In the year 1607, three small ships landed in Virginia. About one hundred men and boys stepped onto the shore. They built a fort by a river and named their new home Jamestown, after King James of England.
Life in Jamestown was very hard at first. The water was not clean, food ran low, and many colonists got sick. A brave leader named John Smith made a rule: everyone must work — planting, building, and fishing.
The Powhatan people already lived on this land. A young Powhatan girl named Pocahontas helped bring food and peace between her people and the colonists. Jamestown survived and became the first lasting English colony in America.
1. In what year did the colonists land at Jamestown?
2. Who made the rule that everyone must work?
3. Who were the people already living on the land?
4. How did Pocahontas help the colonists?
Write what each word means in your own words.
Number these events 1 to 5 in the order they happened.
| Event | Order (1–5) |
|---|---|
| Jamestown becomes a lasting colony. | |
| Three ships sail from England. | |
| John Smith says everyone must work. | |
| The colonists build a fort by the river. | |
| Pocahontas helps bring food and peace. |
Write T for true or F for false in each circle.
1. Why do you think John Smith's rule that everyone must work helped Jamestown survive?
2. How do you think the Powhatan people felt when the ships arrived?
1. The colonists landed in Virginia in the year .
2. They named their colony .
3. First, they built a by the river.
4. was a leader who made rules.
5. His rule was that everyone must .
6. helped bring food and peace.
Draw the Jamestown fort by the river. Include the wooden walls, small houses, and the three ships.
| I learned... | Circle one |
|---|---|
| When and where Jamestown was built | YES / NOT YET |
| Why life was hard at first | YES / NOT YET |
| How John Smith and Pocahontas helped | YES / NOT YET |