Kindergarten Lesson Plans
Settlement of Southwest Virginia
" The First Settlers in Scott County"
Contents
Lesson
Plan for Map Skills (Virginia Sol K.2,K.3,K.4)
Lesson
Plan for "Dan's Special Visitor" (A
story of historical fiction about the first white settlers in
Scott County, Virginia)
Story
Outline
Story "Dan's Special Visitor"
Return to HomePage for Settlement of SWVA
I. Begin with map of Virginia and Scott County.
A. Show location of Virginia in United States K.3
B. Show Scott County on map of Virginia K.3
C. Explain symbols for land, water, roads, and cities. K.4
D. Using an enlarged Scott County map, teacher finds and names Clinch River, Holston River, and Big Moccasin Creek. K.4
E. On Scott County map, teacher draws or points out students’ school and community. (May point out roads and other attractions in or near the community.) K.4
F. Teacher shows where students are then points out Big Moccasin Creek where story takes place. K.3 (Teacher may give each student a map and have him/her find landmarks and color in land, water, etc.) K.2
G. Finish map activities. K.2 – K.4
II. Use story "Dan’s Special Visitor" to review map skills and teach history of Scott County.
A. Use map to show location of Dan’s cabin on Big Moccasin Creek.
B. Use scenic pictures to show what the area looks like.
C. Show pictures of the way people dressed and lived back then.
D. Have pictures of bear, deer, elk, buffalo ready to show at appropriate time.
E. Pointing to Scott County map ask question: How did we get here? Allow students time to think about it and discuss it a little. Then read story of the real Thomas McCulloch’s fictional son Dan, which incorporates historical references to true events and people such as Patrick Henry, Daniel Boone, Elisha Wallen, John Blackmore, and Thomas McCulloch.
Where:
Scott County, Virginia, on Big Moccasin Creek, Thomas
McCulloch’s log cabin
When:
Middle of September, 1796. Day time – a long time ago.
Who:
Dan McCulloch – 7 year old son of Thomas McCulloch
Papaw McCulloch – Dan’s grandfather
Maw – Wife of Thomas, mother of Dan McCulloch
Belle – Dan’s sister
Daniel Boone with John Finley and others
What:
First settlement in Scott County. Abandoned in 1771 – Indian
Trouble. Daniel Boone visits the McCulloch family and tells
story of Patrick Henry’s land grant; warns family of Indian
trouble;
tells them of John Blackmore’s plans to bring people back
after
Indians settle down. Family stays.
Why:
They like living on their own in the wilderness, no other people
to
worry about, chance to make a living on free land, plenty of game
to hunt, no rules, haven’t seen hostile Indians yet.
Daniel Boone is exploring and hunting for skins to take back and
sell to pay his debts.
Show map of Virginia
Point out Scott County
Show map of Scott County
Point out Big Moccasin Creek
Show scenic pictures of Big Moccasin creek, valley, and Clinch
Mountain
Dan ran toward his log cabin home on Big Moccasin Creek in Scott County, Virginia. He called to his papaw. "Papaw, I just saw…"
It was the year 1769. What do you think he
saw?
Possibilities: Cherokee Indian (a Shawnee would have killed or
captured him), black bear, deer, raccoon, fox, squirrel, buffalo,
elk, squirrel, rabbit, copper head snake, rattlesnake, chipmunk,
red bird, etc.
Dan:
"Papaw! I just saw a red fox. She has a den with
babies in it. Over by the big dogwood tree where the red bird has
his nest. Oh, papaw could we get one of her babies for a
pet?"
Ask: Is this a good idea? Why? Why not? Mother fox would attack them, fox is a wild animal and should be left in the wild, baby might die without its mother, foxes carry rabies.
Papaw:
"Dan, you know you can’t have any more wild animal
pets. You done got a coon and a rabbit and it’s a sight the
mess they’ve made. Your maw has enough work to do without
more varmints.
Dan:
"But papaw…"
Papaw:
"No more buts, Dan McCulloch. Grab an armload of this here
wood I’m splitting and carry it into the house for your maw.
We’ve got company. Dan’l Boone’s here and he
has some exciting news to tell. Your maw wants to cook a good
meal for him and his hunting party; seeing as how they’re
the first white folks we’ve seen in near bout a year."
Dan:
"Where is Paw? Is he home?"
Papaw:
"No, but he should be back anytime now from his hunting
trip. I hope he had good luck. We need to salt and smoke some
more meat before winter sets in."
What kind of meat could Paw bring in? (Deer, bear, buffalo, elk: it would be big game because they would need a lot of meat for the winter.) Explain how there was no place to buy food or anything else without traveling for weks to get there and weeks to get back, walking, horseback, mules for packing supplies.
Belle:
"Dan, where is that wood? Maw needs it fast. She told me and
you to fetch some water from the creek. Then she said for us to
take the horses and mules down to the creek for a drink. Then she
wants you to give them some hay and I will help her cook.
I’m going to make corn cakes all by myself."
Dan:
"Where’s Paw? Is he home yet?"
Belle:
"Yes, he met up with Mr. Boone and his men on the Wilderness
Road. Mr. Boone didn’t know anyone lived out here. Boy, was
he surprised to see Paw!"
Dan:
"Let’s hurry and get our chores done. I’ll bet Mr.
Boone has some good stories to tell."
After supper that night, the McCulloch family went outside to sit around the campfire with John Finley, Daniel Boone, and their friends. The log cabin was too small for everyone to sit in. Besides, they didn’t have enough chairs for everyone. Outside they could pick a log, a big rock, a stump, or a flat place on the ground to sit.
As soon as everyone was comfortable, except for Belle and Maw who were washing dishes, Daniel Boone began to tell the news. His first story was about Patrick Henry.
Explain a little about why Patrick Henry was important.
Boone:
Did you folks know you almost had a big-city lawyer for a
neighbor? Yes! Name’s Patrick Henry and he can burn the
leaves right off the trees with his speechifying. Sure does know
his was around the king’s English, but he couldn’t find
3,000 acres of land out here in the wilderness.
(Explain the word wilderness :wild is the first part of the word and it means a wild place)
I don’t know who
his guide was. Shore wasn’t Elisha Wallen. Old Elisha knows
this place better’n anyone. Yessir Elisha Wallen come this
way back in ’61 (1761) and spent a right smart of time
looking this place over. Nope ‘tweren’t him, not old
Elisha Wallen. Anyways this slick lawyer, Patrick Henry, travels
up and down the Clinch River looking for Moccasin Creek, but he
couldn’t find it. Ya know why? (Allow
students to guess. The map shows that Big Moccasin Creek never flows into Clinch River.)
‘Cause it wasn’t there! And there weren’t no
street signs to read. Most folks out here cain’t read noway.
Don’t have time for such foolishness. Now me, I can do a
little readin’, writin’, and rithmetic. I can read the
Bible some, and I can write out a list of supplies, but it’s
hard. Anyways I believe a feller ought to at least be able to
write his name. Markin’ with an X, why that’s just
askin’ for trouble from some feller who does know how to
read and write.
Little Dan, I’ll bet you know where Big Moccasin Creek is
don’t you?
Dan:
You bet! It’s right over yonder where I took your horses to
get a drink of water.
At this time Belle and Maw join the group.
Belle:
And I know that it runs into the Holston River. That silly
Patrick Henry. Even I know that. What happened after that Mr.
Boone? Did the Indians get him?
Boone:
Nope, He was shore lucky that way. He went on back East. Finally
gave up hopes of finding his land. I reckon he took up
lawyerin’ again.
I shore hope that young fool David Cox can find his way around
better’n that city slicker Patrick Henry. Do you know what
he did?
Dan and Belle:
No, What did he do?
Boone:
Why the durn fool took off explorin by hisself about a week back.
I don’t reckon y’all saw him did you?
Thomas:
No, Mr. Boone you and your friends are the first white folks
we’ve seen in near bout a year.
Boone:
Well, he was heading in this direction. I reckon he got off the
Winderness Road and took an animal trail. Said we was goin’
too slow fer him. I warned him he would be in danger out there
all alone.
Maw:
Danger, Mr. Boone, what do you mean by that?
Boone:
Well, I don't mean to scare you, maam, but the Indians
around here are gettin mighty riled up.
(Ask why? Long hunters kill for pelts and skins. Extremely wasteful. This goes against everything the Indians believe in.)
No one knows where
they'll show up next. Even if they're not on the warpath, they
could do you harm.
Dan:
Mr. Boone, do Indians really scalp people?
Boone:
Sometimes they do, but you needn't be afraid little
Dan. A young one like you, they'd adopt you into the tribe and
raise you like one of their own, Belle, too. They really do like
young'uns.
Maw:
Mr. Boone, really you shouldn't talk like that you'll
give the children nightmares.
Boone:
I'm sorry maam, but it really is dangerous to live alone out here
like you do. You'd be safer closer to the white settlements.
Folks are workin' to calm the Indians down, but that may take a
year or two. Best to go back and join up with a large group and
come back here when the Indians have settled down. I hear John
Blackmore is trying to get together a passel of folks to make the
trip out here and settle down together and build a fort to
protect everyone. Course that won't be for a while yet. He aims
to let things cool off before he starts out here. He means to
make a permanent settlement when he comes. He is planning well.
When he comes, he means to stay. He's a good man and a good
leader. You would do well to go back and join up with John
Blackmore.
Thomas:
Well, we've had no trouble yet. And like John
Blackmore I've come to stay. Mayhap the redskins are unfriendly.
If I see danger to my family, I'll go back. I'm no fool and I
love my family. I'll take care of them.
Boone:
Well, I warned you. The rest is up to you.
(Question: Should the McCullochs stay or go back?)
Maw:
We like it here on Big Moccasin Creek, but if it
becomes too dangerous I can count on Tom to do the right thing.
Dan:
Mr. Boone, I know a clearing near here where we can
hobble your horses and they can graze on fresh green grass all
night. You want me to show you?
Boone:
That sounds like a good idea to me. Thanks little Dan.
Now look here. I have something special for you, an eagle
feather. Found it in the mountains as we were traveling through.
The Indians set great store by eagle feathers. You could wear it
in the brim of your hat, or you might trade it to an Indian for
something you need.
Dan:
An eagle feather! Oh, thank you Mr. Boone. It's
wonderful. I've only ever seen one, but it was beautiful the way
he soared through the air.
Thomas:
Indeed, the eagle is a majestic bird. That's a very
nice gift for a young boy. Thank you, Mr. Boone.
Maw:
Well, we've all got work to do tomorrow. These
younguns need their rest so they can do their chores early in the
morning.
At Maw's suggestion, everyone went to bed, Mr. Boone, John Finley
and their party outside under the stars, Tom McCulloch and his
family inside their cabin.
The next day John Finley, Daniel Boone and their friends left to go on to Kentucky. Tom McCulloch and his family stayed on Big Moccasin Creek for two years. When Indian trouble got too bad, they moved back East for the safety of large groups of white folks.