Pennsylvania
Explore a state once inhabited by numerous Native Americans that has since been a center of religious tolerance, government, and manufacturing.
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About
About
Pennsylvania means "Penn's Woods." It was named after William Penn, who founded the colony in the 1860s. Penn was a Quaker who hoped he could create a place where all religions were welcome.Â
Essential Questions
Essential Questions
Why was Pennsylvania started as one of the original thirteen colonies?
Who helped Pennsylvania grow and become a state?
Who were some of the tribes that lived in this region before European settlers arrived?
Choose a Focus
Choose a Focus
Use the Suggested Activity to learn about your chosen focus in a fun way. Or visit the Activity Library to pick another interactive activity.
Note: Britannica School, BrainPOP, and Kids Discover are provided by Prenda. Make sure you are logged in via Clever.
Use the Suggested Activity to learn about your chosen focus in a fun way. Or visit the Activity Library to pick another interactive activity.
Note: Britannica School, BrainPOP, and Kids Discover are provided by Prenda. Make sure you are logged in via Clever.
William Penn 🚀Â
William Penn 🚀Â
William Penn left his home in London to form a new colony in America. He hoped it would become a place where all religions were welcomed and worshipped freely. Â
Essential questions:Â
Who was William Penn and why did he want to form a new colony?
What was his hope for Pennsylvania?
How did he help shape the future of the United States?
Suggested Activity: Social Media Post
The Lenni LenapeÂ
The Lenni LenapeÂ
The Lenni Lenape once lived in a huge area of North America in what is now Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New York, and Delaware. But as white settlers arrived from Europe, they brought diseases that killed many Lenape. Eventually, the Lenape were forced to leave their homes and move north to Canada or west to Oklahoma.Â
Essential questions:
Who were the Lenni Lenape?
How did the arrival of European settlers affect their lives?
Suggested Activity: Be the Teacher
Thematic Connections 🚀
Thematic Connections 🚀
Select a topic and examine it through the theme lens: Envisioning Change.
Select a topic and examine it through the theme lens: Envisioning Change.
William Penn had an idea about creating a place where people could worship freely.
Curricular Connections
Curricular Connections
Continue your learning by choosing one of these related activities.
Continue your learning by choosing one of these related activities.
Related Social Studies topics
Timeline Challenge
Start a class timeline (or add to an existing timeline) showing important events from America's early colonies.
Socratic Discussion
William Penn famously said, "In all debates, let truth be thy aim, not victory, or an unjust interest." What do you think he meant?
Create
   (Not sure what to do? Create a quiz to see how well your classmates know Marx, Lenin, and Stalin!)
STEM
Follow these directions to create a map of historic Philadelphia. Then, compare your map to the present-day map of Philadelphia found here.
Image Attributions
Pennsylvania banner: Frank O. Small (1860-1915), Public domain, via Wikimedia CommonsWilliam Penn: Thomas Birch, Public domain, via Wikimedia CommonsThe Lenni Lenape: Architect of the Capitol, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
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