Pocahontasby Ingri and Edgar Parin d’Aulaire

Included: A brief excerpt from the book and rigorous question set activities promoting higher level-thinking

development

Tier 1

Excerpt from book

Jacob’s Ladder Goals & Objectives

Habits of Mind

Pocahontas

This book provides a simple biography of the proud Indian princess who saved the life of John Smith, married an Englishman, and went to England where she

met the Queen, told from the viewpoint of the princess.

Obtain the book from a school library to read the story in its entirety and complete the ladder activities.

Students will be able:

Ladder AA1: Sequencing-To list in order of importance specific events or plot summaries A2: Cause and Effect-To identify and predict relationships between character behavior and story events, and their effects upon other characters or events.A3: Consequences and Implications-To predict character actions, story outcomes, and make real-world forecasts.

Ladder CC1: Literary Elements-To identify and explain specific story elements.C2: Inference—To use textual clues to read between the lines and make judgments about specific textual events, ideas, or character analysis.C3: Theme and Concept—To identify a major theme or ideas common throughout the text.

Ladder DD1: Paraphrasing—To restate lines read using their own words.D2: Summarizing—To provide a synopsis of text sections.D3: Creative Synthesis—To create something new using what they have learned from the reading and their synopsis.

Habits of Mind

Working Interdependently

Thinking about Thinking (metacognition)

Innovating, Creating, Imagining

Refer to Jacob’s Ladder Story Table for Ladder A, C, & D Thinking Questions.

Tier 2Rigor

(Discussion)

High Level Strategies with

Ladder A, C, & D Questions

Discussion Strategies: Think-Pair-Share, Write-around, Sequencing pictures, Role Play, Journaling.

Choose 3 of 4 questions below to complete.

A2: What caused Pocahontas to move to England? What were the effects on her and her family?

C1: The character of Pocahontas illustrates human qualities that transcend culture and place. Based on your understanding of the story, what are these human qualities?

C2: Can you elaborate on what may accounted for the desire of Pocahontas to help the colonists?

D1: In your own words, describe the scene where Pocahontas saves John Smith from death.

Tier 3Rigor

(Discussion)

High Level Strategies with

Ladder A, C, & D Questions

Discussion Strategies: Think-Pair-Share, Write-around, Sequencing pictures, Role Play, Journaling.Choose 2 of 3 questions below to complete.

A3: The story of Pocahontas is one of historical biography. She is a real person who lived in Virginia and aided the first English colonists in their attempt to live in Jamestown. How can you explain the cultural implications for her of moving to England?

C3: What do you see as the concept or theme of the Pocahontas’s story illustrating?

D2: What facts can you compile into a paragraph from the story that will tell the life of Pocahontas?

Tier 4

Reflections/Relevance(A1, D3)

Choose two of the ideas to complete.  Be creative. 

1. Propose a timeline of Pocahontas’s life, based on the story. Be creative with your project strategy. (A1)

2. Create a character profile of a famous modern-day woman who has qualities similar to Pocahontas. Compare the qualities of the two women. Use one of the optional project strategies below or one of your own choosing. (D3)

3. Design a pamphlet and poster that summarizes and advertises the book that you have read. Things that you might include are brief character descriptions and a plot summary. Remember that your goal is to “sell” the book to other readers.

Optional project strategies:  Commercial Role Play; Create a Puppet Show; Charts, Posters, Flyers, Brochures; Picture Dictionary.