Today, I have rounded up 15 hands-on history ideas for middle school kids studying the French and Indian War of 1754 – 1763. Hands-on history not only sparks excitement for continuing to study a topic, but learning sticks because your child is doing and making a connection to the past. Also, look at my page homeschool middle school for more fun tips.
Too, it is always my aim to continue to flesh out my unit studies and add more hands-on history activities as I find them.
Okay, I actually have more than 15 hands-on history ideas for studying about the French and Indian War.
This topic is not an easy one to teach at lower levels and most resources are at the high school level.
French and Indian War
However, I am tickled to share this free resource from the National Park Service which I came across after I completed our first study of the French and Indian War.
It has several downloads and you want to be sure and grab each unit because they are awesome.
Look at each download below. {Source Don Troiani, www.historicalprints.com}
Unit 1: Who Were the People Involved?
Unit 2: What Were they fighting For?
Unit 3: How Did the Conflict Begin?
Unit 4: How did the War Progress?
Unit 5: How Did the Conflict End? What Were the Consequences?
Unit 6: How Did the French and Indian War Set the Stage for the American Revolution?
Unit 7: Biography Cards
Unit 8: Primary Documents and Artifacts
The ideas for these hands-on activities come from the background information on the free downloads.
15 Hands-on History Ideas for Middle School Kids
One and Two.
Bio Bingo – This free download at NPS has a Bingo game about key events and your student can create biography cards on major characters.
Three.
Nearly everyone in the army would carry flint and steel for starting fires. Check out how to make a flint & steel fire starter. (adult supervision)
Four.
Baskets were made by woman and had many uses. Check out how to make a coiled bowl.
Also, we love the hands-on ideas from Home School in the Woods. Look at their American Revolution hands-on unit which covers the French & Indian War.
Five.
Europeans gave pipe tomahawks as gifts to Indian leaders. With adult supervision, this tomahawk could be made, by an older teen, but there is also an easy cardboard tomahawk . Great activity for a younger learner.
Six.
A compass was an important tool for navigating in North America. Check out my post – homemade compass.
Seven.
Learn about powder horns and create your own.
Eight.
Check out these French and Indian War images which can be used for a fun writing activity.
Nine.
How To Make An Easy Ink pot & Quill Pen with Berry Ink.
French and Indian War Kids Activities
Eleven.
Learn how to make a beaver hat.
Twelve.
Make a leather pouch. Even though this link is a puzzle pouch, I like it because it has a template for the pouch.
Then here is an easier pouch for a younger child.
Thirteen.
Make an authentic turtle rattle and then there is another version on this same site for a younger child too.
Fourteen.
This is cool to build a fort fence at your house.
The Seven Years War Hands-on Ideas
Fifteen.
Create your own Iroquois wampum belt with string and beads.
And MORE fun things to bring this topic to life!
grab my free French and Indian War lapbook too.
Also, prior to The French and Indian War, the Iroquois Confederacy was formed and tried to stay neutral for most of the war.
To flesh out a study on The French and Indian War, be sure to check out my Iroquois Confederacy Unit Study and Lapbook.
Have your student memorize some of the George Washington’s Rules of
Good Behavior close to 1746 , read the story of Mary Jemison who was captured by Indians amidst the war between the British and the French and read the speech of Chief Pontiac of the Ottawa tribe addressing a gathering of Ottawa, Huron, and Potawatomie Indians, May 5, 1763.
Here is a printable crossword puzzle on the French and Indian War. Click printable .pdf at the bottom. Be sure to the answer key too.
Make a bear claw necklace.
Look at this older site, the Fort at No. 4 for postcards to print for a writing exercise or to make it art, learn about colonial money, colonial tools, do an acrostic poem, and a map of the area.
Hope this round up will help you to find some hands-on history activities for this time period and to keep it fun.
Also you’ll love these other hands-on history activities:
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