In this lesson, students will explore daily life in the 13 original British colonies and its influences in the late 1700s for two families in different colonies--Delaware and Massachusetts. The lesson asks students to become historical detectives and learn to gather information from artifacts and make inferences about the lives and time they represent--they will then use what they have learned to write historical fiction in the form of letters between fictitious cousins in Massachusetts and Delaware. The lesson: provides an introduction; cites grade level, time required, subject areas, and skills developed; poses guiding questions; gives learning objectives; offers suggestions on preparing to teach this lesson; outlines suggested activities (1. Defining the British Colonies; 2. Investigating Life in Early America; 3. Dear Cousin); suggests ways to extend the lesson; lists selected Web sites; and addresses standards alignment. (NKA)