Free Pocahontas Worksheets for 3-4th Graders

Teaching young children about the founding of Jamestown and the story of Pocahontas can be both exciting and challenging.

This lesson plan aims to introduce 4-7 year-olds to this important period in American history in an engaging, respectful, and age-appropriate manner.

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Lesson Objectives

By the end of this lesson, students will:

1. Understand the basic facts about the founding of Jamestown in 1607
2. Learn about Pocahontas and her role in early colonial history
3. Gain insight into the interaction between European settlers and Native Americans

Recommended Resources

Books

• “The True Story of Pocahontas” by Lucille Recht Penner
  • Filled with suspense and historical details, here’s a very young biography of the Powhatan Indian princess who played a vital role in early Colonial and Native American relations.
• “Pocahontas: An American Princess” by Joyce Milton
  • Pocahontas is famous for saving the life of Captain John Smith, the man she loved. At least that’s what legend tells us. Now read the true story of this Native American princess.

Visual Aids

• World map
• Map of early colonial America
• Pictures of Jamestown settlement and Native American villages

Craft Supplies

• Construction paper, scissors, glue
• Feathers, beads, and string (for Native American-inspired crafts)
• Cardboard and paint (for making mini ships)

Lesson Plan

You can use the free printable activities and story of Pocahontas below to help with your lesson.

1. Introduction (10 minutes)

• Begin with a brief storytelling session about a journey across the ocean.
• Use a world map to show the distance between England and North America.

2. The Jamestown Story (15 minutes)

• Introduce the concept of colonization in simple terms.
• Describe the challenges faced by the settlers (new land, different climate, lack of food).
• Use pictures to illustrate life in early Jamestown.

3. Meet Pocahontas (20 minutes)

• Read one of the suggested books above about Pocahontas
• Discuss Pocahontas’s role as a peacemaker and cultural bridge.
• Emphasize the importance of friendship and understanding between different cultures.

4. Interactive Activity: “Build Your Own Jamestown” (25 minutes)

• Use craft materials to create a mini Jamestown settlement with your kids.
• Encourage children to include both settler and Native American elements in their creations.

5. Snack Time: “Taste of Two Worlds” (15 minutes)

• Offer a simple snack combining foods from both cultures:
  • Corn or cornbread (representing Native American agriculture)
  • Apple slices with cinnamon (representing European flavors)

6. Closing (10 minutes)

• Recap the main points of the lesson.
• Ask children to share one thing they learned or found interesting.

Additional Ideas

1. Dress-Up Corner: Set up an area with simple costumes representing both settlers and Native Americans. This allows for imaginative play and role-reversal.
2. Language Exchange: Teach a few words in Algonquian (Pocahontas’s language) alongside English words, showing how communication might have been challenging.
3. Nature Walk: If possible, take a short walk outside to observe local plants and animals, discussing how both Native Americans and settlers had to learn about their environment.
4. Friendship Bracelet Craft: Have children make simple bead bracelets, symbolizing the friendship between cultures.
5. Story Continuation: Encourage children to imagine what might have happened next in the Jamestown story. This would be great for a journal activity.

Sensitive Topic Handling

When discussing this period of history with young children, it’s crucial to:

• Avoid stereotypes and oversimplifications
• Emphasize mutual learning and cooperation between cultures
• Acknowledge difficulties without dwelling on violence
• Encourage empathy and understanding for all perspectives

Remember, the goal is to spark curiosity about history and promote cultural understanding, laying a foundation for more detailed learning in later years.

Free Pocahontas Activities Printable

The Pocahontas Activity Packet below is available FREE for “personal use” ONLY!! Feel free to print as many as you’d like for personal or classroom use.

Click the image below or click HERE to download and print.