Early North Carolina exploration (warm-up activity)
This lesson is intended to be used at the beginning of a unit that examines the early exploration of the North Carolina coast and its inhabitants.
Through drawings published in Thomas Hariot's "A Briefe and True Report of the New Found Land of Virginia" teachers can raise student's interest in this unit.
A lesson plan for grade 8 Social Studies
Learning outcomes
Students will:
- focus on the European perspective of exploration and findings along the North Carolina coast.
- write down their impressions of the original inhabitants of NC.
Teacher planning
Time required for lesson
10-20 minutes
Materials/resources
Teacher:
- Transparency of drawings or laptop with internet connection to display drawings.
- Teachers may want to use PowerPoint if able.
Students:
- Pen
- Notebook
Technology resources
- Internet connection
- 1 computer
- LCD or Overhead projector
Pre-activities
Teacher should discuss the voyages set up by Sir Walter Raleigh - those who were a part of the voyage, explain why they went to North Carolina, and for what reasons. (Age of Exploration).
Teacher should explain that Europeans had not seen Native Americans before - for some this was their first encounter.
Activities
- Teachers should complete the Pre-Activity before using the pictures.
- Ask students to take out a pen and notebook.
- Teacher should display the pictures noted belowfrom Thomas Hariot’s book and ask students to write down their impressions. You should use both lower and higher level thinking questions to prompt students. “What are they wearing?” “What do they look like?” “What do their clothes look like?” “How does the artist depict the original inhabitants of North Carolina?”
- The arrival of the englishman.
- A weroan or great Lorde of Virginia.
- On of the Religeous men in the towne of Secota.
- A cheiff Lorde of Roanoac.
- An ageed manne in his Winter garment.
- The manner of makinge their boates.
- Their manner of fishynge in Virginia.
- The brovvyllinge of their fishe ouer the flame.
- The Tovvne of Pomeiooc.
- The trvve picture of a man of nation neigbour vnto the Picte.
- Shuffle the pictures through your method of display - allowing enough time for students to write notes on each picture.
Assessment
Make sure each student is participating.
Supplemental information
Comments
This is intended to be used as a warm-up or intro activity. You may extend this into a full lesson.
North Carolina Curriculum Alignment
Social Studies (2003)
Grade 8
- Goal 1: The learner will analyze important geographic, political, economic, and social aspects of life in the region prior to the Revolutionary Period.
- Objective 1.02: Identify and describe American Indians who inhabited the regions that became Carolina and assess their impact on the colony.



