Social Studies — Grade 8

William Byrd on the people and environment of North Carolina

In Colonial North Carolina, page 5.6

William Byrd II, a wealthy plantation owner from Virginia, was one of several men commissioned to survey the boundary between Virginia and North Carolina in 1728. His journals describe the people and environment of the region, though not all of his stories are believable. Includes historical commentary.

Format: diary/primary source

Commentary and sidebar notes by L. Maren Wood.

The value of money in colonial America

In Colonial North Carolina, page 6.5

This article explains the many kinds of money that circulated in colonial America and why it is nearly impossible to say what they were worth "in today's money."

Format: article

By David Walbert.

A royal colony

In Colonial North Carolina, page 3.9

In 1729, the colony of North Carolina was taken over by the king, the turmoil of its early years quieted down, and for the next few decades, colonists enjoyed relative peace and stability. But one of the Lords Proprietors refused to sell back his share, and the administration of that "Granville District," encompassing the northern half of North Carolina, would cause problems for settlers later on.

Format: article

By David Walbert.

Of the inlets and havens of this country

In Colonial North Carolina, page 2.7

Excerpt from John Lawson's 1709 A New Voyage to Carolina detailing the geography of North Carolina's coast. Includes historical commentary and notes about how the coastline has changed since the colonial period.

Format: book/primary source

Commentary and sidebar notes by David Walbert.

Naval stores and the longleaf pine

In Colonial North Carolina, page 6.4

In North Carolina History: A Sampler, page 2.4

North Carolina's extensive longleaf pine forests provided the natural resources needed to produce materials needed to build and maintain ships -- not only timber but tar, pitch, and rosin. These "naval stores" became North Carolina's most important industry in the eighteenth century, but today, the longleaf pine forests are nearly gone.

Format: article

By David Walbert.

Mapping life in a colonial town

In Colonial North Carolina, page 6.14

In North Carolina History: A Sampler, page 6.1

From a detailed map of colonial Edenton, North Carolina, we can learn a great deal about daily life and community life on the eve of the Revolution.

Format: activity

By L. Maren Wood.

The Lords Proprietors

In Colonial North Carolina, page 1.5

Brief biographies of the eight men named Lords Proprietors of the province of Carolina by Charles II in 1663.

Format: article

By David Walbert.

A little kingdom in Carolina

In Colonial North Carolina, page 1.3

The original vision for Carolina was a feudal province in which eight "Lords Proprietors" would have nearly royal power, but with an elected assembly and guarantees of religious freedom.

Format: article

By David Walbert.

Graveyard of the Atlantic

In Colonial North Carolina, page 2.6

The waters off North Carolina's coast have been called the "Graveyard of the Atlantic" because of the great number of ships that have wrecked there -- thousands since the sixteenth century. Geography, climate, and human activity have all played roles in making this region unusually treacherous to shipping.

Format: article

By David Walbert.

Governing the Piedmont

In Colonial North Carolina, page 5.7

As settlers spread across the North Carolina Piedmont in the eighteenth century, the provincial government didn't keep up with them. Westerners weren't fairly represented in the provincial Assembly, and the so-called "Granville District," owned by the one remaining Lord Proprietor, was badly mismanaged.

Format: article

By David Walbert.

The Fundamental Constitutions of Carolina (1669)

In Colonial North Carolina, page 1.9

The lengthy and complicated plan devised by the Lords Proprietors for the government of Carolina would have established a feudal system of elaborate courts, manors, and serfs. Includes historical commentary.

Format: constitution/primary source

Commentary and sidebar notes by David Walbert.

A Declaration and Proposals of the Lords Proprietors of Carolina (1663)

In Colonial North Carolina, page 1.6

Initial plans by the Lords Proprietors for settling and governing the province of Carolina. Primary source includes historical commentary.

Format: declaration/primary source

Commentary and sidebar notes by David Walbert.

The Charter of Carolina (1663)

In Colonial North Carolina, page 1.4

In the Charter of Carolina, King Charles II of England granted the eight men known as the Lords Proprietors rights to the land that became North Carolina, South Carolina, and Georgia. Primary source includes historical commentary.

Format: charter/primary source

Commentary and sidebar notes by David Walbert.

Anticipation guide: "A Little Kingdom in Carolina"

A learner's guide to the article "A Little Kingdom in Carolina," this activity will support student comprehension.

Format: worksheet/learner's guide

By Pauline S. Johnson.

William Byrd graphic organizer

This graphic organizer will aid students' comprehension as they read excerpts from a journal written by William Byrd, a wealthy plantation owner from Virginia who was one of several men commissioned to survey the boundary between Virginia and North Carolina in 1728.

Format: chart/lesson plan (grade 8 Social Studies)

By Pauline S. Johnson.

Understanding work in colonial Carolina

This lesson plan explores two forms of labor in colonial Carolina — indentured servitude and apprenticeships. Students learn about these forms of labor by reading and analyzing primary and secondary sources.

Format: lesson plan (grade 8 English Language Arts and Social Studies)

By Pauline S. Johnson.

Teaching suggestions: Governing the Piedmont

This set of teaching suggestions was designed to help students understand an article about the colonial government of the Piedmont.

Format: /lesson plan (grade 8 and 11 Social Studies)

By Pauline S. Johnson.

Take action, save the past

In Intrigue of the Past, page 5.8

In their study of archaeological resource conservation, students will use a problem-solving model to identify a problem and solve it creatively.

Format: lesson plan (grade 8 English Language Arts and Social Studies)

Reading guide: A Declaration and Proposals of the Lords Proprietors of Carolina (1663)

In this activity, students read the initial plans by the Lords Proprietors for settling and governing the province of Carolina. They respond to questions designed support their comprehension of this primary source document.

Format: /lesson plan (grade 8 English Language Arts and Social Studies)

By Pauline S. Johnson.

Power sharing and the Lord Proprietors of North Carolina

This lesson examines the essential question: How did government instability under the Lord Proprietors effect the development of North Carolina? The lesson has been modified for novice low English language learners.

Format: lesson plan (grade 8 English Language Development and Social Studies)

By Pamela Glover and Laura Packer.

Navigating the inlets and havens

In this lesson plan, students read and analyze a primary source document written in the early 1700s that describes the inlets of the North Carolina coast. The students adopt the perspective of a contemporary ship's captain and discuss the importance of the information in the document.

Format: lesson plan (grade 8 English Language Arts and Social Studies)

By Pauline S. Johnson.

Lords Proprietors graphic organizer

Completing this graphic organizer will aid students' understanding of the eight men who controlled the Carolina colony.

Format: chart/lesson plan (grade 8 Social Studies)

By Pauline S. Johnson.

Anticipation guide: A royal colony

This activity presents students with a series of true/false statements about the early Carolina colony. Students respond to the statements before and after reading an article about the changes in the Carolina colony in its first fifty years, as it was divided into North and South Carolina and changed from a proprietary colony to a royal colony.

Format: /lesson plan (grade 8 Social Studies)

By Pauline S. Johnson.

Analyzing historical maps of North Carolina

In this lesson students will analyze historical maps and will use their knowledge of history, observation skills, and inference to draw conclusions about the events that affected the geographic development of North Carolina over time.

Format: lesson plan (grade 8 Social Studies)

By Loretta Wilson.

Resources on the web

Discovering North Carolina: A colonial map webquest

Using historical maps of North Carolina and other primary sources now published online, students complete a webquest in which they describe the colony of North Carolina for the King of England and imagine they are explorers in his employ. (Learn more)

Format: lesson plan (grade 8 Social Studies)

Provided by: UNC Libraries