VS.3b

Describing how geography influenced the decision to settle at Jamestown.

READY RESOURCES

SUGGESTED INSTRUCTIONAL STRATEGIES

• Tell students that when the settlers arrived in 1607, Jamestown was located on a narrow peninsula bordered on three sides by the James River. Today Jamestown is located on an island in the James River.
  
  
• Provide maps of early Virginia with maps of current Virginia and have students compare the landscape and water features.
  
  
• Ask students to brainstorm reasons why they think the location of Jamestown was selected. Write their responses on a chart, and then tell them the reasons for the site choice.
  
  
• Have students draw pictures illustrating the three reasons for the Jamestown site choices. The reasons for the site choice were: 1) the location could be easily defended from attack by sea (Spanish); 2) the water along the shore was deep enough for ships to dock; and 3) they believed they had a good supply of fresh water.
  
  
• Have students share their illustrations of each reason for the Jamestown site choice. Refer to an early map of Virginia to show the water features.
  
  

TEACHER BACKGROUND RESOURCES

WEB SITES

• http://www.virginiaplaces.org/vacities/7jamestown.html
  Jamestown - Why There? is a comprehensive site that offers many factors as to why the English chose Jamestown.
  
  
• http://www.vahistorical.org/storyofvirginia.htm
  This site offers ten concise, easy-to-read chapters on Virginia history from prehistoric times to the present.
  
  
• http://www.historyisfun.org/PDFbooks/Voyage_to_Virginia.pdf
  This booklet is designed to give students “an overview of 17th-century navigation technology and life at sea for crew and passengers.”