📖

Philadelphia: Colonial City Life

Middle Colonies: Diversity and Opportunity

Day 15of 180
Week 3of 36
30Minutes
← Day 14Day 15 of 180Day 16 →
🖨️ Download Worksheet (PDF)
🎯 What You'll Learn

Learning Objectives

1

Understand daily life in colonial Philadelphia

2

Compare urban and rural living environments

3

Appreciate the complexity of early American community

📖 Scripture Connection

Proverbs 22:29

“Do you see a man skilled in his work? He will stand before kings; he won't stand before obscure men.”

— Proverbs 22:29 (WEB)

Highlights the importance of skilled work and diligence in community building

📦 Materials Needed

  • Large city map of colonial Philadelphia
  • Picture cards of different professions
  • Craft paper
  • Colored pencils
📚 Step-by-Step

Lesson Plan

1Opening (5 min)

Welcome students and share an exciting story about life in colonial Philadelphia

💭 Review Question: What jobs do you think people had in early cities?
2Teaching (10 min)

Explore various professions and daily life in colonial Philadelphia

📌 Key Talking Points:
  • Different roles in urban community
  • Importance of craftsmen and traders
  • How people worked together
💬 Discussion Questions:
  • How do different jobs help a community function?
  • What makes a strong community?
  • How can people support each other?
3Activity: Colonial City Map Creation (10 min)
hands-on

Students create a collaborative map of Philadelphia showing different professions and community spaces

📝 Instructions:
  1. Divide large paper into city sections
  2. Assign different profession cards to students
  3. Draw and describe their assigned role's contribution
  4. Share how each role supports community
🔄 Variations:

Simpler: Pre-draw map outline for students

Challenge: Research actual historical Philadelphia layout

4Closing (5 min)

Reflect on community interdependence

📝 Review Questions:
  • What did you learn about city life?
  • How are communities like a body with many parts?
🙏 Prayer:

Dear God, thank you for creating us to work together and support one another in community.

Coming up: Next week, we'll explore more about colonial trade and connections

💎 Memory Verse

Philippians 2:4

“each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others.”

— Philippians 2:4 (WEB)

🎯 Activity: Community Puzzle: Each student writes part of verse on puzzle piece

👨‍👩‍👧 For Parents

Teaching Notes

📚 Background:

Colonial cities were complex ecosystems of interconnected professions

💡 Teaching Tips:
  • Encourage discussions about teamwork
  • Help children see value in different types of work
🤔 Common Struggles:

Understanding historical context of urban life

👀 Signs of Understanding:

Ability to describe different community roles

🚀 Want More?

Extension Activities

  • Research a specific colonial profession
  • Create a colonial costume representing a city worker
  • Write a day-in-the-life story of a Philadelphia resident

Ready for Tomorrow?

Great job completing today's lesson!

Continue to Day 16 →Back to History & Social Studies