Colonization and Revolutionary War Roanoke--The Lost Colony

Transcription

1 Non-fiction: Colonization and Revolutionary War Roanoke: The Lost Colony Colonization and Revolutionary War Roanoke--The Lost Colony During the 1580 s, the English made several attempts to establish a colony in America without success. Then, in July 1587, a group of English men and women landed on Roanoke Island off what is now North Carolina. Their leader was John White. In August, White sailed back to England for supplies. He promised to return the same year. But John White was delayed in England. He couldn t return until He came back with five ships and more English men and women who wanted to live in the colony. By the time John White s ships returned, the colony had vanished. 1 The settlers left no trace of their whereabouts 2 --no trace, except for one small clue. Near the area where the colony s fort once stood, the word CROATOAN was carved into a tree. The fort had been destroyed, and the houses were overgrown with plants. Only deer stood inside the roofless walls. Some of the woods nearby were burning. John White walked around the ruins 3, trying to figure it all out. Before he left for England, his daughter had given birth to a baby named Virginia the first European baby in the new world. What had happened to his daughter and grandchild? He walked pensively 4 along the shore. Before he left he had buried some personal items in a chest in the dirt. Someone had found the chest and taken all of its contents. John White noticed that the colonists little boats, once used for fishing and exploring, were also gone. What could Croatoan possibly mean? Croatoan was a nearby island with its own group of Native Americans. What could have happened? Even today, no one knows the answers to these questions. The colony was abandoned and no more settlers arrived until 1607, when Jamestown was established. 1 vanished suddenly disappeared 2 whereabouts-- the place where a person or thing is 3 ruins--something left after destruction, decay, or downfall 4 pensively-- thoughtfully 1

2 Questions: Colonization and Revolutionary War Roanoke: The Lost Colony Name: Date: 1. How long did it take John White to return to his colony at Roanoke? a. It took him six months to return. b. He was gone for three years. c. He returned in about three months. d. It took him seven years. 2. According to this passage, all of the following are facts except: a. The colonists little boats that were used for fishing and exploring were gone. b. John White s hidden chest had been discovered. c. John White s grandson was missing. d. What could Croatoan possibly mean? 3. Why is Roanoke called the Lost Colony? a. England lost the colony when the settlers declared their independence. b. When John White returned from England, he was unable to find any of the colonists. c. The Colonists had suffered a tough winter and had lost many people to disease. d. When John White returned, he found the colonists wandering around lost. 4. What is the author s purpose for writing this passage about Roanoke? a. The author wants to entertain the reader with scary stories about early colonial life. b. The author wants to educate the reader about Jamestown. c. The author wants to educate the reader about the difficult conditions and dangers early colonists faced. d. The author wants readers to know about John White s grandchild. 5. According to the passage, what was Croatoan? a. A nearby country where Spanish colonists lived. b. A nearby island where Native Americans lived. c. A pirate ship that raided the settlement. d. A Native American leader. 2

3 Questions: Colonization and Revolutionary War Roanoke: The Lost Colony 6. What s your opinion? Think about the facts in the passage and then write a paragraph explaining why you think the settlers might have written the word CROATOAN into the side of the tree. 7. In paragraph 4, the author writes that after Roanoke, no settlers came to American until Why might settlers have waited so long to move to America? 8. The question below is an incomplete sentence. Choose the word that best completes the sentence. When John White returned to Roanoke, no trace of the settlement remained the word CROATOAN carved into a tree. a. because b. above c. with d. except 9. Answer the following question based on the sentence below. In July 1587, a group of English men and women landed on Roanoke Island off the coast of what is now North Carolina. In the sentence, the words July 1587 answer which question? a. Who? b. What? c. When? d. Where? 10. Vocabulary Word: abandoned: left empty because of not being used or lived in anymore. Use the vocabulary word in a sentence: 3

4 Answers: Colonization and Revolutionary War Roanoke: The Lost Colony Passage Reading Level: Lexile 740 Teacher Guide and Answers Featured Text Structure: Descriptive the writer explains, defines or illustrates a concept or topic Passage Summary: The passage describes the mystery of Roanoke Island, an English colony in America that vanished. When John White, the leader of the colony, retuned after a 3-year absence, he found no trace of the settlement, only the word Croatoan carved into a tree. 1. How long did it take John White to return to his colony at Roanoke? a. It took him six months to return. b. He was gone for three years. c. He returned in about three months. d. It took him seven years. 2. According to this passage, all of the following are facts except: a. The colonists little boats that were used for fishing and exploring were gone. b. John White s hidden chest had been discovered. c. John White s grandson was missing. d. What could Croatoan possibly mean? 3. Why is Roanoke called the Lost Colony? a. England lost the colony when the settlers declared their independence. b. When John White returned from England, he was unable to find any of the colonists. c. The Colonists had suffered a tough winter and had lost many people to disease. d. When John White returned, he found the colonists wandering around lost. 4. What is the author s purpose for writing this passage about Roanoke? a. The author wants to entertain the reader with scary stories about early colonial life. b. The author wants to educate the reader about Jamestown. c. The author wants to educate the reader about the difficult conditions and dangers early colonists faced. d. The author wants readers to know about John White s grandchild. 5. According to the passage, what was Croatoan? a. A nearby country where Spanish colonists lived. b. A nearby island where Native Americans lived. 4

5 Answers: Colonization and Revolutionary War Roanoke: The Lost Colony c. A pirate ship that raided the settlement. d. A Native American leader. 6. What s your opinion? Think about the facts in the passage and then write a paragraph explaining why you think the settlers might have written the word CROATOAN into the side of the tree. Suggested answer: Answers may vary. I think that the settlers may have written the word CROATOAN on the side of the tree because they wanted others to know that their colony existed. They wanted other colonists to know they had been in battle with the Native Americans or they ran out of supplies and joined the Native Americans to survive. 7. In paragraph 4, the author writes that after Roanoke, no settlers came to American until Why might settlers have waited so long to move to America? Suggested answer: Because there were several unsuccessful attempts to colonize America, and the most recent ended mysteriously, the English people might be scared to try to settle there again or think it was too dangerous to move to America. 8. The question below is an incomplete sentence. Choose the word that best completes the sentence. When John White returned to Roanoke, no trace of the settlement remained the word CROATOAN carved into a tree. a. because b. above c. with d. except 9. Answer the following question based on the sentence below. In July 1587, a group of English men and women landed on Roanoke Island off the coast of what is now North Carolina. In the sentence, the words July 1587 answer which question? a. Who? b. What? c. When? d. Where? 10. Vocabulary Word: abandoned: left empty because of not being used or lived in anymore. Use the vocabulary word in a sentence: answers may vary. 5