3rd Grade History & Social Studies — Explorers and Settlers — God's Hand in the New World
Students will learn about the founding of Jamestown in 1607 and how the settlers faced great hardships but persevered with God's help.
In 1607, a group of English settlers sailed to Virginia and founded Jamestown — the first permanent English settlement in America. They named it after King James I of England.
Life in Jamestown was very hard. The settlers built a small fort, but they struggled to find food and clean water. Many became sick, and the first winter was terrible. This time was called 'the starving time.'
Captain John Smith became a strong leader. He made a rule: 'He that will not work shall not eat,' which comes from the Bible (2 Thessalonians 3:10). This helped the settlers work together and survive.
The settlers learned to grow tobacco, which they could sell to England. They also learned farming skills from the local Native Americans. Slowly, Jamestown grew stronger.
In 1619, the settlers created the House of Burgesses — the first elected government in America. This was an important step toward the freedom and self-government that would later define our nation.
Build a small model of a Jamestown fort using popsicle sticks or draw the fort with its triangular walls, houses inside, and the James River nearby.