Access American History Reader's Theater

Access American History
Building Literacy Through Learning

by Great Source
Readers Theater
created by
Erica Sanders, Instructor
English as a second language
Riverdale Middle School
Table of Contents
Unit 1: Americas beginnings
Lesson 1: The First Americans-Beginnings
Page number
Settling the Continent
Using Resources
Ways of Life in the East
Ways of life in the West

Lesson 2: European Exploration-1400s and 1500s
8
9
The Search for New Trade Routes
10
Christopher Columbus
11
Claiming Lands
12
Bringing Hardship to Native Americans

Lesson 3: The Thirteen Colonies
The Early Colonies
Religious Freedom
Growth of the Colonies
Slavery in America
13
Characters
Aleekcheaahoosh(boy-means accomplishes)
Alawa(girl-Sweet pea)
Bidziil(boy-he is strong)
Narrator
Vocabulary
indians- a name for the native people of the
migrated- moved from one region to line in
Americas; Native Americans.
another.
there.
the same.
resources- things in a place that people use to
culture- ways of life; includes language, foods,
Woodland Indians- native Americans who
ceremonies- events held at a special time such
Settled- moved into a place; made a home
help them live.
regions- areas of land where many things are
beliefs, and ways of doing things.
lived in the forests east of the Mississippi
as when people die, marry or when a new
River.
leader is chosen.
bison.
the flat parts of the western United States.
continent- one of seven large bodies of land.
longhouses- long, wooden Iroquois houses.
buffalo- large animals like cattle; also called
Plains Indians- native Americans who lived in
The continents are Africa, Antarctica, Asia,
Australia, Europe, North America, and South

America.
spirits- supernatural beings. Angels are

spirits.
permanent- lasting; not going away.
temple- a building for religious activities.
harvests- the gathering of food crops at the
herds- large groups of one kind of animal.
end of the growing seasons.
mound builders- Native American cultures of
population- all the people who live in an area.
the Ohio and Mississippi river. They built
tipis- tents
mounds, large hills made of earth.
weapons- the tools of hunting and war, such
religion- a belief in and worship of God or
as arrows and guns.
spirits.
adobe- sun-dried brick made of clay and
season- one of the 4 periods f the year: spring,
cliff dwellers- Native Americans of the
canyon- a narrow valley with high steep
straw.
summer, winter, and fall.
Southwest who built their houses on the sides
sides and a stream at the bottom.
of cliffs.

Settling the Continent
Narrator: American Indians were the first people in North America. They moved into different regions and developed many
different ways of life. Follow along as Aleekcheaahoosh, Alawa, and Bidziil tell the story of the first Americans.
Alawa: My people migrated from Asia, a continent, may thousands of years ago.
Aleekcheaahoosh: Alawa, what is a continent?
Alawa: A continent is a large body of land.
Bidziil: Thats right. There are seven of them. Do you know what their names are Alawa?
Alawa: I dont know. I think they are Asia, North America, South America, Australia, and. . . .
Bidziil: And. . . Europe, Antarctica, and Africa.
Alawa: fwww! Thanks for helping me out with that Bidziil. I kinda forgot their names for a minute.
Bidziil: No Problem.
Aleekcheaahoosh: Finish telling about our people, Alawa. I want to hear more.
Bidziil: Yeah, me too.
Alawa: Alright. Well, when our people came here to the continent of North America, they settled in regions. They made the new
world their home. The regions had may things that were the same such as animals, weather, and plants. These things became
resources that allowed them to live off the land and to develop cultures. Their culture included language, foods, beliefs, and ways of
doing things. Each nation and tribe had its own culture based on the region where they lived.
All: Awesome!!
Using Resources
Narrator: There were four major regions where the Native Americans, the first Americans lived. The first area were the Woodland
forests. This region was divided between the north and the south. Next, there was the Great Plains region. The land area of this
region was flat. Then, there was the Southwest-Desert region. The Native Americans made a life for themselves in the desert.

Finally, there was the coastal region. This region was on the Pacific coast of California, Washington, and Oregon. As mentioned
before, each region had different resources that sustaianed life.
Bidziil: I know all about the regions. It is alot of information, so, listen up. The East was covered with thick, thick, forests. The
Woodland Indians lived there. They hunted deer and rabbits for meat. You know that rabbit in Spanish is conejo. The fur and
skins made warm clothes that were worn in the brutal winters.
Alawa: They didnt eat all meat, huh?
Bidziil: Of course not. Even then, people new it was important to add fruits and vegeatbles to the diet so they could stay healthy.
They gathered fruits, nuts, and berries. Many of these foods had chemicals in them that our people used to heal the sick.
Aleekcheaahoosh: Food can heal the sick?
Bidziil: You didnt know that?
Aleekcheaahoosh: Nope.
Bidziil: Well, any way. Because they were surrounded by all that wood, they used it to make their homes. Having wooden homes
allowed them to make permanent settlements. They lived in these villages for a long time.
Alawa: I thought all Native Americans lived in tipis, Bidziil?
Bidziil: You know, many people seem to think that, but that was not always the case. Many tribes live in permanent settlements.
However, the Great Plains Native Americans did live in tipis. Can you guess why?
Aleekcheaahoosh: Nope!
Bidziil: Take a guess.
Aleekcheaahoosh: Well, it would help if I knew what a tipi was.

Alawa: Come on Aleekcheaahoosh. A tipi is a tent! And what do we do with tents?eh?
Aleekcheaahoosh: Ah, go camping!?
Bidziil: Thats right, we go camping. Camps are not permanent settlements. So, we can go a bit further and say that the Great
Plains Native Americans moved a lot. What would make them travel so much?
Aleekcheaahoosh and Alawa: We dont know. Tell us!
Bidziil: Food!
Aleekcheaahoosh and Alawa: Food?!!

Bidziil: Thats correct. Food! They had to chase moving food. That food was buffalo. We dont see many of those these days. They
were like big super hairy cows. These buffalo gave them fur to keep them warm and skins for their tipis. Their bones were made in
to spoons and combs for their hair.
Aleekcheaahoosh and Alawa: Cool!!!!!!!!!
Bidziil: The next region was the deserts of the southwest. This area did not have trees. Homes were not made of wood. The homes
were made of clay. The vegetables were the desert plants, like cactus, and the meat came from desert animals.
Alawa: How do you know all this stuff, Bidziil?
Bidziil: I read a lot!!!
Aleekcheaahoosh and Alawa: Ha, Ha, ha.
Bidziil: The Native Americans who lived on the Pacific coast took their food from the ocean. They were fishermen. The hunted for
shellfish like clams. The also ate shrimp and whales. They shells were use for money.
Ways of Life in the East

Narrator: The Mississippi River divided the continent of North American into east and west. Many Native American groups lived
east of the river. They used the resources of the land to form their own ways of life. In the east there were The Woodland Native
Americans. This group included the Iroquis, Choctaw, Mound Builders, and the Cherokee.
Bidziil: I need yall to help me out here. Alawa, tell me what you know about our ancestors.
Alawa: I know that the Iroquois were one of the Woodland Indians. They lived in what is now New York. There were five tribes.
They fought a lot, too. But, one day, they had a wise leader who persuaded them to unite and stop the fighting. He told them that
they could be strong if they helped each other and be peaceful. So, they joined together to create the Iroquois League. This League
kept it peaceful and quiet for two hundred years.
Bidziil and Aleekcheaahoosh: Two hundred years!!!!

Alawa: I know that is a long time, huh?
Bidziil and Aleekcheaahoosh: Very!!!
Alawa: they lived in wooden longhouse, not the tipis of the Great Plains Indians. When a man and woman married, they lived with
the womans family in their longhouse. It was really crowded. More than 10 families lived in this house. It was a really big house.
Now, the men made peace and war. The women ruled the longhouse and owned most of the property of the group.
Bidziil: Well done, Alawa. Aleekcheaahoosh, it is your turn to tell us about the Choctaw.
Aleekcheaahoosh: Alright, here we go. The Choctaw was Woodland just like the Iroquois. The lived in the forest. The men hunted
deer and other animals in the forest. The women grew corn, beans, and squash. The both held special ceremonies to celebrate their
harvests. These events were held when the crops were picked at the end of the growing season. They also played a game called
lacrosse. It was a little like baseball. Now, like the Choctaw and iroquois, there were the Mound Builders. The built big hills or
mound of dirt in and aroung their towns. They had a population of about 20,000. They farmed their land, too. They fields were
outside the city. They built temples, too.
Ways of Life in the West

Narrator: The regions west of the Mississippi River has different resources. The people living in the West had waus of life that
were different from those of the East. The Sioux lived in the Great Plains and the Pueblo Indians lived in the Southwest Desert
region. The Sioux hunted the buffalo. The buffalo skin provided resources for tipis and robes. The buffalo horns were used to
make spoons and cups. The bones were used to make tools and weapons. Rope was made from buffalo hair. The roles of men and
women weredifferent. The women made the tools and sewed the clothing. They took care of the children. They also built the tipis
and dexorated them with designs. The buffalo and the sun were important in the Sious religion. Because the Buffalo herds moced
with the seasons, the Sioux followed them as they were dollowing the sun. The Sioux believed they were helping to keep the world
in order. They held a Sun Dance once a year to celebrate life. In the hot and dry Southwest Desert, the Pueblo built houses in the
cliffs. These houses were made from clay bricks called adobe. Adobe is the Spanish word for clay. The first Pueblo Indians were
called the Anasazi. The built their adobe houses with many levels. They were like apartments. They were safe from their enemies
because they lived high in the canyaon walls. They were also known as cliff dwellers. They Pueblo were farmers. The planted near
streams that ran through the desert land. There they raised cornm beans and squash. They created pottery and baskets. They
believed in Kachinas or spirits. They thought these spirits would bring rain. The Bative Americans settled across America. In each
region, the resources were different. The Native Americans developed different cultures, manyof which still exist today.
Characters
Isaac
Carlos
Mary
Narrator
Vocabulary
traders- people who buy and sell things.
voyage- along journey or trip
empire- a group of lands or countries under
the Americas- the continents of north and
dangerous- not safe
settlement- a place where people live
thieves- people who steal; robbers
religious- believing in God or spirits
goods- things for sell.

one government.
trade routes- the paths or water ways traders
claimed-said that something belonged to them

South America
colonies-areas that are ruled by another
10
travel to buy and sell goods

compass- a tool for finding direction. It uses
a magnetic needle that points north.
Indians- a name for the native people of the

Americas called and exploration.
country
spices- plants like peppers, ginger, and
cinnamon that add flavor to food.
suffered-felt pain or loss
Christianity- the religion based on the
missions- churches and other buildings where
teachings of Jesus Christ
priests live and teach their religious beliefs
silk- a fine, shiny cloth
invented- made for the first time

The Search for New Trade Routes
Narrator: Europeans were looking for faster and easier trade routes east to Asia during the 1400s. This led them to find a world
that was new to them. Christopher Columbus sailed west and landed in North America instead. Soon, other European explorers
followed. They claimed lands for their kings. They met the native people. The Native Americans suffered. Follow along as Isaac,
Carlos, and Mary retell the experiences of some of the European explorers.
Mary: Hello, I am Mary. Isaac, Carlos, and I have been doing a research project about the early explorers of America. We are
going to share with you what we have learned about Christopher Columbus and Prince Henry the Navigator of Portugal. By the
1400s, Europeans were getting restless. They wanted things that came from Asia such as silk and spices. Their trade routes took
them east across dangerous lands. Many Europeans became rich from trading with Asia. Join us as we share the rest of our
findings.
11
Isaac: Like Mary said, the trade routes going across the land were hard and dangerous. Thieves stole goods. There was so much
stealing that wars broke out on these trade routes. Everybody needed to find a trade route that would go across water to get from
Europe to Asia.
Carlos: Many European rulers paid explorers to search the seas for new routes. They paid for ships, sailors, and supplies. This stuff
cost mucho dinero. However, rulers were willing to take a risk. They took a risk because if a safe route was found to Asia, they
could get richer.
Mary: Imagine that. Getting paid to take a vacation.

All: Ha, ha, ha.
Narrator: In 1419, in the country of Portugal, Prince Henry the Navigator started a school for sailors. He invited only the best
scientists and mathematicians to study there. The invented a new sailing ship called a caravel.
Isaac: Hey, have yall ever heard of a caravel?
Mary and Carlos: No! What is that? A candy?

Isaac: No you guys, it is a type of special boat that Prince Henry invented. It was super fast and strong. It could travel long
distances. They even made special tools for making excellent state of the art maps.
Mary and Carlos: Awesome!
Isaac: Prince Henrys sailors explored the Atlantic Ocean along the west coast of Africa.
Carlos: I heard that they reached the southern tip of Africa .They felt so good about this accomplishment, they sailed around Africa
and reached all the way up to India ten years later.
Mary: They found an all-water route to Asia, but it wasnt easy. It was long, dangerous, and costly.
Christopher Columbus
Narrator: Seventy-three years after Prince Henry the Navigator found a route to Asia, Christopher Columbus sailed for Spain in
1492. Christopher Columbus was an Italian sea captain. He thought he could get to Asia by sailing west instead of going east. This
route would take him across the Atlantic Ocean. The problem with this idea is that most people of that time thought the Earth was
flat. So they thought they would fall off the Earth into nothingness!
12
Carlos: An Italian sailor thought he would ask the King and Queen of Spain to pay for him to sail west to Asia. King Ferdinand and
Queen Isabella agreed to pay for Columbus voyage.
All: On August 3, 1492, Columbus sailed west to find a route to Asia. He was given three ships: the Nina, Pinta, and the Maria.
Mary: He navigated the sea with a compass.
Isaac: He navigated the sea with the stars.
Carlos: He sailed 3,000 miles across the Atlantic. It took two months.
Narrator: On October 12, 1492, they shouted. . .
All: Tierra, tierra!!!
Narrator: That means land.

Mary: They had landed in the Bahamas. They went on shore and claimed the land for Spain.
Carlos: The native people there were known as Taino.
Isaac: Columbus called them Indians because he thought that he had found India which is part of Asia.
Carlos: So, was he in Asia at all?
All: No! He was in the Americas!!!

Narrator: This part of the world was not on any maps. The Europeans called it the New World.
Claiming Lands
Narrator: The voyages of Christopher Columbus began an age of great wealth and power for Spain. Other European nations also
sent explorers to claim lands in the New World.
Mary: Spanish explorers after Columbus started a huge Spanish empire in the Americas. They claimed lands in Central and South
America and in the southern parts of North America. In 1565, Spain built a fort at St. Augustine, Florida. It was the first permanent
European settlement in North America.
Carlos: The sad part about this, though, is that the Native Americans were overpowered by the Spanish. This was because the
Spanish had guns and cannons.
Isaac: That wasnt fair. They only had bows and arrows, knives, and stones. Their mighty empires fell.
13
All: They were no match for the Spanish!!!

Isaac: The Spanish took their lands and forced the Native Americans to be their slaved. They stole their gold. The Native Americans
suffered terribly.
Narrator: The rulers of Spain were religious people. They wanted to spread Christianity. The sent Spanish priests to build missions
in the Americas. Some priests taught the Native Americans with love. Others were very cruel. The other Europeans in the New
World were England, France, Portugal, and Holland. They also sent explorers to claim lands in the New World. Each nation went to
a different part of the Americans.
All: Englands claim became very important in the years to come.

Mary: In 1497, the king of England sent an explorer to claim land in North America.
Carlos: In the 1580s, Queen Elizabeth I of England sent people to start colonies along the east coast of North America.
All: In time, these colonies became the United States of America.
Bringing Hardship to Native Americans

Narrator: Europeans in the Americas brought terrible changes to the lives of the native people. At, first, many native Americans
welcomed the Europeans. Some showed Europeans how to grow food and hunt animals. Over time, however, the Europeans and
the Native Americans became enemies.
All: The Native Americans suffered!
Carlos: The people lost land they had lived on for a very long time.
Mary: Some Native Americans became slaves. They had to do hard labor with no pay and no rights.
Isaac: Millions of native people died from European diseases-smallpox, measles, flu- they had never seen before.
All: Their bodies had no defenses against these diseases.
Carlos: The treasures of great empires- huge amounts of gold and jewels- were taken to Europe. Native American books were
destroyed. Statues and art objects were melted for their gold .

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