Jamestown Simulation for Kids

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Looking for a memorable way to teach early American history? This hands-on Jamestown simulation allows students to experience some of the challenges faced by the settlers of the first permanent English colony in North America.

Instead of simply reading about Jamestown in a textbook, children work together to build shelters, gather food, solve problems, and make decisions as they learn about life in the colony. This immersive history activity is perfect for homeschool groups, classrooms, co-ops, or family learning days.

Our homeschool co-op created this Jamestown simulation as part of an American History unit, and it quickly became one of the most memorable learning experiences of the year.

What Was Jamestown?

Jamestown was the first permanent English settlement in North America. Founded in 1607 by the Virginia Company, the colony was established along the James River in present-day Virginia. The colonists traveled from England hoping to build a successful colony in the New World, and discover new resources. But they quickly faced challenges including disease, food shortages, harsh conditions, and complex relationships with the Powhatan Indians who already lived in the region.

This Jamestown simulation helps students step into the role of early settlers and experience some of the decisions and challenges that shaped colonial America.

Why Use a Jamestown Simulation?

A Jamestown simulation helps students move beyond memorizing dates and facts. By taking on the role of settlers, gathering resources, responding to challenges, and working together to survive, students gain a deeper understanding of colonial America. This type of experiential learning encourages critical thinking and helps children develop empathy for the people who lived through these historical events.

What Students Learn Through a Jamestown Simulation

This activity helps students explore:

• Colonial America
• The founding of Jamestown
• Survival skills used by early settlers
• Cooperation and teamwork
• Problem-solving and decision-making
• The challenges of food shortages and disease
• Daily life in the Jamestown colony
• Historical empathy and perspective-taking

By actively participating in the simulation, students gain a deeper understanding of the struggles and successes of the Jamestown settlers. Learning outside of the traditional classroom, without worksheets is an adventure, and always more memorable.

I was in charge of this activity with one other mom. We had a lot of fun putting it all together. We have a local park that is a nature park full of wild berries, herbs, nuts, and fruit trees. There is also a stream running through it. It was the perfect place to have this event!

How We Did Our Jamestown Simulation

We all wore pilgrim clothing. When everyone arrived at the activity, we gave them al little overview of what was going on during this time period.  We shared with them the laws that were in place the Jamestown colony.

There was a planned list of tasks that the kids had to accomplish during the activity. They were divided into 2 groups and each group chose a settlement name and built a shelter. Then within their group they worked through their list of tasks.

They had to collect food, find edible herbs, navigate interactions with Native American groups, make tea, cook gruel and tea over a fire (we helped with that one), and other tasks related to building a new colony.

Every so often, we would ring a bell and the colony’s president would come and choose a situation card from a jar. These included some good things and some bad things that would affect their colony’s situation.

The situation cards were one of the most popular parts of the simulation. Each card presented  different scenarios that could help or hurt the colony. Some scenarios involved discovering new resources, while others introduced challenges such as illness, food shortages, starvation, or difficult weather conditions. Some scenarios involved interactions with neighboring Powhatan Indians. These realistic scenarios encouraged teamwork, problem-solving, and critical thinking as students worked together to help their settlement survive.

We hid some foam fish throughout the stream and there were apple trees, pear trees, walnut trees, and other edible things to collect for food.

It was amazing how hard the kids worked!  They were busy doing all the tasks and really truly enjoying themselves.  It was such a memorable day. Our activity only lasted 2 hours, but everyone wished they could stay longer!

I created a file with some of the things we used for out activity that you are welcome to download and use as well. It includes our gruel recipe, the task list, the situation cards and a description of the activity.  There are so many fun things you can do to make this activity incredible!

This free Jamestown simulation resource can be used as part of your lesson plan in homeschool settings, co-ops, classrooms, and social studies units. Through realistic scenarios, students take on the role of colonists working together to establish a successful colony in the New World. As they gather resources, solve problems, and respond to changing events, they develop critical thinking skills while gaining a deeper understanding of early American history.

Download the Jamestown Simulation Now!

A great book we read to go along with learning about Jamestown is Surviving Jamestown by Gail Karwoski.

Reflection Questions:

• What was the hardest part of starting a new colony?
• What challenges did the real Jamestown settlers face that we didn’t?
• How important was teamwork to survival?
• What would you have done differently?

History Extension Activities

Want to continue learning about Jamestown after the simulation is over? Here are a few ways to extend the experience and help students connect more deeply with early American history.

Read Historical Fiction

One of our favorite books to accompany this activity is Surviving Jamestown by Gail Karwoski. Historical fiction helps children imagine what daily life may have been like for the settlers and makes history feel much more personal and memorable.

Compare Jamestown and Plymouth

Many students confuse Jamestown and Plymouth Colony. Create a simple comparison chart and discuss:

• Why each colony was founded
• Who settled there
• Their relationships with Native Americans
• How they survived difficult conditions
• The role of religion and economics

Create a Colonial Journal

Have students write journal entries as if they were Jamestown settlers. They can describe:

• Building a shelter
• Searching for food
• Meeting new people
• Dealing with illness or harsh weather
• Celebrating a successful harvest

Encourage them to include details from the simulation activity.

Map the Colony

Locate Jamestown on a map and discuss why the settlers chose that location. Students can identify nearby rivers, waterways, and natural resources that helped support the colony.

Research Pocahontas and the Powhatan People

Learn about Pocahontas, Chief Powhatan, and the Powhatan Confederacy. Discuss the important role Native American tribes played in the survival of the Jamestown settlement and how different groups interacted during this time period.

Explore Colonial Trades and Skills

Ask students to research jobs that were important in the colony, such as:

• Blacksmith
• Carpenter
• Farmer
• Cooper (barrel maker)
• Fisherman

Which jobs would have been most valuable for helping a new settlement survive?

Discuss the “Starving Time”

Older students may be interested in learning about the difficult winter of 1609–1610, often called the Starving Time. Discuss why the colony struggled and what lessons settlers learned from those hardships.

Connect Jamestown to the Bigger Story

Jamestown was the first permanent English settlement in North America and helped pave the way for future colonies. After studying Jamestown, continue your American history journey by exploring:

• Plymouth Colony
• The Thirteen Colonies
• Colonial life
• The American Revolution
• Westward Expansion

Understanding Jamestown helps students see how the story of America began and how the choices of early settlers shaped the future of the nation.