Frederica: An 18th-Century Planned Community (Teaching with Historic Places)

The plan of Frederica, St. Simons Island, 1743-48, prepared by Joshua E. Miller.

On the serene, isolated west shore of St. Simons Island, Georgia, the ruins of a once flourishing 18th-century settlement stand. A powder magazine overlooks Frederica River, a reminder of the fort that protected the British colonies against the Spanish during the early 18th-century struggle for control of the southern frontier of English occupation in the New World. The excavated foundations of various structures remind visitors that from 1736 until 1758, the planned community of Frederica served the military garrison quartered there and housed a population of up to 1,000. Use this lesson plan to learn more about the community of Frederica. (Click on the image for the full lesson plan.)

Essential Question

What challenges faced 18th century British colonizers?

Objective

1. To explain Great Britain's and Spain's struggle to control the land between South Carolina and Florida;
2. To describe the military activity between Georgia's colonists and Spanish forces of Florida;
3. To relate why Frederica and Fort Frederica were established;
4. To consider what daily life was like for people living in Frederica;
5. To debate preserving ruins of historic sites verses reconstructing them;
6. To compare Frederica to their own community and 20th century planned community.

Background
Time Period: Colonial/Revolutionary
Topics: The lesson can be used in American history units on colonization, in geography courses, and in social studies courses dealing with demography and planned communities.

Grade level

Middle School: Sixth Grade through Eighth Grade

Subject

Literacy and Language Arts, Social Studies

Lesson Duration

90 Minutes

Common Core Standards

6-8.RH.2, 6-8.RH.3, 6-8.RH.4, 6-8.RH.5, 6-8.RH.6, 6-8.RH.7, 6-8.RH.8, 6-8.RH.9, 6-8.RH.10, 9-10.RH.1, 9-10.RH.2, 9-10.RH.3, 9-10.RH.4, 9-10.RH.5, 9-10.RH.6, 9-10.RH.7, 9-10.RH.8, 9-10.RH.9, 9-10.RH.10