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Before the Europeans came, there were no houses in this country but the rustic homes of the American Indians. The American Indian houses were made of bark, mats, or skins spread over poles.

Some people came to one part of the country. Others started settlements in other places. When more people came, some of these settlements grew into towns. The woods were cut down. Farms were planted. Roads were made. But it took many years for the country to fill with people.

The first settlers that came to live in the woods where Boston is now, settled there a long time ago. They had a governor over them. His name was John Winthrop.

The first thing the people had to do was to cut down the trees. After that, they could plant corn. But at first, they could not raise anything to eat. They had brought flour and oatmeal from England. But they found that it was not enough to last till they could raise corn on their new ground.

Winthrop sent a ship to get more food for them. The ship was gone a long time. The people ate up all their food. They were hungry. They went to the seashore and found clams and mussels. They were glad to get these to eat.

At last, they set a day for everybody to fast and pray for food. The governor had a little flour left. Nearly all of this was made into bread, and put into the oven to bake. He did not know when he would get anymore.

Just then a ship was seen. It sailed up toward Boston. It was loaded with food for all the people.

The time for the fast day came. But there was now plenty of food. The fast day was turned into a thanksgiving day.

One day a man sent a very cross letter to Governor Winthrop. Winthrop sent it back to him. He said, "I cannot keep a letter that might make me angry." Then the man that had written the cross letter wrote to Winthrop, "By conquering yourself, you have conquered me."

Directions

Study the lesson for one week.

Over the week:

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

Synopsis

Chapter one describes the plight of European settlers that came to America. The settlers failed at growing corn and other crops on the new lands. Their governor, John Winthrop, sent a ship to get food for the people, but the ship did not return. The settlers began to starve. Finally, the ship arrived carrying supplies to feed the starving people. A man, angry with the situation, sent a letter to John Winthrop. Winthrop returned the letter to him, writing, 'I cannot keep a letter that might make me angry.' The man wrote back to Winthrop, writing, 'By conquering yourself, you have conquered me.'

Vocabulary

Governor: A leader or person in authority.
Europe: A continent that encompasses numerous countries including France, Spain, England, and Germany.
Europeans: People from the continent of Europe.
Settlement: A wild place with no people where people establish a new community.
Settler: A person who moves to a wild area that has no people.
Boston: A large city in the northeastern United States.
Clam: A small water creature with a soft, boneless body that lives in a shell with two halves.
Mussel: Like a clam, but with a long, narrow brown or purplish shell.
Cross: Angry.
Conquer: To take control over a place or people.

Concepts

  1. The book you are studying features stories set in a country called the United States of America. Zoom in and study the map of the United States below. If you live in the United States, find your state on the map.
  2. Long ago, people from the continent of Europe traveled across a vast ocean to make their home in the land now known as the United States of America. People came from European countries including France, Spain, England, and Germany. Zoom in on the map of Europe below and find France, Spain, England (UK), and Germany.
  3. The settlers sailed from Europe to the United States in large ships. Find Europe and the United States on the world map below. Follow the red arrow and trace the path the settlers took.
  4. When the European settlers arrived, there were already people living on the land, called American Indians. There were many conflicts between the settlers and American Indians over the land.
  5. The European settlers had a hard time growing food in the United States, and many people starved to death.

Enrichment

Activity 1: Narrate the Story

  • After reading or listening to the story, narrate the story events aloud using your own words.

Activity 2: Act Out the Story

  • Imagine you are a hungry settler.
  • Pretend to go the beach and dig up some clams and mussels. Crack open their shells and pry out the soft flesh from inside. Pretend to cook and eat your clams and mussels.
  • As you eat the clams, the supply ship arrives. Hop up and down and cheer for the arrival of the ship.

Activity 3: Color the Story   

  • Click the crayon above. Color the drawings and complete page 4 of 'History Coloring Pages for First Grade.'

Activity 4: Color the Story   

  • Click the crayon above. Color the drawings and complete page 5 of 'History Coloring Pages for First Grade.'

Review

Question 1

Where were the European settlers originally from?
1 / 7

Answer 1

The continent of Europe, including the countries of France, Spain, England, and Germany.
1 / 7

Question 2

Where did the Europeans settle?
2 / 7

Answer 2

In the land that is now the United States of America.
2 / 7

Question 3

How did the European settlers cross the ocean?
3 / 7

Answer 3

They traveled across the ocean in large ships.
3 / 7

Question 4

What happened to the corn and crops of the settlers?
4 / 7

Answer 4

They did not grow.
4 / 7

Question 5

Who was John Winthrop?
5 / 7

Answer 5

The governor of the settlers.
5 / 7

Question 6

Why did the angry man send John Winthrop a letter?
6 / 7

Answer 6

It took too long for the supply ship to arrive. People did not have food and starved.
6 / 7

Question 7

Why did John Winthrop send the angry man's letter back?
7 / 7

Answer 7

He did not want to become angry.
7 / 7

  1. Where were the European settlers originally from? The continent of Europe, including the countries of France, Spain, England, and Germany.
  2. Where did the Europeans settle? In the land that is now the United States of America.
  3. How did the European settlers cross the ocean? They traveled across the ocean in large ships.
  4. What happened to the corn and crops of the settlers? They did not grow.
  5. Who was John Winthrop? The governor of the settlers.
  6. Why did the angry man send John Winthrop a letter? It took too long for the supply ship to arrive. People did not have food and starved.
  7. Why did John Winthrop send the angry man's letter back? He did not want to become angry.

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