Last updated: August 17, 2016
Lesson Plan
Gouedy Fort: What’s in the bag?
- Grade Level:
- Upper Elementary: Third Grade through Fifth Grade
- Subject:
- Social Studies
- Lesson Duration:
- 60 Minutes
- State Standards:
- SC 3rd Grade standards
3-1.3
3-2.3
SC 4th Grade standards
4-2.4
Objective
At the end of this activity, the student will be able to:
- Explain interactions between the people and the physical landscape of South Carolina over time
-Describe the initial contact, cooperation, and conflict between the Native Americans and European settlers in South Carolina
-Summarize the relationship among the Native Americans, Europeans, and Africans, including the French and Indian War, the slave revolts, and the conduct of trade.
Materials
Part 1: Native American's Haversack containing several items that a Native American would have carried. Part 2: Gouedy Haversack containing laminated speaking parts for 5 students.
Procedure
In the Gouedy Fort haversack, there are several quotes. The students will read aloud the quotes one at a time. The remaining students will direct the speaker to stand inside the fort or outside the fort.
Teacher: This fort was actually part of another battle. What I want to point out is that it would have been the type of fort that was built quickly in order to protect local settlers from Indian attacks during the Cherokee wars. We have two activities for this fort. The first one is a Native American haversack. The Governor sent British soldiers to build a fort around Robert Geoudy’s barn because the Cherokee were attacking local settlers. I am going to put you into small groups and give you an item out of this bag. I want you to discuss the item in your group and then choose a person to explain the purpose of the item to the rest of us. Do you have any questions? (Wait) Alright, get into groups of 3 or 4. (Teacher will pass out items and give students 1 minute to discuss.) Now I want each group to quickly tell us the purpose of the item.
Now for our next activity, I have some quotes. Who knows what a quote is? (The purpose of this question is for students to understand that alot of what we know about the past comes from what people wrote back then.) I am going to read a quote and I want you to think about who said it. Would it have been a settler inside the fort or a Cherokee native outside the fort? So if you think it is from someone outside you will have to stand outside the fort on the path. If you think it is from someone inside then you will stand inside the fort. Do you have any questions? (Note for teacher, these quotes have been simplified for third and fourth graders however you may still have to explain further the meanings.)
Quote 1: “We had the pleasure, during the fight to see several of our enemy drop, and to fatten our dogs with their dead, and hang their scalps on our fort.”
Quote 2: “The traders are very cross or mean with us. We dare not speak to them. If we do, they take our skins, and throw them on the ground, and do not trade with us.”
Quote 3: “On Monday the third 240 or 250 of them attacked the fort…, and fired upon it for 36 hours, without a break, even during the whole night.”
Quote 4: “They have burnt Gouedy’s farm except the little fort built around his barn where he and Captain Frances and a few more men are penn’d up.”
Quote 5: “Do what we can, they will cheat us! How can we trade if they are going to cheat us?”
Teacher: So who can summarize the relationship between the Native Americans and colonists? (The purpose of this question is for students to understand that unfair trade practices and moving into their territory led to conflict between the two groups. After the Cherokee wars, a truce was called between the Cherokee and the colonists.)
Vocabulary
Haversack: a strong bag used to carry necessary items by travelers.
Scalp: the skin covering the head. Native Americans and later Europeans would cut the scalps off their enemies.
Assessment Materials
Post Site ActivityJournal activity
Pretend you are a traveler during colonial times, what are some items you would carry in your haversack? In your journal draw a picture of you haversack and the items you would carry. Write a brief explanation of why you would carry these items.