As a homeschool mom, I am always looking for engaging and interesting ways to introduce my kids to new topics.
Recently, I discovered a new book that tells the story of how the Cherokee people first discovered strawberries.
After reading the story with your kids, you can add this set of The First Strawberries activities to your literacy lessons to dig a little deeper into the story.
This Cherokee legend shares the origins of strawberries, grown by the sun to help the first man and woman patch a quarrel.
There are many ways you can fit this picture book into your homeschool lesson plans. The no-prep worksheets pair perfectly with the retelling by Joseph Bruchac.
The First Strawberries Printables
These print-and-go worksheets are perfect for kindergarten and early elementary aged children.
They pair nicely with this story which can be added to your lesson on Native Americans (history), legends (literacy), and strawberries or gardens (science).
If you don’t have a copy of the book in your home or classroom library, you can show this The First Strawberries read-aloud video for your students before beginning the activities in this pack.
The First Strawberries Activities
If your kids enjoy these worksheets, you can add one or more of the following activities to your lesson plans to make a complete unit study from this story.
Native Americans: This book is a great opportunity to talk about Native Americans – specifically the Cherokee tribe. You can also discuss the fact that this is the Cherokee version of the Creation story.
Science: Talk about how plants grow. Compare the life cycle of a plant to how the plants in this story grew. Try growing some strawberries of your own.
Literacy: Discuss what a legend is. Point out the things in this story that make it a legend. You can also talk about compound words, plural nouns ending in “y”, and introduce new vocabulary words.
The First Strawberries Book Companion
Students ages 7-10 will love diving deeper into this story. These print-and-go worksheets will help you extend the learning.
What’s included?
• Sequencing: Record events from the beginning, middle, and the end of the story.
• Story Elements: Record information about the story’s characters, setting, problem, and solution.
• Writing Prompt: Draw and write a response to the question “Why is it important to be kind?”
• Parts of Speech: Cut and paste story-related words into the correct column – noun or verb.
• Vocabulary: Cut and paste story-related words next to the correct definition.
More Cherokee Stories
Related Content
If your children enjoyed this activity pack, be sure to check out the activities featured below. They’re perfect for pairing with the activities in this printable pack.