Description
Using primary sources students will read about the establishment of the city of New Bern, North Carolina.
The students will also use maps to draw conclusions about what was read.
Grade Level 4th grade
Learning outcomes
Students will:Teacher Planning
TIME REQUIRED FOR LESSON
30 minutes
MATERIALS/RESOURCES
NC Colonial records vol. 4 pg 157 (A Description of the Grant of Land)
http://docsouth.unc.edu/csr/index.php/document/csr04-0054
Current Map of North Carolina
TECHNOLOGY RESOURCES
Early map of North Carolina http://www.sonofthesouth.net/leefoundation/civil-war/1861/october/north-carolina-map.jpg
Pre-activities
Explain to students in order for people to settle land in colonies they needed to ask permission.
Swiss settlers (from Lesson 1 and 2) came to Carolina and wanted to settle a piece of land, but they
had asked for one piece of land and then changed their minds. We are going to be detectives and figure
out if they got to move their settlement.
Activities
In order to be detectives we have to think about what we know. What do we know about the settlers who
came from Bern Switzerland? We know they settled the city that is known as New Bern.
We also have the letter they wrote asking for permission to move their settlement to a different place. We need to read it carefully for more clues. (The clues are they want to settle between Cape Fear River and Roanoke river instead of the Neuse river.)
How can we figure out if they got permission to settle somewhere else? Allow children to brainstorm how to figure it out. Guide them is necessary to think about using a map. Keep review the clues. Give each child a copy of a map, an example can be found at the above internet link. Using highlighters allow children to highlight each of the rivers. Be sure and tell them if they figure it out to not share the secret. Help children locate New Bern on the map.
Assessment
After children have located the rivers and New Bern ask them to write whether they think the
settlers got permission to move their settlement or not. They have to provide reasons / evidence
for their answers. (Student should realize that the Swiss were not given permission to move
because New Bern is located on the Neuse river.)
NC curriculum alignment
Social Studies
2.02 Trace the growth and development of immigration to North Carolina, over time from Europe, Asia,
and Latin America
Language Arts
3.05 Analyze and integrate information from one or more sources to expand understanding of text
including graphs, charts, and/or maps.
Lesson plan created by Lara Willox