Virginia SOL 2.8.a
The Standard
identifying reasons for the settlement of the thirteen colonies
Virginia Standards of Learning for History and Social Science
Teacher's field guide
What This Standard Means
What Students Need to Do
- Students identify why people settled in the thirteen colonies. They connect examples to reasons such as religious freedom, land, trade, and other economic opportunities.
What Mastery Looks Like
- Students name at least two reasons people settled the colonies. They match a person or colony story to a reason and explain their choice.
Common Misconceptions
- Students may think every colony was settled for the same reason. They may confuse reasons for settlement with later reasons colonists wanted independence from Britain.
How to Assess It
- Give students this exit ticket: “Name two reasons people settled the thirteen colonies. Explain one reason in a complete sentence.”
Lesson moves
Ways to Teach It
Give pairs picture and word cards showing land, churches, farms, and trade goods, then have them sort the cards by settlement reason.
Ask students to write: “Which settlement reason would matter most to you, and why?”
Play a matching game where students pair short settler stories with religious freedom, land, trade, or economic opportunity.
Compare colonial settlement choices with reasons families move today, such as jobs, housing, safety, or being near relatives.
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Printable 2.8.a Worksheet
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Related Standards
- USI.8.c
identifying geographic, economic, and religious motivations that influenced the movement of settlers
- VS.3.a
explaining the reasons for English colonization
- VS.3.b
describing the economic and geographic influences on the decision to settle at Jamestown
- USI.5.e
explaining the changing political and economic relationships between the colonies and Great Britain, including, but not limited to representative government and...
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