Jean's+Lesson


 * Lesson Plan:** Colonial America/ The Pilgrims and Native Americans--Friend or Foe?


 * Overview of Lesson:** As part of our 3rd grade curriculum, students study Colonial America. They typically learn about the Colonists and Native Americans sharing that three day feast together that we often refer to as "The First Thanksgiving". This lesson will help students to understand what life was like back in Colonial times and give them an opportunity to take a closer look at the relationship between the Pilgrims and the Native Americans.

How were the Colonists and Native Americans alike? different? What kind of relationship did the Colonists have with the Native Americans?
 * Essential Questions** (for UBD) appropriate for this lesson:


 * Subject Area:** Social Studies


 * Duration:** One 60 minute class period


 * Materials Needed:** Thanksgiving Day cartoon (attached), Primary source doc entitled first thanksgiving.doc (attached), KWL chart (attached), Plymouth colony doc (attached), NARA Photo Analysis document (attached), document camera


 * Prior Knowledge:** Third graders study Colonial America with their classroom teachers. They have learned about life in Colonial times from a Native American's perspective as well as from the Colonists' point of view. Having visited and discussed the //You Are the Historian// site about the 1621 Harvest Celebration the students do have an understanding of primary sources as well. They will also have used the NARA Analysis Tool as a whole group activity in a previous lesson.


 * Procedures:** As the students enter the room, they will see a projected image of The Thanksgiving Feast postcard. I'll ask them how they celebrate Thanksgiving. This will be used more as an opener (all elementary students love to "share"). Then they will be shown the Pilgrims and Native Americans feasting together (first image on first thanksgiving.doc above). They will be given a KWL sheet (they are familiar with this) and be asked to complete the chart for the image. Once they've finished this activity, we will discuss what they recorded and begin to delve deeper into what is really going on in the photo. We will then look at the second image on the attachment (The Landing of the Pilgrims) and the students will use the NARA Photo Analysis doc (attached) to evaluate this image in small groups. Following a discussion on their findings, we will look at the final image of the Plymouth Colony as a large group, using the NARA tool.


 * Assessment:** Were the students able to complete the KWL sheet and Primary Source Analysis Sheet on the various images? What did they determine was the relationship between the Colonists and Native Americans based on the images they examined? Were they able to verbalize their thoughts on whether they were friend or foe and support their thoughts based on our sources and discussions?

Jean-looks like you are still working on this. I just want to say that I think this will help third graders put themselves in the shoes of the colonists. They can compare and contrast life as they know it to what it was back in colonial times. I know some schools have a colonial day or week to help teach this material. The kids role play colonial activities, like games, food, school, etc. - Lawrence.