DISNEY’S POCAHONTAS LESSON PLANS FOR YEAR 1: WEEKS 13-14

ELEMENTS OF FUN LEARNING HOMESCHOOL CURRICULUM

This page has Amazon affiliate links. The following lessons are to be used with Elements of Fun Learning Curriculum, Year 1: Weeks 13-14. Use these Pocahontas Lesson Plans to inspire, teach, engage and play with your child. These plans utilize both Disney’s Pocahontas movie, and Disney’s Squanto: A Warrior’s Tale Movie. In addition, it uses historical accounts of the real-life Pocahontas, Jamestown settlement, Squanto, the Pilgrims and the Mayflower. Before beginning, make sure to access the Book List for Weeks 13-24. This will have the books used for Pocahontas weeks 13-14. Also, make sure to see the Supply List for Weeks 13-24 to make sure you have the supplies for this unit on-hand.

WEEK 13-14: POCAHONTAS Lesson Plans

To read Introductory Notes for Pocahontas, Click Here!

To read Introductory Notes for Squanto, Click Here!

WEEK 13:

MOVIE: ALL LEVELS

WATCH DISNEY’S POCAHONTAS (G) Questions to ask before watching the movie: What do you know about Pocahontas? How old do you think Pocahontas was when she met John Smith? Where did Pocahontas live? When you hear the word savage what comes to mind?

OTHER MOVIES YOU MAY WANT TO WATCH THROUGHOUT THE NEXT TWO WEEKS:

DISNEY’S POCAHONTAS II: JOURNEY TO THE NEW WORLD (1998): This continuation of the Pocahontas story was direct to video production in 1998. In this sequel, Pocahontas meets John Rolfe and travels to England with him. Like the original Disney’s Pocahontas, this film deviates from the original historical version.

Pocahontas: The Legend (1995):  This version is approximately 101 minutes. It has a very low rating on IMDb, but a higher rating on Amazon.

The New World – Nightmare in Jamestown: This documentary by National Geographic is 50 minutes. My family watched this. It is full of facts and it does teach a lot, however, it is quite boring. 

POCAHONTAS LESSON PLANS WEEK 1 BEGINNER

	MON	TUES	WED	THURS	FRI
CHARACTER	Ask questions before watching Disney's Pocahontas. After watching talk about Pocahontas' real age.	Read The Carrot and the Seed.		Read When I Grow Up	In The Cat and the Hat, the cat looks physically mature, but acts like a child. Discuss how looking like an adult does not make you an adult. Read The Cat in the Hat
HISTORY	Each day read 2 or 3 pages of 1607 Jamestown			Watch BrainPop Pocahontas
READING	Each day this week Read 7-8 pages of The True Story of Pocahontas
LANGUAGE ARTS	Show child the only portrait of Pocahontas.Then show child the Then show child the image of Disney's Pocahontas. Finally show the child the photo of what Pocahontas may have looked like. Have the child write the differences.		Write a short story about what Pocahontas left behind when she traveled to England.
SCIENCE	Read Seed, Sprout, Pumpkin Pie and plant a pumpkin seed. Introduce the Four Natural Elements - Earth, Wind, Fire and Water.	Check on plants each day. This is a long term project. Chart the growth each week in a Nature Journal.	Talk a nature walk. Look at the trees, the leaves, the bark on the tree. If you have a creek nearby, try to find an area where there are two paths. Follow the creek and see which path looks easier. Talk about deciding which path to take.	Are you My Mother Activity - Baby Animals and their Mothers
MATH Optional	Read How Many Seeds in a Pumpkin Pie
GYM	Each day practice walking barefoot over different terrains.	Walk barefoot outside like Pocahontas.
HEALTH
ART	Identify the Four Elements in the Movie - Earth, Wind. Fire and Water. Each day you will create a picture depicting one of the elements. Today is fire. (Leave off the firetruck from this project.)	Today we will be painting with wind. Drop paint on a piece of paper, and using a straw blow the paint. You can try adding leaves to the paper first and creating a spatter painting with the straw.	Today we will be studying the earth and painting with mud. See Notes to make mud paint beforehand.	Painting on Water. See notes for supplies and to prepare painting on Water.
MUSIC	Listen to the soundtrack from Disneys Pocahontas. Have child pick their favorite song from this movie.			Listen to traditional Native American music.
FOOD	Make Cornbread - Compare the two recipes.	Each day select a recipe from the link below
BIBLE	Work on Memory Verse. Select something from Pocahontas (wind, trees, leaves, animal, etc) and draw a picture. Write I thank God for _______.	Work on Memory Verse. Read Psalm 56:3 "When I am afraid, I will trust in you." Answer questions about Pocahontas and John Smith - Do you think they were afraid? Is it hard to do the right thing when you afraid?	Work on Memory Verse. Talk about the name Rebecca and it's meaning. Look up the meaning for your own name. Have the child write their name in a creative way.	Work on Memory Verse. Read the Story of Rebecca.	Work on Memory Verse

POCAHONTAS WEEK 1 INTERMEDIATE

	MON	TUES	WED	THURS	FRI
CHARACTER	Ask questions before watching Disney's Pocahontas. After watching talk about Pocahontas' real age.	Follow the Character study for Intermediate and Advanced in Notes Below			Go through the list of Pixar movies and find instances that a character displayed maturity. Example: When Andy gives away Woody at the end of Toy Story 3.
HISTORY	Each day read 2 or 3 pages of 1607 Jamestown			Watch BrainPop Pocahontas
READING	Each day this week Read 7-8 pages Pocahontas by Ingri and Edgar Parin d'Aularie
LANGUAGE ARTS	Show child the only portrait of Pocahontas.Then show child the Then show child the image of Disney's Pocahontas. Finally show the child the photo of what Pocahontas may have looked like. Have the child write the differences.		Write a short story about what Pocahontas left behind when she traveled to England.
SCIENCE	Introduce the Four Natural Elements - Earth, Wind, Fire and Water.Each day take a photograph in nature that somehow depicts one of the four elements. Today take a photo of earth.	Take a photo of Wind today.	Today take a photo of water. Talk a nature walk. Look at the trees, the leaves, the bark on the tree. If you have a creek nearby, try to find an area where there are two paths. Follow the creek and see which path looks easier. Talk about deciding which path to take.	Take a photo of Fire today.
MATH Optional	Read How Many Seeds in a Pumpkin Pie
GYM	Each day practice walking barefoot over different terrains.	Walk barefoot outside like Pocahontas.
HEALTH
ART	Identify the Four Elements in the Movie - Earth, Wind. Fire and Water. Each day you will create a picture depicting one of the elements. Today is fire. (Leave off the firetruck from this project.)	Today we will be painting with wind. Drop paint on a piece of paper, and using a straw blow the paint. You can try adding leaves to the paper first and creating a spatter painting with the straw.	Today we will be studying the earth and painting with mud. See Notes to make mud paint beforehand.	Painting on Water. See notes for supplies and to prepare painting on Water.
MUSIC	Listen to the soundtrack from Disneys Pocahontas. Have child pick their favorite song from this movie.			Listen to traditional Native American music.
FOOD	Make Cornbread - Compare the two recipes.	Each day select a recipe from the link below
BIBLE	Work on Memory Verse. Read Amos 1-2	Work on Memory Verse. Read Psalm 56:3 "When I am afraid, I will trust in you." Answer questions about Pocahontas and John Smith - Do you think they were afraid? Is it hard to do the right thing when you afraid? Read Amos 3-4	Work on Memory Verse. Talk about the name Rebecca and it's meaning. Look up the meaning for your own name. Have the child write their name in a creative way.Read Amos 5-6	Work on Memory Verse. Read Amos 7-8	Work on Memory Verse. Read Amos 9

POCAHONTAS WEEK 1 ADVANCED 

	MON	TUES	WED	THURS	FRI
CHARACTER	Ask questions before watching Disney's Pocahontas. After watching talk about Pocahontas' real age.	Follow the Character study for Intermediate and Advanced in Notes Below			Go through the list of Pixar movies and find instances that a character displayed maturity. Example: When Andy gives away Woody at the end of Toy Story 3.
HISTORY	Each day read a 2-3 pages from article in the notes.				Read the History Channel article Did the Jamestown Settler's Drink Themselves to Death?
READING	Read pages 1-29 of Pocahontas	Read pages 30-63	Read pages 64-90.	Read pages 91-120	Read pages 121 - end
LANGUAGE ARTS	Show child the only portrait of Pocahontas.Then show child the Then show child the image of Disney's Pocahontas. Finally show the child the photo of what Pocahontas may have looked like. Have the child write the differences.		Write a story about what Pocahontas or John Smith left behind when they traveled out of their home country. Imagine going to a strange land where you can't speak the language.		Write a short paper comparing the real life Pocahontas with Disney's Pocahontas.
SCIENCE	Introduce the Four Natural Elements - Earth, Wind, Fire and Water. Download the Periodic Table and try to find as many elements in your home and surrounding area.	Watch the Mystery of Matter Episode 1	Talk a nature walk. Look at the trees, the leaves, the bark on the tree. If you have a creek nearby, try to find an area where there are two paths. Follow the creek and see which path looks easier. Talk about deciding which path to take. Continue to look for elements from the periodic table.	Watch the Mystery of Matter, Episode 2	Watch the Mystery of Matter Episode 3
MATH Optional
GYM	Each day practice walking barefoot over different terrains.	Walk barefoot outside like Pocahontas.
HEALTH
ART	Identify the Four Elements in the Movie - Earth, Wind. Fire and Water. Each day you will create a picture depicting one of the elements. Today is fire. Watch the video in the Notes section.	Today we will be painting with wind. Make your own spin-art machine, and create art.	Today we will be studying the earth and painting with mud. See Notes to make mud paint beforehand.	Painting on Water. See notes for supplies and to prepare painting on Water.
MUSIC	Listen to the soundtrack from Disneys Pocahontas. Have child pick their favorite song from this movie.			Listen to traditional Native American music.
FOOD	Make Cornbread - Compare the two recipes.	Each day select a recipe from the link below
BIBLE	Work on Memory Verse. Read Amos 1-2	Work on Memory Verse. Read Psalm 56:3 "When I am afraid, I will trust in you." Answer questions about Pocahontas and John Smith - Do you think they were afraid? Is it hard to do the right thing when you afraid? Read Amos 3-4	Work on Memory Verse. Talk about the name Rebecca and it's meaning. Look up the meaning for your own name. Have the child write their name in a creative way.Read Amos 5-6	Work on Memory Verse. Read Amos 7-8	Work on Memory Verse. Read Amos 9

NOTES: BIBLE:

We will be studying Amos. I selected Amos 4:13 as a memory verse because I want children to understand who created the wind, the mountains, and the earth. 

BEGINNER, INTERMEDIATE, AND ADVANCED: Work on Memorizing Bible Verses – ENTIRE WEEK. Verse of the Week is Amos 4:13 He who forms the mountains, who creates the wind, and who reveals his thoughts to mankind, who turns dawn to darkness, and treads on the heights of the earth – the Lord God Almighty is his name.

Day 3: Rebecca means “join, tie, snare.” Pocahontas took the name Rebecca when she became a Christian. She joined the Native Americans and the English. Discuss name meanings.

CHARACTER: Mature

Mature – Definition: Fully developed physically; full grown. Adult

Use plants and seed to illustrate undeveloped versus full grown in plants. Carrot and carrot seed; pumpkin and pumpkin seeds.

INTERMEDIATE AND ADVANCED: Define Mature: Continue writing in your Character Traits Journal. Focus on ways we can display maturity – Accepting responsibility, not irritating your siblings, walking away from an argument, owing up to your mistakes, etc.

GEOGRAPHY/HISTORY: 

Pocahontas was a Native American Princess born to Chief Powhatan in what is now known as Virginia. A group of Englishmen came and settled in the area of Jamestown in 1607.

TIMELINE: Disney’s Animated Pocahontas – 1995

Pocahontas is born around 1596

Englishmen including John Smith arrive in Jamestown – 1607

John Smith is injured and returns to England – 1610

Pocahontas marries John Rolfe – 1614

Pocahontas dies – 1618

DAY 1: BEGINNER, INTERMEDIATE AND ADVANCED: Find and Identify England and Jamestown on map, atlas or globe. Look at the terrain in Jamestown, VA, and the surrounding areas. Where there any cliffs or rocky regions for Pocahontas to stand on as she does in the movie? Do the English find gold?

ADVANCED: Each day read 2-3 pages from the following article. 

CREATIVE WRITING: ALL LEVELS: 

Write a dialogue between 11-year-old Pocahontas and Captain John Smith. What do you think they really said to each other.

SCIENCE:

ALL LEVELS: 

Four elements – Earth, Wind, Water and Fire. Here is a cute activity with fire for younger children.

ADVANCED: 

Read about the four elements – Classical elements. Then download a copy of the Periodic Table. This copy may be better to zoom in. Then play Periodic Element Search. Try to find as many of these in your home and surrounding area as possible.

Watch the PBS Series The Mystery of Matter. I had to sign up for a free account to get access to them.

HEALTH/Phys. Ed:

ALL LEVELS: Study the benefits of walking barefoot. Check out this Pinterest page.

Read The Benefits of Walking Barefoot.

GAMES:

ALL LEVELS:

Before typing this, I went outside (it is below 40 degrees and walked in the dew covered grass). It is rejuvenating. This week all levels will practice walking barefoot outside. If it really is too cold to walk barefoot outside, take off your shoes and socks (I never wear them in my house), and walk barefoot in the house. Here is an article about the art of walking barefoot. As the week progresses, try finding new places to walk barefoot – a creek, the beach, moss-covered rocks (be careful). These activities help with sensory stimulation and with balance.

Additional Games: Run foot races. Read Native American games and select some to try out – The Silence Game must be a game all moms try to get their kids to play!

FOOD: 

ALL LEVELS:

Each day make a new food that the Powhatan or the settlers ate.

Day 1: Make Powhatan Cornbread and regular cornbread. Compare the two. Day 2-5: Select a Recipe from this link.

ART:

ALL LEVELS:

Painting with the Elements – Earth, Wind, Water, and Fire. Find the four elements in the movie. There are plenty of examples of each. Wind – the leaves blowing, the hummingbird flapping his wings. Water – the river, the waterfall.

Wednesday: Make Mud Paint.

Thursday:  Painting on Water is a unique technique and does require certain supplies. See here! Watch this video to prepare to paint on water.

ADVANCED:

Day 1: Watch the following video. If you think your child is ready, have them “paint with fire.” Here is a description of how to paint on metal with fire.

Day 2: Paint with Wind. Make your own spin art machine.

MUSIC:

ALL LEVELS:

Listen to the soundtrack from Pocahontas. Listen to traditional Native American Music.

This video has music from the Powhawtan tribe which was the one Pocahontas was from. And here is some more traditional music.

 

WEEK TWO – CONTINUE ON TO PAGE 2 BELOW