Jamestown, Captain John Smith & Pocohantas

September 10 marks the 400th anniversary of the English explorer, writer, and cartographer John Smith assuming the presidency of the Jamestown settlement in Virginia. Jamestown was the first permanent English settlement in the new world.

The charismatic and controversial Smith was initially excluded from the government of the settlement on grounds he conspired to mutiny while on passage to Virginia. Despite his comrades' suspicions, Smith became the de facto leader of the colony during the difficult winter of 1607 and 1608.

He was able to successfully initiate strategies that addressed the challenges of disease, starvation, and the frequent raids upon the Jamestown by Native Americans.

Assign students to learn more about John Smith and how he was able to help the first settlers of Jamestown to survive the many challenges they faced in 1607-08.

Students should create a written report of at least 100 words that cites at least three resources. Students may also have the option of creating a PowerPoint presentation of at least two minutes that includes at least five slides.

Students should address the following examples of essential questions for critical thinking in their reports (you may want to create others):

1. How did the success of John Smith and Jamestown impact the history of America?
2. How did John Smith help the settlers to meet as least three survival challenges?
3. How did Pocohantas help John Smith to succeed and why?
4. What other significant things did John Smith accomplish beyond Jamestown?

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Oral and PowerPoint reports provide an opportunity for students to develop standards-based lifetime presentation skills and to share their new knowledge with their peers. Use our custom ProQuest models for written or PowerPoint reports written and PowerPoint-style reports.

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