Dear Parents,
Pilgrims will set sail in Fourth Grade starting Tuesday, January 22nd. The fourth grade will
indeed reenact the Pilgrim Experience. Each morning from 9:00 to 10:15 we will use a simulation
experience to recreate the experience of survival, decision making, and group cooperation.
Each day simulated colonies will experience positive or negative consequences based on their
decision and problem solving skills as a group. Please make sure your child is in school each
day in order to benefit from the program.
The children will be reading both a nonfiction and a historical fiction book during this
period. In addition they will be keeping a journal of their experiences.
Since this is a simulation, we try to have the children feel as if they have time traveled
to 1620. To this effort we all dress in period attire. Children will dress in authentic pilgrim
clothing each morning. On or before Tuesday, January 22nd please send the necessary clothes in
a strong bag preferably made of cloth. The children will change clothes each morning and use
the bag to store the clothing for a two week period.
It is not necessary to purchase any clothing for this unit. Please use items from home to
create an authentic look. We have found in the past that boys can use elasticized sweat pants
pulled up to the knee to replicate breeches. It is important that you and your child research
what was actually worn by the Pilgrims. The concept of black hat, wide belt, and white winged
cap are not entirely accurate. Below are web sites which give accurate information regarding
dress in addition to the information included.
Pilgrim men did not wear black breeches, square white collar and cuffs, wide buckled belts,
black steeple hats with a buckle, nor did Pilgrim women wear full black skirts, white aprons and
dark capes. Puritan adults in Boston may have worn these clothes on formal occasions after 1632,
but in 1621 the Pilgrims wore entirely different clothing. Pilgrim adults and children wore
bright solid colors since their religion did not object to colorful clothing. They had many dyes
so that red, green, beige, burgundy, blue, violet, as well as brown and black were worn.
Girls wore ankle-length full skirts of a solid color similar to that which their mothers
wore. Since the Pilgrims did not have looms, they made their clothing from cloth brought from
England. Some dresses were a single piece consisting of a full skirt, gathered at the waist and
top with long sleeves. Other women wore a bodice and skirt of perhaps different colors. Women
also wore aprons, with or without a bib, when working. At times the women and girls wore a
floppy felt hats like the men’s hats. In the summer they would wear cool straw hats to shade
them from the sun. Their hats were worn over their bonnets.
Men and boys wore clothing of solid color similar to the colors worn by women. Men and boys
wore long sleeve shirts buttoned down the center or loose fitting blouses similar to loose-
fitting sweat shirts. Breeches were baggy garments, secured at the waist with a belt and
gathered below the knees with garters tied in a bow. Both men and boys wore stockings of solid
color. The colors of the tops, breeches and stockings can be the same or all three can be of
different color. Both men and boys wore hats. Some hats were similar to stocking hats you might
wear in the winter, or they might be large floppy felt hats.
We are all looking forward to this engaging unit.
www.sail1620.org/discover_featurepilgrim_clothing.shtml
http://www.plimoth.org
Please reference the class web page for additional sites.

Thank you for your support
Kate Etris, Andrea Litvack, Mary Osterman, and Laurie Young