Lesson Focus:
Mapping North Carolina Settlement

Objective:
For students to better understand who settled in North Carolina and the paths that they took to get to the state.

Materials:

Download the materials listed below.

• 'How North Carolina was Settled' and 'Great Philadelphia Wagon Road' maps (make copies of 'Settled' for each student, the 'Wagon Road' can be a transparency)

• 'Finding the Trail to North Carolina' student page

• 'Settlin' In' Journal Page (or they can write on their own paper)

• Writing paper and pencil

Pre-Visit Instructions:

1. Share with the class the two maps that show how the settlers came to North Carolina. They will need individual copies of the settlement map to do the activity worksheet (the class can look at the transparency of the Wagon Road).

2. Have students complete the student page individually, with a partner, or as a class. They will need markers or highlighters to make a key for the settlement map.

3. Explain that they will learn more about the Great Wagon Road and those that settled the Piedmont at the Museum.

Post-Visit Instructions:

1. Now that the students are familiar with the paths of migration into North Carolina and have seen the type of wagon some may have used, have them pick one of the groups and write a journal entry about what one day of travel may have been like. Have them consider the terrain, mode of transportation, weather, what they would be carrying, etc.

2. Conclude the activity by having some students share their journal entries and then discussing what obstacles these settlers may have faced.