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I am fascinated by the story of the Pilgrims’ arrival in 1620. They were a community of religious separatists seeking a new place to worship freely, while escaping religious persecution in England. Their voyage was perilous, and unfortunately, many did not survive the harsh winter in the New World. However, those who did make it established the first colony in Plymouth, Massachusetts. To celebrate this significant moment in American history, we have created some Pilgrim coloring pages for you to enjoy!
>>P.S. For those interested, I’ve included a brief history of the Pilgrims at the bottom of this post. It’s a great resource to share with your kids!
Pilgrim coloring pages + audiobooks: the perfect pairing!
These coloring pages are a great way to introduce your little ones to the history of the Pilgrim Fathers! Children will love learning about the Pilgrims while they color.
As you may have guessed by now, one of my favorite activities to have kids do alongside coloring is listening to excellent-quality audiobooks! We live in a time when there are sooo many beautiful audiobooks…what a BLESSING!
As a child, I used to listen to books on records that often had scratches and skipping. However, now I am glad to have access to MUCH better options!!
Our favorite Pilgrim audiobooks
Why not play a story about the Pilgrims while your children color these coloring pages? Here is a list of my FAVORITE books about the Pilgrims!
–William Bradford: Plymouth’s Rock: Heroes of History
We absolutely adored this incredible book about the governor of Plymouth Colony! The struggles he faced were immense, but he was able to overcome them with the help of his faith in God. The story is absolutely captivating and we were eager to make our way through it. Highly recommended!
–Rush Revere and the Brave Pilgrims
This book was such a nice surprise! I am afraid I was a little quick to discount it, but it turned out to be a delightfully entertaining and informative story!
–Stories of the Pilgrims
A vivid telling of the daily lives of Pilgrims suffering religious oppression in England, living in Holland, then escaping to the New World. (Written especially for kids.)
–Thanksgiving on Thursday: Magic Tree House
We enjoyed this simple, yet fun story of Jack and Annie’s time travel back to Plymouth Colony!
>>Don’t forget to check out our free printable Pilgrim mini-poster!
Download and save these pilgrim coloring pages for Thanksgiving!
To download these free pilgrims coloring pages, first, take a glance at our note about properly using the resources from Plum Jolly.
Then, simply click on the link below each image. Subscribe, download, and print out as many copies as you need on 8.5″ x 11″ paper. (For a sturdier coloring page, print on cardstock!) Once you have printed out the coloring page, grab some crayons, markers, or colored pencils and let your kids have fun!
Download your free printable pilgrim coloring pages today, and enjoy some quality time with your kids!
A quick note before downloading your free Pilgrim coloring pages!
Please remember to supervise any children in your charge when they are using materials downloaded from Plum Jolly. Take a look at our Disclaimer for more information on wisely using our website!
These coloring pages are for personal, church, or classroom use only. By downloading, you are agreeing to the Terms and Conditions of Plum Jolly.
And now, a bonus section for all you “history nerds!”
A Brief History of the Pilgrims Who Landed at Plymouth in 1620
It’s hard to believe that it’s been over 400 years since a group of English separatists seeking religious freedom landed at Plymouth Rock in what is now Massachusetts. These brave souls, who came to be known as the Pilgrims, made the long and dangerous journey across the Atlantic Ocean in the hopes of finding a place where they could worship as they saw fit. Let’s take a look back at their story!
The Separatists Who Became the Pilgrims
The first step on the pilgrims’ journey began in England in 1608 when a group of like-minded individuals decided to break away from the Church of England. At that time, anyone who didn’t adhere to the teachings of the Church of England was harshly persecuted.
To escape this persecution, the separatists decided to leave England and settle in Leiden, Holland, where they would be free to worship as they pleased.
However, after a few years, they began to fear that their children were being corrupted by Dutch ideas and customs. So, in 1620, they set sail for America aboard the Mayflower with the hope of establishing their own community where they could worship freely.
A Dangerous Journey Across the Atlantic
The crossing was anything but easy. The voyage took more than two months, during which time many of the 102 passengers aboard—including women and children—became seriously ill. One baby was even born en route.
When they finally arrived at Cape Cod on November 11, 1620, they were met with an unruly wilderness and harsh weather conditions. That first winter, almost half of the Pilgrims died of cold, starvation, and sickness. Undeterred, they pressed on, eventually settling at Plymouth Colony where they built their homes and raised their families.
A Lasting Legacy
The Wampanoag tribe helped the pilgrims when they first arrived in America. The two groups formed a treaty that lasted for many years. The Wampanoag taught the pilgrims how to farm and fish, which helped them to survive their first winter in the new world.
The First Thanksgiving
On the very first thanksgiving in 1621, the Pilgrims and Native Americans had a feast to celebrate their newfound friendship. They held these festivities to celebrate their survival that first year and the new friendship they had formed with the Wampanoag.
The first Thanksgiving feast is thought to have included venison, wild fowl, oysters, clams, berries, fruits, vegetables and very rustic pumpkin pie. There was probably no turkey on the menu, but there may have been ducks and geese!
Today, we remember the Pilgrims as brave pioneers who helped build America into the great nation it is today. Every year on Thanksgiving, we celebrate their courage and perseverance with feasts of turkey and pumpkin pie.
Next Thanksgiving, as you sit down to enjoy your turkey dinner with your family, take a moment to think about the brave men and women who risked everything 400 years ago so that you could have this day. We owe a debt of gratitude to those early pioneers, and we should never forget what they sacrificed for our freedom.
