Description

Invite your students to explore Colonial America through the voice of Jakob Van Doren!  This classroom-ready podcast activity makes historical thinking come alive with a fictional interview that puts students in direct conversation with a colonist from the Middle Colonies. Instead of just reading about the past, students get to “hear” from Jakob Van Doren, a Dutch miller and merchant in colonial Pennsylvania, as he describes the diversity, prosperity, and cooperation that defined life in this region.

In this episode, Jakob Van Doren shares what daily life was like in the Middle Colonies, from working the fertile farmland to trading goods in busy port cities. Students learn about the mix of cultures, religions, and traditions that made this area a true crossroads of Colonial America. They’ll also explore how tolerance and trade helped create some of the most prosperous and welcoming colonies of the time.

What the Podcast Interview Is About:

This episode features a fictional interview with Jakob Van Doren, offering a first-person perspective on life in the Middle Colonies. Students will hear about farming, trade, religion, education, and community life, and how people from many backgrounds lived and worked together. Through Jakob’s story, they gain insight into the region’s role as the “breadbasket” of the colonies and the importance of cooperation in early American society.

Included in this Resource: 

• Link to the Voices Through Time podcast: Middle Colonies (Length 8:20)
• Pre-listening context reading
• Guided notes / podcast graphic organizer
• Comprehension questions – 2 styles
• Reflective writing prompt with word bank
• Teacher resource pages

How This Resource Supports Learning:

• Promotes Critical Thinking – Encourages students to examine how geography, diversity, and trade shaped colonial life
• Student-Centered – Written for middle school learners, with clear language and scaffolded supports
• Flexible Formats – Great for sub plans, small groups, independent listening, or whole class discussion
• Supports Listening Comprehension – Guided notes and questions keep students focused and accountable
• Builds Historical Empathy – Helps students connect with the experiences and values of people from the past

Whether you’re teaching about the Thirteen Colonies or exploring the diversity that shaped early America, this Middle Colonies podcast activity brings context, culture, and critical thinking to your classroom. It invites students to step into the past and experience Colonial America through the voices that built it.