What If You'd Been at Jamestown (Cover-To-Cover Chapter Books: Settling the Colonies)
Cover-to-cover books Series
on Goodreads (4)
What’s inside...
A colonist experiences the settling of Jamestown--from sailing the Atlantic to the starving time. Describes the journey to and the founding of Jamestown, the first permanent English settlement in America, from the point of view of a ten year old boy.
Series reading
Non-Sequential
Age
7-10
Length
24 pages
Text complexity
Discussion points
What would you have done differently if you were one of the settlers at Jamestown?
How do you think the settlers felt when they arrived at Jamestown?
What challenges do you think were the hardest for the settlers to overcome?
How did teamwork play a role in the survival of the Jamestown colony?
Why do you think it's important to learn about early American settlements like Jamestown?
Tip: Role play these questions
Encourage your child to imagine themselves in the shoes of the Jamestown settlers, discussing what daily life might have been like.
Ask your child to think about how they would handle the challenges faced by the settlers and compare it to difficulties they face today.
Highlight the importance of teamwork and discuss instances in your child's life where working together helped solve a problem.
Discuss the broader implications of learning history, such as understanding different perspectives and the foundation of societies.
Key lessons
Example Lesson: Resilience in the Face of Adversity
Explanation: The settlers at Jamestown faced numerous hardships including harsh weather, scarce food, and conflicts. The book depicts how they persevered through these challenges.
Real-World Application: Children can learn the importance of persistence and overcoming obstacles, whether it be in their studies, sports, or personal life challenges.
Example Lesson: Importance of Teamwork and Collaboration
Explanation: The survival of the Jamestown colony depended on the settlers working together and forming alliances with the indigenous peoples. This collaboration is portrayed through various cooperative efforts in the story.
Real-World Application: This can teach children the value of working with others to achieve common goals, such as in group projects at school or in community activities.
Example Lesson: Cultural Sensitivity and Respect
Explanation: The book illustrates the interactions between the English settlers and the Native American tribes, highlighting the importance of respecting and learning from other cultures.
Real-World Application: Children can apply this lesson by embracing diversity, showing respect to people from different backgrounds, and learning from various cultural perspectives.
Example Lesson: Adaptability to Change
Explanation: Settlers at Jamestown had to adapt to a new environment and make significant changes to their way of life. The narrative shows their adjustment process to the new conditions.
Real-World Application: This lesson can help children understand the importance of being flexible and adapting to new environments or situations, such as moving to a new school or trying out different activities.