jamestown and Plymouth settlements.

1. Click "Start Assignment".
2. In the top titles, label each aspect (location, reasons for settlement, difficulties faced, government, interaction with Native Americans, and religious differences).
3. In the first row, describe each aspect and how it pertains to either Jamestown or Plymouth.
4. In the bottom row, describe each aspect of the remaining settlement.
5. Create images to illustrate each cell using appropriate scenes, characters, and items.