Teaching Notes

For this source, I would only have students look at the top photo and discuss what they see with their classmates. I would then have the students fill out the attached worksheet to their best ability, making observations about the image: what they see, what they think people are doing, where they think it is, etc. Then, we would discuss as a class, and I would explain that this is Jamestown, and would go around asking students what they observed.

  Pre K - 2   Social Studies/History   Jamestown  

Teaching Notes

This primary source is of native Jamestown men making dugout boats by burning and scraping with seashells.

Students will individually come up with as many "who, what, when, where, why, and how" questions as they can (Ex: Who are they? What are they building? Where are they? What are they building that for? etc.). Students will then share their questions with their table groups, and pick their favorite few questions, or the questions that were most frequently asked. Together, they will make a list of these questions, and I will have each table group share their collective questions, while I create a poster with a list of these common questions. We will work as a class to figure out as many answers to these questions as we can.  Pre K - 2   Social Studies/History   jamestown

Teaching Notes

Compare and Contrast Activity

I would use this image of the Powhatan and Pocahontas saving John Smith in an activity, side by side with the following depiction of this scene. The students would make a Venn diagram, comparing and contrasting image 1 (this image) and image 2 (the following image). They will note similarities and differences, such as color vs. black and white.      

Teaching Notes

For this image, I would have the students write down as many observations as possible, and given the image and the caption "The Wedding of Pocahontas", I would have each student write down a prediction of what they think is going on. This could include anything from who they think she is marrying, and who they think is at the wedding, to why they think she looks unhappy. This will hopefully get the kids thinking, observing, and generating predictions. We will then share out some predictions, to show the students that people can make different guesses based on the same image, and there may be no one right answer.  Pre K - 2   Social Studies/History   Pocahontas   JohnRolfe  

Teaching Notes

Compare and Contrast Activity

I would use this image of the Powhatan and Pocahontas saving John Smith in an activity, side by side with the previous depiction of this scene. The students would make a Venn diagram, comparing and contrasting image 1 (the previous) and image 2 (this image). They will note similarities and differences, such as color vs. black and white.  Pre K - 2   Social Studies/History   Powhatan  

Teaching Notes

I would have students make a list of things they notice, and things they wonder. I would give them a few minutes to do so, and then ask prompting questions like "What do you see as the caption?", "Where do you think Smith is in the picture?", "What do you notice about the picture in the frame behind him? What do you think is happening in the frame behind him- have you seen that before?". I would allow students to discuss these questions, and then ask them to share their ideas.

  Pre K - 2   Social Studies/History   JohnSmith  

Teaching Notes

See-Think-Wonder Activity

I would have the students look at, and discuss this photo of the native settlers catching fish. The students would fill out a See-Think-Wonder chart, noting the things they notice in the picture, what they think is happening, and what they wonder about it.

  Pre K - 2   Social Studies/History   Powhatan  

Teaching Notes

For this primary source, instead of handing the students their own printed image, I would instead display it on the board, gradually. I would first have the image covered, and slowly uncover sections, from right to left. To start, I would uncover the group of people to Pocahontas' right, and have the students write down things they notice, and raise their hands for any questions they have. I would then reveal Pocahontas, and have them do the same process. Next, I would reveal King James and his guards, doing the same thing again. Once the whole photo is revealed, I will have them do the same thing for the picture as a whole, pointing out the caption to help them. We will then have a class discussion of who they think these people are, and what they think is happening.

  Pre K - 2   Social Studies/History   Pocahontas   KingJames  

Teaching Notes

I would hand out this map of Jamestown, and give each group a little poster board for them to write observations on. I would give them time to write things they notice, and then would have them fill out a "Think-Puzzle-Explore" chart. While they will this out, I will ask prompting questions to help them come up with "Puzzle" questions, such as: "What qualities make Jamestown a good place for new resources?". 

The "Think-Puzzle-Explore" activity will include them writing:

• What they think they know about this topic/map
• What questions and puzzles they have about this topic/map
• How they might explore these puzzles

  Pre K - 2   Social Studies/History   Jamestown  

Teaching Notes

Comparing Activity

I would hand this map out after the previous map. I would have students compare and contrast the two maps, noting what one has more or less of than the other. I would have them make a bulleted list of similarities, and of differences. 

I would then have them compare and contrast the ease of using google maps tools when making a map, versus how people had to make maps in the time of the early colonists. Also, I would have them compare the differences of using google maps versus using a map like this, when navigating things and places.

  Pre K - 2   Social Studies/History   Jamestown  

Teaching Notes

This children's book explains the story of Pocahontas' life, beginning with when the American settlers arrived. It walks through her life from that point until death, including her interactions with John Smith, the Powhatans, and John Rolfe. It is filled with beautiful illustrations of her life up until her death. One thing I really liked about this book was that it includes little figures at the bottom  of some pages. These figures include specific images or maps of what the fiction book is really depicting in their illustrations. These captions and figures were very helpful, and they make this book a great one to use in a classroom setting. I would use this book as a read aloud for students still learning to read, but if you are teaching later grades, maybe second grade, you could have the students read this book on their own, with help and guidance from the teacher when needed.

  Pre K - 2   Social Studies/History   Pocahontas   Powhatan   John Smith  

Teaching Notes

This book walks through Pocahontas' background and life, providing information about her family and the Powhatan, as well as a "chapter" on her and John Smith. It also has a "chapter" on the struggles at Jamestown, and more. The ending "chapters" contain a timeline, words to know, and more about Pocahontas. The whole children's book contains awesome pictures, as well as various primary sources that I even recognize from the research I have done on TPS and LOC. I really enjoyed this book and think it would be a great read aloud for kids. I would use this book in an activity after reading it, having the children work with the timeline and create their own, and having them work on the vocabulary words in the back of the book to teach and solidify these terms in their brains.

  Pre K - 2   Social Studies/History   Pocahontas   JohnSmith   Powhatan  

Teaching Notes

This book provided a very detailed explanation of Pocahontas' life, staring with her early life, transitioning to her young adult life, and then her adulthood. The end has a glossary, a "read more" section, and a section on internet sites, which are all very helpful. The book has great images of primary sources. My favorite aspect of this book is the fact that the entire book has a timeline along the bottom of each page. This timeline is a great way to put into perspective the timing of these events, as it includes the years, as well as a very brief explanation of what happened that year (Ex: 1607: the English build Jamestown). I would use this book as a read aloud, ensuring to reference the timeline and ask questions as we read. Similarly to the last book, I would then have the students either construct their own timeline or do a vocabulary activity with the glossary.

  Pre K - 2   Social Studies/History   Pocahontas   Powhatan   JohnSmith