ESL WORKSHEET - Historical figures

LESSON PLAN FOR ENGLISH TEACHERS

POCAHONTAS

LinguaHouse

Oct. 4, 2021

Level: Pre-intermediate (A2-B1)
Type of language: General English
Tags: Historical Figures; Historical Events; Beliefs, Religion and Superstition; American Culture; Environment and Nature; Challenges; Vocabulary and Grammar; Past Tenses
Publication date: 10/04/2021

This audio-aided worksheet tells the life story of Pocahontas and how she lived between two worlds in 17th century Virginia. The lesson focuses on vocabulary, listening comprehension, speaking, and the use of would + verb to describe past habits. There is also an optional extension activity that gives extra speaking practice about past habits. (by Stephanie Hirschman)

• CLICK HERE to download the student’s worksheet in American English.
• CLICK HERE to download the teacher’s lesson plan in American English.
• CLICK HERE to download/listen to the audio in American English.
• CLICK HERE to download the student’s worksheet in British English.
• CLICK HERE to download the teacher’s lesson plan in British English.
• CLICK HERE to download/listen to the audio in British English.

AUDIO TRANSCRIPT

Historian: Pocahontas was born around 1596. Her father, Powhatan, was the leader of around thirty groups who lived on the coast of Virginia. Pocahontas was a nickname meaning “playful one” - her real name was Amonute. In 1607, some English people arrived in Virginia to start a colony.
They were not well prepared for life in Virginia, and they argued with Powhatan’s people about land and food. Powhatan’s men captured the Englishman John Smith and took him to their capital. They placed his head on a stone, and it looked like they were going to kill him.
The story goes that Pocahontas saved his life, and Smith went free. During the next few years, Pocahontas would bring the English food, and she often helped with communications between the two groups. She saved Smith’s life again in 1609 by warning him of a plan to attack him.
After this, Smith returned to England. In 1613, the English tricked Pocahontas onto one of their ships. They promised to free her when her father returned English prisoners and guns. Powhatan did not do this, so the English took Pocahontas to live with them. She learned about how the English lived and became Christian, taking the name of Rebecca.
She married a man called John Rolfe, and they had a son in 1615. The next year, they all traveled to England. Pocahontas was famous in London, and she met the royal family. Her portrait was painted, and she also saw John Smith again - she was surprised because she thought he was dead.
As she was preparing to return to Virginia, Pocahontas became ill and died in 1617. She was only 21. Pocahontas was both brave and intelligent, living between two worlds. People have told her story to talk about love, history, politics, and religion.

Adapted from: https://www.linguahouse.com/esl-lesson-plans/general-english/pocahontas. Accessed on November 17, 2025. LinguaHouse.com © 2008–2025. All rights reserved.