The Lost Colony of Roanoke

Interactive Notebook Lesson

Made with Love by: Jenifer Bazzit

Thank you for respecting my work!

© 2016 Jenifer Bazzit. All rights reserved.

Before I became a teacher-author, I wasn’t familiar with copyright law. You may not have the first clue about copyright and that’s ok! To simplify things, please understand that you have purchased ONE license to use this product in your classroom. This product belongs to me and is copyrighted under my name, so you may not share it freely, email it to coworkers, or upload it to any website, including your school website, district website, blog, or an educational-sharing site. I appreciate your consideration! I know that teachers are honest people and would never want to knowingly break copyright laws.

**I would love to connect with you! **TPT Store: https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Jenifer-Bazzit

Blog: www.thriveingradefive.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thriveingradefive/

If a coworker loves this unit and wants to use it in his/her classroom, that’s fantastic! Direct him/her to my TPT store! You may also go under “My Purchases” on your homepage and purchase additional licenses at HALF PRICE!

Purchase of this unit entitles the purchaser the right to reproduce the pages in limited quantities for classroom use only. Duplication for an entire school, an entire school system or commercial purposes is strictly forbidden without written permission from the publisher. You may not upload this item to any educational site, including Amazon Inspire.

Copying any part of this product and placing it on the Internet in any form (even a personal/classroom website) is strictly forbidden and is a violation of the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA). These items can be picked up in a google search and then shared worldwide for free.

This beautiful page border was created by:

The Lost Colony of RoanokeA Historical Mystery

In the year 1587, a little over one hundred English settlers arrived in the New World. They settled on Roanoke Island, off the coast of modern-day North Carolina. The settlement was funded by Sir Walter Raleigh and led by John White, who became the colony’s governor.

A short time later, the colony was in need of fresh supplies, so John White set sail for England and promised to return the next year. He was confident that the colony would be fine in his absence. In fact, he left his wife, daughter and infant granddaughter behind, in Roanoke. His granddaughter was named Virginia Dare and was the first English child born in the Americas.

Unfortunately, just as John White arrived in England, a war broke out between England and Spain. Queen Elizabeth I of England required every available ship to fight the powerful Spanish navy.

Finally, in 1590, three years after he had left, John White returned to Roanoke. He found no trace of the colony he had left behind, nor the settlers who lived there. There was no sign of a struggle, houses were taken down, and all of the livestock, like cows and chickens, had vanished. The only clues left behind were the word “Croatoan,” carved into a wooden post and the letters “Cro” carved into a nearby tree.

Made with Love by: Jenifer Bazzit

The Lost Colony of RoanokeQuestion Tabs

Instructions: Cut out the entire double tab as one piece. Fold the tab in half on the center line. Glue the back of the tab to your notebook paper and answer the questions on the inside of the tab.

Made with Love by: Jenifer Bazzit

1. Who funded the colony of Roanoke?

2. Who was the governor of Roanoke?

1. Why did John White sail back to England quickly after

arriving in Roanoke?

2. What was his promise to the Roanoke settlers?

The Lost Colony of RoanokeQuestion Tabs, continued

Made with Love by: Jenifer Bazzit

1. What prevented John White from returning quickly to Roanoke?

2. When did John White finally return to Roanoke?

1. What did John White see when he returned to

Roanoke?

2. What two clues were left behind?

The Lost Colony of RoanokeQuestion Tabs

EXAMPLE and ANSWER KEY

1. Sir Walter Raleigh2. John White

1. John White sailed back to England to get fresh supplies.

2. He promised to return to Roanoke the next year.

1. War broke out between England and Spain. All available ships were being used in the war against Spain.

2. John White finally returned to Roanoke 3 years after he left.

1. When he returned to Roanoke, he saw that the houses were taken down and there was no trace of any of the settlers.

2. “Croatoan” was carved into a wooden post. ‘Cro” was carved into a tree.

What happened at Roanoke?Theories and Possibilities

No one knows for sure what happened to the colony of Roanoke. That’s why we call Roanoke “The Lost Colony.” However, many theories and possible scenarios exist to help explain the fate of these settlers.

1. Croatoan was the name of an island directly south of Roanoke. The Native Americans who lived on this island called themselves “Croatoan.” The settlers and the Croatoan Indians were on friendly terms when John White left. Could the settlers have gone to live with the Croatoanbecause they were out of food and supplies or could the Croatoan have turned on the settlers and killed them?

2. There was some hostility between the nearby SecotanIndians and the Roanoke settlers. Could the Secotan have decided to invade Roanoke and do away with the colony?

3. Perhaps the settlers grew tired of waiting for John White to return, attempted to sail back to England on their own, and were lost at sea.

4. At this time in history, England and Spain were at war with one another. Maybe the settlers were killed by Spanish troops who marched up the coastline.

5. Perhaps the settlers, desperate for food and other necessities, moved inland and separated to join various Native American tribes.

Made with Love by: Jenifer Bazzit

What do you think happened at Roanoke? Make a Flap Book

Instructions: Cut out the entire book as one piece. Cut on the solid lines and fold on the dotted line. Glue the spine to your notebook.

Decide which two theories about what happened at Roanoke make the most sense to you. Write a theory on the top of the flap. Under the flap, on your notebook page, write why you think that theory explains what happened to the Roanoke settlers.

Made w

ith L

ove b

y: Jenife

r Bazzit

Wha

t ha

ppen

ed t

o th

e Lo

st C

olon

y of

Roa

noke

?

Theory #1

Theory #2

What do you think happened at Roanoke? Make a Flap Book

EXAMPLE

Made with Love by: Jenifer Bazzit

Sonya DeHart Designs

Thank you for your purchase!

“Follow Me” to see new products and sales alerts. Click my store link and then click the “Follow Me” star. STORE LINK

You will love these products!