Curriculum Samples
The Siege and Battles of Saybrook Fort during the Pequot War, 1636-1637
Elementary Education Curriculum
Developed for the Old Saybrook Historical Society
and
The United States National Park Service,
American Battlefield Protection Program
Grant Number GA-2287-17-011
“This material is based upon work assisted by a grant from the Department of the Interior, National Park Service. Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Department of the Interior.”
Introduction to the Elementary Curriculum
Thanks to a grant to the Old Saybrook Historical Society from the United States National Park Service under the American Battlefield Protection Program (GA-2287-17-011), the following three Elementary Education Lessons have been developed about the Siege and Battles of Saybrook Fort during the Pequot War (1636-1637).
The three lessons are:
- The Pequot War and Saybrook Fort
- How do Archaeologists find out about the past?
- Where was Saybrook Fort located during the Pequot War?
All three lessons are Inquiry Based and align with the Connecticut Social Studies Frameworks, Grades 3 and 5.
Connecticut Social Studies Frameworks: Grade 3
Dimension 1: Developing Questions and Planning Inquiry
- INQ 3-5.5 Determine the kinds of sources that will be helpful in answering compelling questions and supporting questions, taking into consideration the different opinions people have about how to answer questions.
- HIST 3.3 Generate questions about individuals who have shaped significant historical changes and continuities.
- HIST 3.6 Summarize how different kinds of historical resources are used to explain events in the past.
- INQ 3-5.6 Gather relevant information from multiple sources while using origin, structure, and context to guide selection.
- INQ 3-5.8 Identify evidence that draws information from multiple sources in response to compelling questions.
- INQ 3-5.9 Use evidence to develop claims in response to compelling questions.
- INQ 3-5.10 Construct arguments using claims and evidence from multiple sources.
- INQ 3-5.11 Construct explanations using reasoning, correct sequence, examples, and details with relevant information and data.
-
Dimension 1: Developing Questions and Planning Inquiry
- INQ 3-5.4 Determine the kinds of sources that will be helpful in answering compelling and supporting questions, taking into consideration the different opinions people have about how to answer questions.
- HIST 5.3 Use information about a historical source, including the maker, date, place of origin, intended audience, and purpose to judge the extent to which the source is useful for studying a particular topic.
- HIST 5.5 Explain connections among historical contexts and people’s perspectives.
- HIST 5.6 Compare information provided by historical sources about the past.
- HIST 5.9 Explain probable causes and effects of events and developments.
- HIST 5.10 Use evidence to develop a claim about the past.
Example:
Where was Saybrook Fort located during the Pequot War (1636-1637)?
Background Information for the Teacher:
When the Old Saybrook Historical Society and the Mashantucket Pequot Museum and Research Center archaeologists and historians first applied to the U.S. National Park Service American Battlefield Protection Program they had a question they wanted to answer.
Where was the original Saybrook Fort built in 1636 by the English and besieged by the Pequots during the Pequot War located?
For many years, it was widely believed that the 1636 fort had been located where a second fort was built in the 18th century in the area not far from the present-day Monument Park and that the site was destroyed in 1870 with the construction of the railroad. The current replica at Monument Park is a representation only showing that there once was a fort on Saybrook Point.
Members of the Old Saybrook Historical Society however had suspicions that the 1636 Fort was located elsewhere on Saybrook Point and along with the Mashantucket Pequot Museum and Research Center hoped to find out where. But where and how to look?
By studying accounts and clues written by the 1636-37 fort’s commander, Lieutenant Lion Gardiner and others about the six-month siege of the fort by the Pequots and the battles and skirmishes that took place, the researchers were able to hypothesize where the fort may have been.
This lesson is designed to allow students to explore Saybrook Point by looking at and analyzing a series of maps to decide for themselves where they think the original 1636 fort would have been placed just as the archaeologists and historians from the Manshantucket Pequot Museum did.
The lesson can be implemented using either printed copies of the maps with questions or a powerpoint.
Learning Objectives:
Skill Objectives:
Compelling Question:
Where was the Saybrook Fort during the Pequot War located?
Time Frame:
The lesson can take 1 to 2 class periods.
Materials:
Lesson Introduction:
o How is a fort built?
o If where a fort was built is no longer known, how do you think it can be found?
o What do you know about the Pequot War and Old Saybrook?
o Discuss any questions the class may have.
Activity/Instruction:
Where was the Saybrook Fort during the Pequot War located?
2. Map Analysis
Where was the Saybrook Fort during the Pequot War located?
4. Individual Student Evaluation
Students can be asked to answer the Where was Saybrook Fort Located Questionnaire.
Summary of the Pequot War
(Teacher)
This lesson is designed to allow students to explore the location of Saybrook Fort during the Pequot War (1636-37) as archaeologists and historians would using specially prepared materials and documents designed to give students insight into how those professions interpret the past.
The Pequot War was fought primarily between the English Colony of Massachusetts Bay the Connecticut Colony and their Mohegan allies against the Pequot Tribe who lived in what is now southeastern Connecticut. It was the first major conflict between Native Americans and the newly established English colonies in northeastern North America. The war lasted for eleven months and numerous battles were fought over an area comprising much of what is now the state of Connecticut.
Major engagements included the seven-month Pequot siege of the English Fort in Saybrook, Ct., the Pequot attack on the English settlement of Wethersfield, Ct., the English attack and massacre of Pequots at their Fort in Mystic, Ct., and the final defeat of the Pequots at Fairfield, Ct.
The Pequot War ended Native American resistance to English colonial expansion in New England for forty years following the defeat of the Pequots and set the stage for English and later American domination, marginalization, and abusive treatment including genocide of Native Americans for the next 300 years.
The Building of Saybrook Fort, April – May 1636
(Teacher)
The following are from an account of the building of the English fort on Saybrook Point by Lieutenant Lion Gardiner who was sent to build and command it.
Where was Saybrook Fort located during the Pequot War (1636-1637)?
- Subject(s): Social Studies
- Topic or Unit of Study: History/Archaeology
- Grade/Level: Elementary
Background Information for the Teacher:
When the Old Saybrook Historical Society and the Mashantucket Pequot Museum and Research Center archaeologists and historians first applied to the U.S. National Park Service American Battlefield Protection Program they had a question they wanted to answer.
Where was the original Saybrook Fort built in 1636 by the English and besieged by the Pequots during the Pequot War located?
For many years, it was widely believed that the 1636 fort had been located where a second fort was built in the 18th century in the area not far from the present-day Monument Park and that the site was destroyed in 1870 with the construction of the railroad. The current replica at Monument Park is a representation only showing that there once was a fort on Saybrook Point.
Members of the Old Saybrook Historical Society however had suspicions that the 1636 Fort was located elsewhere on Saybrook Point and along with the Mashantucket Pequot Museum and Research Center hoped to find out where. But where and how to look?
By studying accounts and clues written by the 1636-37 fort’s commander, Lieutenant Lion Gardiner and others about the six-month siege of the fort by the Pequots and the battles and skirmishes that took place, the researchers were able to hypothesize where the fort may have been.
This lesson is designed to allow students to explore Saybrook Point by looking at and analyzing a series of maps to decide for themselves where they think the original 1636 fort would have been placed just as the archaeologists and historians from the Manshantucket Pequot Museum did.
The lesson can be implemented using either printed copies of the maps with questions or a powerpoint.
Learning Objectives:
- Students will understand how archaeologists work to find clues to discover the past.
- Students will understand how historians use maps to help them understand the past.
- Students will understand that sometimes what is believed about the past may not necessarily be true.
- Students will understand how artifacts can help create a better understanding of the past.
- Students will use evidence to answer the compelling question.
Skill Objectives:
- Students will be able to read and interpret a variety of maps to find clues about the past.
- Students will be able to interpret and link images of artifacts to a variety of maps.
- Students will be able to work cooperatively with others.
- Students will be able to draw conclusions from a variety of facts presented.
- Students will be able to share responses and interpretations with the entire class.
- Students will be able to understand the meaning of new vocabulary words.
Compelling Question:
Where was the Saybrook Fort during the Pequot War located?
Time Frame:
The lesson can take 1 to 2 class periods.
Materials:
- Handout of maps and questions about each map.
- Powerpoint of maps and questions about each map.
- Reading: Summary of the Pequot War (teacher)
- Reading: The Building of Saybrook Fort (teacher)
- Where was Saybrook Fort Located Questionnaire
- Vocabulary Words
Lesson Introduction:
- To begin, ask the class the following questions:
o How is a fort built?
o If where a fort was built is no longer known, how do you think it can be found?
o What do you know about the Pequot War and Old Saybrook?
- Share with the class a basic history of the Pequot War provided.
- Read to the class the handout “The Building of Saybrook Fort”.
o Discuss any questions the class may have.
- Explain to the class that they are going to be exploring where the fort Lion Gardiner built was really located just as archaeologists and historians did.
- Divide the students into groups of 2 – 3 to work together to analyze the maps handed out or on a computer.
- Another option is to view the powerpoint as a class and students can answer the questions
- Students should each record their answers as they proceed.
Activity/Instruction:
- Introduction
- Either pass out to each student a copy of the map packet or have them access the powerpoint.
- Explain that they should look at each map or photograph carefully, discuss what they see with their group members, and answer the questions.
- Remind them they are working like Archaeologists and Historians.
- Before they begin, explain they are looking for the answer to the compelling question:
Where was the Saybrook Fort during the Pequot War located?
- Explain they will have to answer the question later based on evidence they are able to gather from their investigation of the maps and their answers to the questions.
- Ask if the students have any questions.
2. Map Analysis
- Each group should begin looking for clues from the maps and answering the questions for each.
- Remind them that each needs to write down their answers on their own handout.
- Monitor progress and answer questions as needed.
- Each group should conclude by deciding where the fort was located based on upon their analysis of the maps. (The Compelling Question)
- Post the Compelling Question so the entire class can see it.
Where was the Saybrook Fort during the Pequot War located?
- Ask each group to create an answer based on the facts discovered during their analysis.
- Each group should take turns sharing their answer to the Compelling Question and briefly explain the facts that brought them to the conclusion.
- You may have students decide as a class where the fort was located and compare it to that of the Mashantucket Pequot Museum Archaeologists and Historians.
4. Individual Student Evaluation
Students can be asked to answer the Where was Saybrook Fort Located Questionnaire.
Summary of the Pequot War
(Teacher)
This lesson is designed to allow students to explore the location of Saybrook Fort during the Pequot War (1636-37) as archaeologists and historians would using specially prepared materials and documents designed to give students insight into how those professions interpret the past.
The Pequot War was fought primarily between the English Colony of Massachusetts Bay the Connecticut Colony and their Mohegan allies against the Pequot Tribe who lived in what is now southeastern Connecticut. It was the first major conflict between Native Americans and the newly established English colonies in northeastern North America. The war lasted for eleven months and numerous battles were fought over an area comprising much of what is now the state of Connecticut.
Major engagements included the seven-month Pequot siege of the English Fort in Saybrook, Ct., the Pequot attack on the English settlement of Wethersfield, Ct., the English attack and massacre of Pequots at their Fort in Mystic, Ct., and the final defeat of the Pequots at Fairfield, Ct.
The Pequot War ended Native American resistance to English colonial expansion in New England for forty years following the defeat of the Pequots and set the stage for English and later American domination, marginalization, and abusive treatment including genocide of Native Americans for the next 300 years.
The Building of Saybrook Fort, April – May 1636
(Teacher)
The following are from an account of the building of the English fort on Saybrook Point by Lieutenant Lion Gardiner who was sent to build and command it.
- When Lieutenant Gardiner arrived at Saybrook Point he did not have the 300 men promised but only about 20. With growing tension and threats of possible attack by the Pequots he knew he had to act fast.
- The original plans were abandoned, and he had his men construct a smaller version. This included a wooden palisade wall, two openings called bastions for his canons, and a few buildings inside the walls including a “Great Hall” where he and his men lived.
- Gardiner chose what he would have known was the best location for the fort based on his experience as a military engineer having built forts in Europe.
- Lieutenant Gardiner also built a wharf for ships could dock so supplies could more easily be unloaded.
- To the east of the fort a vegetable garden was planted to help feed those at the fort. The garden was surrounded by a fence called a “pale” to keep animals out.
- Gardiner and his men also built a warehouse to store supplies and trade goods.
