Curated OER
The Chesapeake Bay in Captain John Smith's Time
When Captain John Smith visited the Chesapeake Bay in the summer of 1608, what types of animals and habitats did he encounter? Your young historians will analyze primary source documents to answer this question, as well as compare the...
Curated OER
Native Americans of the Chesapeake Bay: Using Primary vs. Secondary Sources
Discover the rich Native American culture that existed at the time of early European exploration into the Chesapeake region through analysis of several primary and secondary sources.
Curated OER
John Smith’s Map of the Chesapeake Bay
Young geographers travel back through time with primary source and map analysis and envision Captain John Smith's arrival at the Chesapeake Bay.
Curated OER
Captain John Smith's Shallop
Young explorers, all aboard the shallop to discover how early European explorers would navigate the American coastline to find resources, map terrain, and trade with Native American tribes.
Curated OER
Lesson 1: English-Indian Encounters
What did the English settlers think of the Native Americans inhabiting the Chesapeake region of the United States? Learners analyze a series of documents and images to determine the English perception of the local inhabitants. A great...
Curated OER
America’s Early Colonies: John Smith and Jamestown, Va
John Smith's 1616 letter to Queen Anne of England offers ELLs an opportunity to learn about a bit of early American history. The four-page packet includes the full text of the letter. In addition, the packet includes a worksheet that...
National Woman's History Museum
Pocahontas: The Truth vs. The Legend
Young historians study primary and secondary source materials to try and separate the true story of Pocahontas from the myths, fictional tales, and conflicting accounts of her life.
Read Works
Plymouth Colony
Read about the tumultuous beginning to the United States with an informational text passage about Colonial America. As young researchers peruse an article about the arrival of the Mayflower, the settlers' relationship to the neighboring...
Curated OER
Maryland’s Chesapeake Bay Landscape Long Ago and Today
Combine a fantastic review of primary source analysis with a study of Captain John Smith's influence on the Chesapeake Bay region in the seventeenth century. Your young historians will use images, a primary source excerpt, and maps...
Curated OER
Colonial Founders
Who were the founding fathers of the American Colonies? Engage in online activities, Internet research, and focused writing to find out. Students choose one colonial founder, conduct biographical research on the person, and take a quiz...
Curated OER
The Settlement of the Chesapeake
Focusing on the Virginia and Maryland settlements in the 1600's, this presentation is a complete and thorough resource during a unit on Colonial America. It includes pictures, maps, and interesting discussion points for you to address...
Curated OER
John Smith Leadership Exercise
Fifth graders examine how in times of need the qualities of leadership automatically surface in individuals to see that necessary tasks get accomplished.
Curated OER
Mapping Colonial New England: Looking at the Landscape of New England
High schoolers understand the similarities and differences between English and Native American conceptions of the land and town settlement. They understand how the colony of Massachusetts developed and expanded. Students understand the...
Curated OER
Jamestown Colonies and the Powhatan Indians
Eighth graders discuss the Jamestown colony and the Powhatan Indians. In this colonial history lesson plan, 8th graders talk about conflicts between the Native Americans and the colonists. They read a biography about Pocahontas to help...
Curated OER
‘Catch Up’ With John Smith
In this John Smith worksheet, students access a linked Internet site, watch the cartoon about John Smith, and then answer 20 fill in the blank and 2 short answer questions regarding the video.
Curated OER
Overcoming Problems: John Smith
In this John Smith activity, students read a one page article about the problems John Smith faced in the 1600's. Students complete 7 short answer questions about the article.
Curated OER
Overcoming Problems: John Smith
In this John Smith worksheet, students read a 1 1/2 page passage about the history of John Smith and answer short answer questions about it. Students complete 7 questions.
Curated OER
The Jamestown Colony
In this Jamestown Colony instructional activity, students read a 2 page article on the colony, answer 3 questions with multiple choice answers, fill in 5 blanks to complete 5 facts and determine if 3 statements are true or false.
Curated OER
"English Colonies"
Fifth graders create a tri- fold brochure around the topic of a colonial settlement that has been studied in the classroom for about 2 weeks prior to the workshop. They work with Publisher to create a brochure about a specific...
Curated OER
Jamestown Hardships
Learners demonstrate knowledge of the first permanent English settlement in America by describing the hardships faced by settlers at Jamestown and the changes that took place to ensure survival.
Curated OER
John Smith Map Lesson Plan
Fourth graders answer questions about John Smith, and also they figure out what was necessary are needed for surviival. Students are given a replica of Smith's 1612 map, they then answer questions using the map as their resource. ...
Bibliomania
Bibliomania: English in Virginia
This Bibliomania site surveys the literary history of the English in colonial Virginia. Includes analysis of the work of Captain John Smith, William Strachey, and George Sandys. Links to other notes about early American literature.
Virginia History Series
Virginia History Series: English Settlements in Virginia (1584 1699) [Pdf]
Take a historical walk through the colony of Jamestown. Learn about the main people who influenced the development of this colony, read a list of names of the original settlers, read about the struggles of the first settlers, explore...
Other
Virginia Foundation for the Humanities: Virginia Indian Heritage Trail [Pdf]
This 92-page guide has accurate information on tribes and sites in Virginia. It has tribal histories, biographies of well-known historical figures, photographs, and suggested readings.