This module is for Grade: 3-5 Introduction
A colonial era building and fence at Historic St. Mary's City. Courtesy National Park Service
Jamestown, Virginia, was the first permanent English settlement in North America. It began in 1607.
Almost 30 years later, in 1634, another English colony was started on the Chesapeake Bay: St. Mary’s City, Maryland.
The people who founded Maryland paid close attention to what happened in Jamestown, Virginia. They learned from Jamestown’s successes and mistakes when they planned their own settlement.
In this lesson, you will explore what life was like in both places. You will look at how each colony started, how they worked with the land and the Native nations around them, and what helped them survive. Then you will decide whether Jamestown and St. Mary’s City are more similar or more different.
Essential Questions
Throughout the lesson, you will think and reflect on these essential questions:
- Why were the locations of Jamestown and St. Mary’s City important?
- What were the reasons for settling the two colonies?
- How did each colony interact with the Indigenous people nearby?
- What lessons did colonists in St. Mary’s City learn from Jamestown?
- How are the colonial settlements of Jamestown and St. Mary’s City similar? How are they different?
Key Vocabulary
Are you curious to learn more? Before you begin the lesson, select the arrows to review the key vocabulary. Select the Turn button to read the definition for each vocabulary term.
Settling in the New World
Colonists who arrived in the New World encountered unfamiliar geography and communities of Indigenous people who had lived there for a very long time. While many settlers viewed the colonies as an opportunity to build a new life, they soon faced complex new realities that brought both struggles and successes.
Select “Begin” to start the activity. Think about each topic and decide whether it represents a struggle or a success for a new colonial settlement. Click the arrow to check your answer.
In this lesson, you will explore how Jamestown and St. Mary’s City navigated these challenges.
