Who Was Pocahontas? Reading Passage & Venn Diagram- 3rd–5th Grade Social Studies

Help students explore the real history behind a well-known figure with this engaging Pocahontas Reading Passage & Venn Diagram Activity, designed for grades 3–5. This lesson introduces students to the true story of Pocahontas (Matoaka) and encourages critical thinking by comparing historical facts with popular media portrayals.

Students read a kid-friendly informational text that explains Pocahontas’s life, her role in early Jamestown, her relationship with the English settlers, common myths, and her lasting legacy as a bridge between cultures

Early American History. They then complete a Venn diagram comparing the Disney movie version of Pocahontas with the historical account, helping students distinguish fact from fiction.

This activity works beautifully as part of an Early American History or Colonial America unit, a literature tie-in, or a lesson on historical perspective and media literacy.

📄 What’s Included (3 Pages)

• 1.5 page informational reading passage: Who Was Pocahontas? with Historical paintings for visual context. This is based on the real story of Pocahontas.
  
• Pocahontas Venn Diagram (History vs. Disney comparison)
  

Additional Supplemental Recommendations

- Movie: Disney's Pocahontas (can be found on Disney+ or YouTube)

- Short Book: The True Story of Pocahontas (Step into Reading) by Lucille Recht Penner

- Video: The Story of Pocahontas for Kids, History Made Easy on YouTube

📘 Standards Alignment

Social Studies Standards (Grades 3–5)

• Early interactions between Native Americans and European settlers
  
• Jamestown and early colonial history
  
• Native American leaders and cultural perspectives
  
• Understanding historical figures within historical context
  
• Comparing historical accounts and interpretations
  

C3 Framework for Social Studies (Grades 3–5)

• D2.His.1.3–5: Analyze why and how events in history occurred
  
• D2.His.4.3–5: Compare perspectives of people in the past
  
• D2.His.6.3–5: Describe how people’s perspectives shaped historical sources
  
• D2.His.14.3–5: Explain how evidence from multiple sources supports historical claims
  

Common Core ELA Standards (Grades 3–5)

• RI.3–5.1: Ask and answer questions using details from informational texts
  
• RI.3–5.3: Describe relationships between historical events, ideas, and people
  
• RI.3–5.6: Distinguish between different points of view in texts
  
• RI.3–5.9: Compare and contrast information from two or more sources on the same topic
  
• W.3–5.2: Write informative/explanatory texts to examine a topic and convey ideas clearly
  
• SL.3–5.1: Engage effectively in collaborative discussions
  

✨ This activity strongly supports critical thinking by guiding students to compare a historical text with a modern media portrayal, helping them evaluate accuracy, perspective, and bias.

🎯 Perfect For

• 3rd–5th grade social studies
  
• Early American History units
  
• Colonial America or Jamestown lessons
  
• Media literacy and fact vs. fiction discussions
  
• Homeschool families and classrooms

*This is a project from our full-year Early American History curriculum.