Amothersrandomthoughts.com Copyright 2018  Introduction to Homeschooling with Disney’s Squanto: A Warrior’s Tale Movie: Facts about Squanto

WHO WAS SQUANTO:

HOMESCHOOLING WITH DISNEY MOVIES

Introduction and Overview:

Read these notes and overview before beginning to study Squanto. This Introduction to Homeschooling with Disney’s Squanto Movie is designed to give you a clear understanding of Squanto. The differences between the myths surrounding Squanto and his real-life counterpart are the focus. Furthermore, this unit will help you answer the question: Who was Squanto? And it will give you some Facts about Squanto and his life. It is also an outline of what to expect during the two-week unit study of Pocahontas and Squanto. It is to be used with Elements of Fun Learning Curriculum found here! Enjoy!

• The real-life Squanto lived from approximately 1580-1622.
• Squanto’s birth name is Tisquantum.
• Squanto lived near the present day area known as Plymouth, Massachusetts.
• He was a member of the Patuxet band of the Wampanoag tribe. 
• Some of the main characters in the movie are Squanto, Nakooma, Epenow, Sir Gorges, and Brother Daniel. Some of these characters are fictionalized. 
• Squanto is kidnapped and sold into slavery.
• Squanto is purchased by monks.
• He eventually gets back to Massachusetts.
• He becomes a peacemaker between the Indians and the English settlers.
• Disney studios took the essence of Squanto and the English settlers.
• Today historic Plimouth Plantation is a living history museum in Plymouth, Massachusetts founded in 1947. You can learn about facts about Squanto, his tribe, and Wampanoag. There are real Wampanoag working in a section of the plantation dedicated to preserving the history of the Wampanoag. Additionally, there is a recreation of the original Plymouth colony. Both areas are played by actors who do not break out of the roles. Learn more by visiting Plimouth Plantation. Visit the Plimouth Plantation site here!

Facts about Squanto versus Disney’s Squanto:

I am sure most of you reading this have read something about the real-life Squanto. A quick internet search shows that there is much “speculation” about the life of Squanto. Although he spoke fluent English, there is no written record of any thoughts or feelings from Squanto himself. In fact, most of his story has been told through written historical accounts of William Bradford and other Englishmen. What we do know about Squanto shows that there are differences between the movie and history. Some of the obvious differences are as follows:

Real-Life Facts About Squanto and Massachusetts area:

• Squanto is born around 1585 near Plymouth, Massachusetts.
• Squanto’s birth name was Tisquantum which means “divine rage.”
• It is speculated (but not fact) that Squanto was first kidnapped by English Explorer, Captain George Weymouth who was commissioned by Sir Ferdinando Gorges (owner of Plymouth Company). Squanto was approximately 20 years old.
• If Squanto was kidnapped at this time from Maine, he was returned to New England at some point.
• In 1614, Squanto was captured in Massachusetts by Captain Thomas Hunt. Hunt was a lieutenant for John Smith.
• Hunt sailed for Spain where he sold the 24 captives into slavery.
• Governor Bradford’s Journal records that Squanto was taken by a ship captain to London and then Newfoundland where he lived for a few years. He was then taken back to England and was the interpreter for Captain Thomas Dermer.
• On a trip back to Maine, Squanto and Dermer sail past Squanto’s village and found everyone dead.
• Eventually, Squanto leaves Dermer (either through escape or is let go) and searches for any remaining members of his village.
• Squanto reunites with Dermer. Dermer and Squanto are captured by Epenow and his tribe. The Indians did not trust Squanto because of his years among the English.
• While a captive of the Wampanoag, Squanto is used an in interpreter with the Pilgrims.
• Consequently, a treaty is made between the Pilgrims and the Native Americans. Squanto and the pilgrims remain friends for the rest of his life.
• Squanto succumbs to a disease in 1622. He was the last remaining member of the Patuxet tribe.

In the Disney movie from 1994:

• The movie begins with Squanto and Nakooma are married.
• A ship with Englishmen arrives bearing gifts.
• The Englishmen convince Squanto and Epenow to go back to their ship on the pretense of getting more gifts.
• The Englishmen capture Squanto and Epenow and begin to sail away. Nakooma and the Patuxet tribe attempt to save the men.
• In England, Squanto and Epenow are “property” of Sir George.
• Squanto is thrown into an arena with a giant bear. (Think Christian and Lions in the arena). Squanto is able to subdue the bear and escape.
• Squanto if found laying on the shore by monks.
• Brother Daniel teaches Squanto to read and speak English.
• Meanwhile, Sir George forms an extensive manhunt to reclaim Squanto.
• Sir George’s men come to the monastery and while looking for Squanto destroy the library.
• Ultimately, Squanto’s only desire is to return home to his wife.
• Eventually, he boards a ship sailing to the New World
• When Squanto returns, he finds that everyone in his village has died off due to a disease brought by the English
• A new ship arrives, the Mayflower, and Epenow and his tribe want to kill the men, but in an impassioned speech similar to Disney’s Pocahontas, Squanto makes peace between the English and the Indians.
• They celebrate the first Thanksgiving.

Similarities between Squanto and Disney’s movie:

• In both versions, the setting is the 1580s in Massachusetts and the surrounding area.
• Squanto is kidnapped, learns English, and makes peace with the Englishmen.
• A celebratory feast (that we commemorate as Thanksgiving) is held.

GENERAL NOTES TO STUDY FACTS ABOUT SQUANTO

(These basic notes are included with additional suggestions for learning activities)

MY REVIEW OF DISNEY’S  AND RECOMMENDATIONS FOR VIEWING: This movie may be scary for some children. To see my full review, Visit Disney’s Squanto: A Warrior’s Tale Movie HERE!

CHARACTER STUDY:

Squanto (the historical figure and the movie character) is a man who is used to broker peace between the Indians and the Englishmen. We will be studying the traits of a peacemaker.

HISTORY/GEOGRAPHY:

Study Plymouth, Massachusetts and the surrounding area. 

ADDITIONAL STUDY:

• Study Squanto, Wampanoag, Sir Gorges, and Massasoit.
• Compare the coast of Massachusetts and the yearly weather in Massachusetts and the weather of Plymouth, England.

SCIENCE:

Planting crops with and without “fish head.” 

ADDITIONAL STUDY:

• Look at the foods from the first Thanksgiving and categorize them correctly. Currently, we categorize foods into vegetables, fruits, meats, etc. However, many of the foods we consider vegetables are actually fruits.
• Experiment with corn.

LITERATURE/ENGLISH/LANGUAGE ARTS:

Read a biography on Squanto. Study the real-life Squanto and the Pilgrims.

ADDITIONAL STUDY:

• Squanto is a historical figure, however, Disney’s version is rooted in myths and half-truths similar to how Pocahontas is portrayed. Discuss the difference between a documentary, historical fiction, and fiction. 
• Additionally, talk about other movies that are rooted in history, but have be altered (Titanic, Christopher Robin). 

HEALTH/PHYSICAL EDUCATION:

This week study the diseases that the Englishmen brought to the New World.

MUSIC:

Study music of the Pilgrims.

ART:

Make moccasins similar to the one Squanto wears in the movie.

Build a Wampanoag wigwam. Discuss the different styles of huts, tepees, longhouses of different Native American groups.

BIBLE:

Memorize Psalm 100:4 “Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise. Give thanks to Him; bless his name.”

Study the religious beliefs of the Native Americans of the Massachusetts area. Do they differ from the beliefs of tribes from the Jamestown, VA, area?

MISCELLANEOUS:

Create a menu for “the first Thanksgiving.”

SQUANTO IN THE THEME PARKS:

There are currently no rides, attractions, or character meet and greats based on the Squanto Movie.