Can your students locate the 13 Colonies on a map? Many teachers assume they can — but ask a class of fifth graders to point out where Virginia ends and New England begins, and you might be surprised!
This lesson is a simple, engaging way to build that foundational geographic knowledge before diving into your 13 Colonies unit. In about 30 minutes, students will locate and label all 13 colonies, identify key geographic features, and color-code the three colonial regions.
The best part? It’s completely free. Download the worksheet at the bottom of this post.
Lesson Snapshot
Time: 30 minutes
Materials:
- 13 Colonies map worksheets — one per student
- Modern map of the United States — projected or printed
- Student devices with internet access
Objective: I can locate and label the 13 Colonies on a map. I can identify the three colonial regions.
Lesson Plan
Step 1: Video Introduction (5 minutes)
Show students the History Channel’s The Founding of the 13 Colonies — a quick 2-minute video that names each colony and briefly explains why it was founded. After the video, ask students to turn to a partner and name as many colonies as they can remember.
Step 2: Class Discussion (10 minutes)
Display a modern map of the United States and ask students to locate where they think the 13 Colonies were. Point out which states were original colonies, then identify the surrounding geographic features together:
- Atlantic Ocean
- Chesapeake Bay
- Appalachian Mountains
- Canada (French Territory)
- Florida (Spanish Territory)
You may assume students already know where the colonies were — and some will. But chances are, many won’t!
Step 3: Map Activity (15 minutes)
Pass out the 13 Colonies map worksheet. Students will:
- Label the Atlantic Ocean and draw a compass rose
- Label each of the 13 Colonies
- Color each region a different color and create a map key
Students may use these online resources to help complete their maps:
- 13 Colonies Image and State Abbreviations Guide
- Clickable 13 Colonies Map (Social Studies for Kids)
- Article, map, and quiz (Ducksters)
Early Finisher Options:
- Review and recall: Students use their completed worksheet to practice with an online map quiz game.
- Higher-level thinking: Students choose one colony to zoom in on. Using a National Archives colony map worksheet, they analyze that colony in greater detail. Additional colonial-era maps are available through the Library of Congress collection.
Step 4: Closure
Bring the class back together and ask volunteers to share one thing they learned or found surprising about the location of the colonies.
Download the Free 13 Colonies Map Worksheet
Ready to use this lesson with your students? Enter your email below to download the free map worksheet and lesson plan.
You’ll also receive a free 5-day email series packed with my favorite videos, primary sources, and teaching tips for the 13 Colonies unit.
Ready to Have Your Entire 13 Colonies Unit Planned?
If you loved this lesson, you’ll want to check out my complete 3-week 13 Colonies Unit. It includes 15 ready-to-teach lesson plans, answer keys, an editable test and study guide, Google Slides for every lesson, and 173 pages of engaging activities for grades 5–8.
Some teacher favorites from the unit:
- Jamestown Gallery Walk
- The Salem Witch Trials
- Colonial Fur Trading Simulation
- Early American Constitutions
Check out the 13 Colonies Unit!
Want to Plan Your Entire U.S. History Year?
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Related posts:
- 5 Picture Books about Colonial America
- Best 13 Colonies Songs for Kids
- 4 Exciting Ways to Introduce Your 13 Colonies Unit
- The Ultimate Guide to Teaching the Thirteen Colonies
- How to Create a U.S. History Curriculum Map
Would love this free unit! I teach 8th grade U.S.History
Thank you! Just what I was looking for to aid in our study of American history this year.
Such great resources!! Thank you
Thank you so very much for this.
I need your help. I am a new teacher in middle charter school. I have to teach 6, 7, and 8. I need to teach the same unit at different levels. I also need prices love your lesson on thirteen colonies and we are able to use google classroom. I have half class behaviors and other half special education students.
Hi,
Thanks for your comment. My best advice is to adapt the lessons to fit the needs of each class. For example, your 8th graders may be able to read the articles and do the worksheets independently. Where your 6th graders will probably need you to read the articles to them. Then, you could have them do the worksheets with a partner. Also, your 6th and 7th graders will probably need you to provide more background knowledge at the beginning of the lesson than your older students. I hope this helps! 🙂
Best,
Becca
The extra details about why each colony was founded was really interesting. Thanks!
Awesome all details really thanks……
Hello!! Just wanted to let you know that I have clicked a couple dead links while looking at your Colony Lesson information. They are linked to the National Archives’ document analysis worksheets. But this is the one that will take you to the new one. Cheers!
https://education.blogs.archives.gov/2017/03/30/new-document-analysis-worksheets/
Thank you so much! I will work on replacing all these links. 🙂
Great resources and links for exploring American history, thank you!
🙂
Thanks so much for this well-done unit planning! I will use many of the components for my esl students.
im a student in the 4th grade I need help on my work I need to know whats all the 13 colonies
This is great I’m a student and I use this and it helped so much!
Please check link number 3. That was not what I ever want to see again! Clickable 13 colonies map was disgusting.