Students will step into the shoes of settlers from the New England, Middle, Southern Colonies, and the Backcountry, creating Instagram-style posts that showcase life, geography, economy, and culture in each region. It’s a fun, interactive way to reinforce key content while encouraging creativity and critical thinking.

What’s Included:

Teacher Directions
Backcountry Background Information
Student Activity Pages
Answer Keys
Sample Posters for Student Inspiration
Three Options for Instagram Templates

Bonus Content!

This resource features bonus background information on the Backcountry—a critical yet often overlooked region in colonial history. Students will learn how the Backcountry shaped events like the French and Indian War and how tensions after the Proclamation of 1763 fueled ongoing conflicts with Indigenous peoples. This addition ensures a fuller, more accurate understanding of colonial America.

Perfect for:

• Colonial America units
• Review or assessment
• Bulletin board displays
• Cross-curricular connections with ELA and art
• Engaging early finishers or group work

Whether you’re introducing the colonial regions or wrapping up your unit, this project-based resource is a classroom favorite!

Interesting in other fun projects for your students? Click here.

Important Note About Google

This resource is designed in Google Slides. After purchase, you will receive a download link to make a copy of the original file. You will NOT be asked to access your Google Drive.

Prefer to purchase through TPT? Click here. 

The post Colonial Regions Instagram Poster | New England Middle Southern The Backcountry appeared first on Catch the Buzz Teaching.

Additionally, the Guided Notes / Doodle Notes have lots of opportunities for doodling, higher level thinking, and memorable interactivity!

What you get:

• 59 slide presentation Google Slides* deck (No access to Google Drive required; you will be forced to make a copy)
• 20 slide Guided Notes / Doodle Notes in Google Slides* (perfect for electronic assignments)
• 20 page PDF Guided Notes / Doodle Notes for students to write on
• 3 pages PDF “Let’s Recap” to be used as exit tickets, summative evaluation, or checking for understanding
• PDF Answer Key for Guided Notes / Doodle Notes

This resource package covers the foundational information about the 13 Colonies including hard-to-find materials on the Backcountry. Your students will learn about each region through the presentation slide deck. They will tie together the introductory and background information about backers and sponsors and why people chose to come to North America.

Topics explored:

• Background
• New England Colonies (including info about Jamestown and Plymouth)
• Middle Colonies
• The Backcountry

To facilitate your presentation, the slide deck information is organized into the THREE COLONIAL REGIONS (New England, Middle, and Southern Colonies) and THE BACKCOUNTRY. It develops the following topics for each region:

• Reasons for Settling
• How Governed Selves
• Geography
• Climate
• Resources, Products, Crops
• Economy/Jobs
• Interactions With Native People
• Cities and Challenges

Cornell Note Format:

The student pages are expertly crafted in a Cornell Note format, with the left-hand column reserved for instructions, questions and responses, while the right-hand column provides space for filling in the blank notes as the teacher guides students through the presentation and doodling. Cornell Notes offer numerous advantages for learning, including:

• Structured Organization: Cornell Notes format provide a clear structure for organized note-taking.
• Effective Review: The format facilitates efficient review of key points and main ideas.
• Active Engagement: Students engage actively by summarizing and questioning their notes.
• Focus on Key Details: Separating main ideas from details helps in understanding and retention.

Doodle Notes:

Additionally, the resource incorporates Guided Notes / Doodle Notes®: a skillful integration of words, images, numbers, and shapes for the purposes of learning. It is an approach that combines traditional methods with visual elements like drawings, diagrams, and icons. Completing 13 Colonies Doodle Notes brings several benefits:

• Better Retention: Doodle Notes enhance memory by merging visuals with text.
• Enhanced Understanding: They help students grasp complex concepts through visual representation.
• Personalization: Students can infuse their notes with colors and patterns, making them uniquely their own.
• Focus and Engagement: Doodle Notes keep students attentive and engaged during lessons.
• Simplification: Complex topics are simplified, making them easier to comprehend.
• Effective Communication: Doodle Notes make it effortless to share and convey ideas to others.
• Enjoyable Learning: They transform learning into a fun and enjoyable experience, motivating students.
• Stress Reduction: Doodling can be a relaxing activity that reduces study stress.
• Long-Term Benefits: Improved understanding and retention pay off in the long run, particularly during exams and for reference.

“Let’s Recap”

The “Let’s Recap” pages are designed to help students consolidate their learning. These pages feature a variety of question types, including cause & effect, fill-in-the-blank, open-ended, multiple choice, fact or opinion, and choose-one questions. While teachers don’t have to use all three pages, they serve as fantastic tools for checking understanding, as exit tickets, or even as a summative assessment.

The best part? There’s virtually no prep work involved other than copying the notes sheet, (unless you prefer to assign it electronically, of course).

Bring The 13 Colonies and the Backcountry to life in the classroom with this engaging, informative resource: 13 Colonies Guided Notes Doodle Notes!

Want to purchase through TPT? Click here. 

This download contains files that may be printed and copied or used digitally.

Doodle Notes ® is a trademarked term used with permission. Please visit doodlenotes.org for more information.

Important Note About Google : This resource is made in Google Slides. After purchase you will download a page that enables you to make a copy of the original file. When downloading this product, you will NOT be asked to access your Google Drive.

Did you know you can earn lower prices?

You can!  If you leave a rating for your purchase today, you will earn TPT credits (use like cash) towards future purchases! Watch your email for further instructions from TPT!

The post The 13 Colonies Doodle Notes (+ Backcountry) appeared first on Catch the Buzz Teaching.