About Curriculum
lesson image


In 1658 there was a little French colony at Onondaga in New York. Some of the men in this colony were traders, and some were missionaries. They were living among the Onondaga Indians.

The Onondaga Indians had been very friendly, but the French found out that a plot had been formed to put them all to death. Stakes had even been set up in order to burn some of them alive. There seemed no hope for the Frenchmen to escape. They knew, that, if they tried to get away by land, they should all be killed. If they shut themselves up in their fort, the Indians would besiege them, and they would starve to death. They had no boats by which to get away by sailing through the lakes and down the St. Lawrence River.

The Frenchmen went to work and built boats secretly in the attic of their fort or trading house. They built them strong enough to bear the floating ice. They had also some light canoes made of bark, which they hid in the upper part of their house. The question now was how to get away without the Indians finding it out and pursuing them.

One of the young Frenchmen had been adopted into the tribe of these Onondaga Indians. He invited the Indians to a feast. It was a feast, of a kind the Indians give, in which every guest is obliged to eat everything that is set before him, leaving nothing. The Indians kept on eating, while the French amused them with dancing and games. The young Frenchman played on his guitar, while the guests ate. The Indians having eaten too much, at length began to fall asleep one by one. The feast was not over until late at night, nor until every Indian had eaten till he begged not to be given any more. Some of the Indians fell asleep while they were eating. The rest of them were soon sleeping soundly in their wigwams.

The Frenchmen now quickly brought their boats downstairs and put them into the water. They loaded them with food and other things needed for their journey. Then they pushed off without making any noise or speaking above a whisper. The water froze about their boats as they rowed, and every moment they feared an attack from the Indians. They rowed all night long, and then they rowed and paddled all the next day without taking any rest. It was not until the evening of the second day that they felt they had passed out of the greatest danger.

The Onondaga Indians slept late the morning after the feast. When they waked at last, they came out of their huts one by one, and went toward the French house. They were surprised to see it shut up, and everything silent about it. They supposed that the French were at prayer, so they waited quietly outside. They could hear the fowls crowing in the yard, and when they knocked at the door of the house, the dog barked. Noon came, and yet no Frenchmen appeared.

Late in the afternoon the Indians climbed up the side of the house and got in by a window. They could hear no sound but their own steps. They were much frightened as they stole through the house and opened the main door. They searched the building from top to bottom, but not a Frenchman was to be found.

As they were sure that the French had no boats, the Onondaga Indians were struck with fear. They gazed a moment at each other in silence. Then they fled from the house. They believed that the Frenchmen had, by some magic, made themselves invisible; that is, so that they could not be seen. They believed that the French had flown away through the air, or walked off on the water.

Meanwhile the French passed down Lake Ontario through many dangers. They went down the River St. Lawrence, working their way over rapids and waterfalls. At last they reached Montreal, where the people looked on them as men that had come up from the grave.

Directions

Study the lesson for one week.

Over the week:

  • Read the story multiple times.
  • Read the synopsis.
  • Review the vocabulary terms.
  • Complete the enrichment activities.
  • Study the review questions.

Synopsis

When the Frenchmen staying with the Onondaga Indians learned the Indians planned to kill them, they began building boats in secret. Upon completion of the boats, the Frenchmen threw a feast, where by custom, their Indian guests were compelled to eat as long as food was put in front of them. The Frenchmen fed the Indians late into the night, until all the Indians fell asleep. As the Indians slept, the Frenchmen grabbed their boats and escaped, paddling from New York to Montreal. When the Onondaga Indians discovered the Frenchmen missing, they were afraid, thinking the Frenchmen had become invisible, had flown through the air, or had walked on water.

Vocabulary

Colony: An area under the full or partial political control of another country, typically a distant one, and occupied by settlers from that country.
Trader: A person who buys and sells goods, currency, or stocks.
Missionary: A person sent on a religious mission, especially one sent to promote a religion in a foreign country.
Besiege: Surround (a place) with armed forces in order to capture it or force its surrender.
Rapids: A fast-flowing and turbulent part of the course of a river.

Enrichment

Activity 1: Narrate the Lesson

  • After you read the lesson, narrate it aloud using your own words.

Activity 2: Map the Lesson

The Frenchmen escaped by paddling down the St. Lawrence River from New York State to Montreal in Canada. Trace their path on the map from Lake Ontario to Montreal.

Activity 3: Discuss Table Manners

The Frenchmen took advantage of Indian table manners to escape. The Indians considered it rude to stop eating until your host stopped serving you food.

Examine the list below, and decide whether each item represents good table manners, bad table manners, or neither.

  • Chewing with your mouth open.
  • Slurping your soup.
  • Saying 'please' and 'thank you.'
  • Placing your napkin in your lap before eating.
  • Snatching food off other people's plates.
  • Demanding a third helping of dessert.
  • Eating messy, saucy foods such as casserole or pasta with your bare hands.
  • Burping throughout the meal.
  • Using your fork, knife, and spoon.
  • Taking small bites and chewing your food well before swallowing.
  • Asking to be excused from the table.

Activity 4: Complete Coloring Pages, Copywork, and Writing   

  • Click the crayon above. Complete pages 35-36 of 'Second Grade American History Coloring Pages, Copywork, and Writing.'

Review

Question 1

What did the American Indians plan to do to the Frenchmen?
1 / 4

Answer 1

The American Indians planned to kill the Frenchmen.
1 / 4

Question 2

Why didn't the Frenchmen hide in their fort?
2 / 4

Answer 2

The Indians would besiege the Frenchmen, and the Frenchmen would starve to death.
2 / 4

Question 3

How did the Frenchmen get the Indians to fall asleep so they could escape?
3 / 4

Answer 3

The Frenchmen held a feast and served the Indians food late into the night until the Indians fell asleep.
3 / 4

Question 4

How did the Frenchmen escape the Indians?
4 / 4

Answer 4

The Frenchmen escaped building boats in secret and by paddling down the St. Lawrence River from New York State to Montreal in Canada. Trace their path on the map from Lake Ontario to Montreal.
4 / 4

  1. What did the American Indians plan to do to the Frenchmen? The American Indians planned to kill the Frenchmen.
  2. Why didn't the Frenchmen hide in their fort? The Indians would besiege the Frenchmen, and the Frenchmen would starve to death.
  3. How did the Frenchmen get the Indians to fall asleep so they could escape? The Frenchmen held a feast and served the Indians food late into the night until the Indians fell asleep.
  4. How did the Frenchmen escape the Indians? The Frenchmen escaped building boats in secret and by paddling down the St. Lawrence River from New York State to Montreal in Canada. Trace their path on the map from Lake Ontario to Montreal.

Contact  Privacy Policy  Terms of Use © 2023 Under The Home Online Homeschool Curriculum
Contact      Privacy      Terms
youtube icon twitter icon pinterest icon facebook icon
© 2023 Under The Home