Lesson Plan
Huntington Library

Early English Exploration and Settlement of the Colony of Virginia

For Teachers 5th
In this lesson, 5th graders learn about the individuals and groups who first founded the different colonies in America and what their motivations were. Students participate in a reader's theater activity, create a poster that would...
Article
Jamestown-Yorktown Foundation

History Is Fun: Cultures at Jamestown [Pdf]

For Students 9th - 10th
A six-page discussion of the mix of cultures that converged in the colony of Jamestown and the challenges this presented. These cultures were the English settlers, the indigenous Powhatan people, and the African slaves. Despite many...
Website
Independence Hall Association

U.s. History: Britain in the New World: War and Peace With Powhatan's People

For Students 5th - 8th
Read about how Powhatan and his tribe initially helped the English settlers in Jamestown, but ultimately went to war. Find out about why the different views about land ownership exacerbated the tension between the two cultures.
Interactive
US Mint

U.s. Mint: Jamestown Challenge

For Students 3rd - 8th
Sail to the New World, and take the interactive, story quiz on the first permanent English settlement.
Graphic
Other

Virtual Jamestown: Occupations of the New World

For Students 9th - 10th
This is a chart of the many occupations in Jamestown at the beginning of the 17th century. Includes how many people for each occupation and when they arrived in America.
Website
Independence Hall Association

U.s. History: New England Colonies: William Bradford; The First Thanksgiving

For Students 5th - 8th
Plymouth Colony did not suffer the same problems as the English colony farther south, Jamestown. Read about the leadership of William Bradford, and the relationship between the settlers and the Native Americans who helped those who lived...
Unit Plan
CommonLit

Common Lit: Chief Powhatan's Address to Captain John Smith (1609)

For Students 7th - 8th
The Powhatan are Native American people from Virginia who share an Algonquian language. In 1607, the Jamestown settlement in the Virginia colony became the first permanent English settlement in the Americas. At the initial arrival of the...
Activity
Library of Congress

Loc: America's Story: Pocahontas

For Students 3rd - 5th
Learn more about Pocahontas through the accounts of her adventures. This information explains the relationship between Pocahontas and the English settlers.