I’m sharing Daniel Boone facts for kids about colonial life as he grew up. And grab my unit study on my page Daniel Boone – North American Explorer.
Daniel Boone was born on November 2, 1794.
Although resources vary on how long the colonial period lasted, Daniel Boone was born during it and was raised during the period of the American Revolution.
However, life was very hard for colonial children.
While their parents came seeking religious freedom, more space, or a chance for prosperity, colonists did not know how to survive the harsh winters of the wilderness.
Many fell sick or died. Daniel Boone was a child of the early colonial days and proved his strength, endurance, and ingenuity as he forged a path westward.
In colonial times, children never saw the four walls of a schoolhouse.
Like today’s homeschooled children, they were taught the basics by their parents and then whatever they needed to know as an apprentice to a trade.
If you were a girl you were taught to manage a house and get married young, maybe even by 16.
Boys would learn their fathers trade or would leave home to learn a trade as an apprentice by 14 years old.
Children During Colonial Times
They had to share in their families hard chores like chopping wood, preserving food, caring for animals, scrubbing laundry, carrying water, tending to the fire, gardening, churning butter, and etc.
It was a very hard life, but children still played games.
They had their own simple toys and pastimes.
And they played with dolls, simple carved figures, went fishing, played games with one another, took care of their pets, and did riddles and tongue twisters.
Instead of turning to their local Target or Walmart, natural objects were turned into playthings.
A dried apple might become a doll’s head, seashells made lovely little dishes, the pits from fruits could be used as counters in games, and flowers were braided together for a crown.
Nothing ran on batteries, just imagination.
More Colonial Life Activities
Also, if you want to add more Daniel Boone resources to your study, look at these books.
Daniel Boone Books
10 Resources for A Daniel Boone Unit Study
Whether you want to add a hands-on unit study or are looking for a few resources, you'll love one of these.
Struggle against the Shawnee defenders of Kentucky. Drawing from popular narrative, public record, documentation from Boone's own hand, and recollection gathered by 19th-century antiquarians, the author employs the methods of the new social history to produce a portrait that defines Daniel Boone and the times he helped shape.
Called the "Great Pathfinder", Daniel Boone is most famous for opening up the West to settlers through Kentucky. A symbol of America's pioneering spirit Boone was a skilled outdoorsman and an avid reader although he never attended school. Sydelle Kramer skillfully recounts Boone's many adventures such as the day he rescued his own daughter from kidnappers.
The bestselling book—more than 1.5 million copies sold—for every boy from eight to eighty, covering essential boyhood skills such as building tree houses, learning how to fish, finding true north, and even answering the age old question of what the big deal with girls is—now a Prime Original Series created by Bryan Cranston (Breaking Bad) and Greg Mottola (Superbad).
In this digital age, there is still a place for knots, skimming stones and stories of incredible courage. This book recaptures Sunday afternoons, stimulates curiosity, and makes for great father-son activities. The brothers Conn and Hal have put together a wonderful collection of all things that make being young or young at heart fun—building go-carts and electromagnets, identifying insects and spiders, and flying the world's best paper airplanes.
From treating a bee sting to building an overnight shelter, kids will gain the knowledge and confidence they need to survive outdoors.All ages
Written for readers age 10 and up -- enjoyed by adults!In search of open spaces and land to call his own, Daniel Boone fearlessly led a band of brave settlers into the bountiful Kentucky wilderness. Daniel's expert hunting ability, incredible outdoor survival skills, and courage under fire helped his companions stay alive in a dangerous and unknown land despite threatening encounters with soldiers, Indians, and even other settlers.
The book includes the following pockets:
- Introduction to Explorers of North America
- Christopher Columbus
- John Cabot
- Hernando Cortes
- Jacques Cartier
- Sir Francis Drake
- Henry Hudson
- Daniel Boone
- James Cook
- Lewis and Clark
- John Wesley Powell
Born in Pennsylvania in 1734, Daniel Boone cut a path west, carving his name into trees. Although he endured repeated property losses, he became a household name and was greatly admired for his surveying skills and the many claims he laid, opening the west for further settlement.
Gear up for outdoor adventure, learn to stay alive, and help yourself thrive – feeling confident that you can handle whatever comes your way!
Accidents happen and nature can be unpredictable, which is why this ultra-portable survival kit is a must-have for casual nature explorers and slightly more adventurous campers in need of essential outdoor guidance that they can carry along with them.
Titles In This Set:The Blizzard ChallengeThe Desert ChallengeThe Jungle ChallengeThe Sea ChallengeThe River ChallengeThe Earthquake ChallengeThe Volcano ChallengeThe Safari ChallengeThe Cave ChallengeThe Mountain ChallengeThe Arctic ChallengeThe Sailing Challenge
A general account of the life of the prominent American frontiersman who is especially remembered for helping to settle Kentucky
Moreover, look at some of the games colonial children played.
5 Colonial Games to Try With Your Kids
1. Marbles
In colonial times, marbles were made from smooth stones or were rolled from natural clay.
There was a cluster of marbles at the center of the circle and children would take turns shooting larger marbles at the center out of the ring.
If they were playing for keepsies then they got to keep any marbles they knocked out and if playing for funsies everyone kept their own marbles and just played for the fun of it.
2. Blindman’s Bluff
This is a version of tag.
The person who is “it” is blindfolded and tries to reach out and find the other players. If they can touch someone, that person is then “it”.
3. Hoop Rolling
In this game children would take a large hoop and a stick and keep the hoop rolling as long as they could by pushing it along with the stick.
They might also toss the hoop back and forth to each other using their stick to catch and toss it.
4. Cat’s Cradle
A long piece of string with the ends tied together would be twisted into a certain formation with your hands
The second player would then take it by twisting it into a different formation.
And it would go back and forth into more and more complex patterns until a mistake was made or it could not be turned into anything further.
5. Button Whirligig/BuzzSaw
I am showing you how to make one below but for now here are the basic instructions.
A button, or some other item for weight was placed on a string and held between the hands.
Then you wind it up, much like you would a towel for popping and pull your hands away from each other and it would spin.
Sometimes it would making a whirl or buzzing noise depending on the item
More Daniel Boone Facts for Kids Activities
- 10 Facts about Daniel Boone and Fun Hands-on Apothecary Salve
- Make a Fun and Easy Salt Dough Daniel Boone Wilderness Road Map
- What Did Daniel Boone Wear And Easy Fringe Shirt Activity for Kid
- 30 Fun Resources for Learning About Daniel Boone
- Daniel Boone Explorer Black Bear Unit Study and Fun Edible Bear Poop
- Daniel Boone Activities Cooking Easy and Delicious Johnny Cakes on the Trail
- Daniel Boone – North American Explorer
- Amazing Daniel Boone Explorer Lapbook and Fun Hands-on Unit Study
- Daniel Boone American Frontiersman History Lesson.
- Daniel Boone Exploration DIY Easy Compass Activity and Survival Ideas.
Finally, look at how to make a button whirligig.
How to Make A Button Whirligig
You will need:
- String or twine
- Large button
Directions:
First, cut a string about 36” long.
Thread the string through your button.
If it has 4 holes you will want to thread it diagonally through two holes, If only two holes then just go through one.
Tie a knot in the loose ends and slide the button to the center opposite the knot.
Tie knots in either end and create a loop like this to hold onto.
Hold each end and wind it by rotating both ends to wrap it up, much like you would wind up a towel to pop it.
Pull the ends apart and watch it spin, if you get it going fast enough your whirligig may make a low buzzing sound ( hence the name buzz saw).
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