Curated OER
VS.3g
Third graders explore describing the interactions between the English settlers and the Powhatan people. They include the contributions of the Powhatan's to the survival of the settlers and review how the Powhatan people and the English...
Curated OER
Captain John Smith's Chesapeake Bay
Fifth graders explore Captain John Smith and compare today's Chesapeake Bay to the one in the early 17th century.
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.
University of Illinois
University of Illinois: The Plymouth Colony Archive Project
This resource presents a collection of searchable texts, including court records, Colony laws, seminar analysis of various topics, and biographical profiles of selected colonists. It also includes a search engine and images.
Other
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University: Virtual Jamestown
Online resource for teaching about Jamestown. Includes lesson plans, biographies, maps, primary resources, interactives, and lots more.
PBS
Pbs: Nova: John Smith's Bold Endeavor
A historian discusses the relationship between John Smith and Pocahontas, and, more broadly, the competing expectations of the Indians and English colonists in terms of the relationship of the two groups.
Library of Congress
Loc: John Smith, Leader of Jamestown
An overview of the life of John Smith, and his relationship with Pocahontas, who supposedly saved his life. Features a portrait, a photograph of the John Smith Memorial, and a fresco from the early 1900's.
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
Harcourt: School Publishers: James Fort Rediscovered
Jamestown was the first settlement in the United States in 1607. Once thought to have washed away with the James River, historians have found 10,000 artifacts related to the settlement.
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
Harcourt: Biographies: John Smith 1580 1631
Presented here is a brief biography on Captain John Smith, one of the original settlers of Jamestown and explorer of New England.
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
Harcourt: Biographies: John Smith
Learn of one of the first leaders in American settlement. With experience, courage and wisdom, John Smith was invaluable to starting the first European settlement in the United States. (In Spanish)
Other
The National Center: Settlement of Jamestown
"The Settlement of Jamestown" by John Smith from The National Center, including the famous account of Smith being saved by Pocahontas.
Other
Virtual Jamestown: John Smith (1579 1631)
This site provides biographical information about John Smith. The site is illustrated with historical prints and maps depicting events from Smith's life.
Other
Univ. Of Virginia: Account of Virginia by John Smith
This resource from the University of Virginia contains the full text of Captain John Smith's "Map of Virginia, with a Description of the Country, the Commodities, People, Government and Religion," an excerpt from "Travels and Works of...
Other
Virtual Jamestown: "Proceedings of the English Colony"
Brief excerpts from "The Proceedings of the English Colony in Virginia," an account written by Captain John Smith and published in 1612 of his time in Jamestown.
Mayflower History
Mayflower history.com: Tisquantum ("Squanto")
A detailed biography of the life of Tisquantum, known as Squanto. Covers some history of the Plymouth Colony and of relations between the colonists and the native peoples.
Colonial Williamsburg Foundation
Colonial Williamsburg: Captain John Smith
An article about Captain John Smith, originally published in the "Colonial Williamsburg Journal." Provides a detailed look at the myth and the reality that surround Smith's life and writings. Contains extensive quotes and analysis from...
Read Works
Read Works: Time Travel to Jamestown
[Free Registration/Login Required] An informational text about visiting a realistic English settlement in Jamestown, Virginia. A question sheet is available to help students build skills in reading comprehension.
The History Cat
The History Cat: History of Colonial America: Jamestown Colony
Describes the struggles of the Jamestown Colony to survive in its first years. Many died from disease and starvation, and things only began to turn when the colonists started to grow tobacco. The use of indentured servants and later,...
Curated OER
National Park Service: Pocahontas: Her Life and Legend
Discover the legend of Indian princess Pocahontas and her relationships with Captain John Smith and John Rolfe in this story from the National Park Service.
Library of Congress
Loc: America's Story: Pocahontas
Learn more about Pocahontas through the accounts of her adventures. This information explains the relationship between Pocahontas and the English settlers.
Other
Lehigh University Digital Library: Pocahontas Time Line
Features a timeline on the life of Native American Pocahontas and other pertinent information relating to her story.
Other
The University of Virginia: Jamestown Daily Life
Brief excerpts from a history of Jamestown written by Captain John Smith that relate to what daily life in the settlement was like.
Stanford University
Stanford: Pocahontas
A paper that details the historical accuracy of the famous story of Pocahontas and the rescue of Captain John Smith.
Curated OER
National Park Service: Captain John Smith
Biographical detail on American hero, John Smith, who was a leader of the Jamestown Colony.