Thanks to the Disney film, most students know the legend of Pocahontas. But is the story told in the 1995 movie accurate? In this lesson, students use evidence to explore whether Pocahontas actually saved John Smith’s life and practice sourcing, corroborating, and contextualizing historical documents.
Please note that there are two versions of the lesson plan available. The shorter version is designed for younger students.
[PowerPoint file updated on 02/03/23. Alt text added to PowerPoint on 7/23/2026.]
Image: Engraving of Pocahontas by Simon van de Passe, 1616. From the Library of Congress.