The Village Forge: Colonial Blacksmith for Kids History Unit Study, Homeschool Printable (Ages 8–12) | Free | From Forge to Factory Pack 1

How were things made before factories? Step into an American colonial blacksmith's shop around 1750 in this free history unit study for ages 8–12. It's made for homeschool and works in the classroom too.

Inside (11 pages):

- Where we are on the timeline

- Original reading: "A Day at the Smithy" (fiction built on historical sources)

- A picture study of the forge and anvil

- A 14-word vocabulary list, with a kid-friendly definition of a blacksmith

- Activities: put it in order, and word match

- Longfellow's poem "The Village Blacksmith" (public domain), with discussion questions

- A hands-on project with no heat and no sharp tools: a clay horseshoe and a paper-bag bellows

- Answer key and a sources page. Drawings are original.

You get one PDF of the pack.

This is Pack 1 of From Forge to Factory, a kids' history of manufacturing. Pack 2, The Water Mill, is $5.

Written for parents and teachers (not aimed at children under 13).

Refund: This pack is free, so no payment is taken. Problem with the file? Email pjsmitty83@gmail.com or use our store's Contact page; we aim to reply within 3 business days.

Use terms: © 2026 Peter Smith. All rights reserved. You may print copies for your own family or for one teacher's classroom. Don't resell, post online, or share the file. Schools: one copy per teacher. "The Village Blacksmith" is public domain.