Electronic Simulations for Teaching the Colonial Era

I recommend the following simulations relating to Colonial America.

• Colonial Williamsburg's Teacher Site: In addition to those cited below, Dale Van Eck of Colonial Williamsburg created a nice overview of history-related online games he presents in the form of a handout.
  
• Tour the Town: This site allows you to move virtually throughout Colonial Williamsburg. Upon clicking on a given map feature (e.g., the Governor's Palace), it provides a history of the feature.
  
• A Day in the Life: This site is based on the "A Day in the Life" video series and links to a variety of activities (e.g., "Take the Betsy Ross Challenge").
  
• The Kid's Zone: Through games, students can learn to identify colonial tools (Co-Operation, Tool Trouble), processes (Brickmaker Build-Up, Pardon or Pillory), and clothing styles (Heads Up for the Colonists, 18th Century Paper Doll Game).
  
• The Jamestown Online Adventure: This quick online simulation allows students to make decisions relating to the trek toward Jamestown. At the end, students compare their answers to those of the colonists.
• Memorial Hall Museum Online—American Centuries: This rich site includes a collection of colonial era artifacts as well as simulations for students to experience. For example, students can "dress" a person in colonial garb.
  
• Tom Snyder's Decisions Decisions: I recommend Colonization. Though it does not relate to Colonial America, it assists students in understanding some of the complications that emerge when colonizing new locales. Note that UNLV's Curriculum Materials Library has the Decisions Decisions series available for check-out by CCSD teachers.
• Virtual Jamestown: This site includes numerous interactives showing early Jamestown with particular attention given to Native/settler interactions. A good place to start is to look at the "John Smith's Voyages of Exploration."

I recommend the following links for colonial era learning activities:

• Innovative Teaching Newsletter: Colonies: This edition of Innovative Teaching focuses on the American colonies, providing a plethora of related educator-friendly websites. One recommended webquest is "You Be the Historian."
  
• 5th Grade History Page (This has several broken links, but the remaining links are quite helpful)