Starting A Colony
Let us visit your school this year!
“Starting a Colony” is a free, awarding winning,* hands-on lesson that asks students to apply important economic concepts – gains from trade, choice, scarcity, specialization – within the historical context of colonial Delaware. The lesson puts the students in the "Captain's seat," so to speak, to make all the decisions necessary about who and what to bring on a trip to the New World, from Europe to Delaware in the 1600's. Students need to choose people with the necessary skills and they need to bring the supplies and trade goods that will allow them to plant a new colony in the Delaware Valley – sailing across the Atlantic, building homes, growing food, and trading with the native population to make a profit!
“Starting A Colony” is an easy-to-use, free educational resource: Kalmar Nyckel Educators will bring the kits to your classroom and lead the lesson. The lesson is part of Delaware’s Recommended Curriculum (DRC). As part of the Thinking Economically Unit for 5th-Grade Social Studies, “Starting A Colony” is a “learning with objects” simulation that addresses Economics Standard 4 – International Trade. The entire “lesson” is prepared ahead of time and ready for use in the classroom! Your students will not only learn to apply basic economic concepts, but they will also have fun while learning about Delaware’s colonial history!
*Our Senior Historian & Director of Education, Sam Heed, won the 2013 iEducate Delaware Award for creating this innovative lesson. Click here to meet Sam and learn more about this award.
For additional information, please contact:
Assistant Director of Education
The Kalmar Nyckel Foundation thanks these supporters which allow us to offer this program to Delaware schools free of charge:
State of Delaware's Financial Literacy Education Fund
Did you know: That Kalmar Nyckel has 8 miles of rigging?