Wampanoag Wisdom Packet Bay State Builders • Phase 1 Day 1 Activity
Wampanoag Seasonal Migration
Builder Name
Date
Settlement Team
Historical Context
Before designing a historic settlement, we must look at how the Wampanoag people have successfully thrived in the Massachusetts coastal environment for thousands of years. They developed deep knowledge of local weather and natural resources to adapt their shelters and food systems each season.
Two Homes, Two Seasons
The Wampanoag adapted to the Massachusetts climate by moving between two primary settlements. During the spring and summer , they lived in coastal villages near beaches and rivers. Here, the ocean breezes kept them cool, and they fished for cod, dug for clams, and planted corn, beans, and squash in fertile soil.
In the late fall and winter , freezing coastal winds and deep snow made the ocean shores inhospitable. The Wampanoag moved inland to dense, wooded valleys. The surrounding forests blocked the freezing winds and provided heavy firewood. Here, they hunted white-tailed deer and gathered hickory nuts to survive.
Massachusetts Temperatures
28°
Winter
48°
Spring
73°
Summer
52°
Fall
Average seasonal temperatures in Massachusetts.
Think & Connect
Why was moving inland during the winter essential for survival? Mention one specific physical resource the forest provided.
Unit: Bay State Builders • Grade 3 Page 1
Bay State Builders • Phase 1 Day 2 Activity
Wetu Physics & Engineering
Withstanding Coastal Gale Winds
The Wampanoag built Wetus (dome-shaped homes) using flexible young sapling trees (usually cedar) and woven cattail mats or sheets of birch bark. By bending the saplings and anchoring both ends firmly in the ground, they created a curved arch.
In physics, a dome shape distributes forces evenly. When high coastal winds push against a flat wall, it creates a massive unbalanced force that can blow it over. But when the wind hits a dome, the force is split and pushed down along the curved frame into the earth, maintaining a stable, balanced force .
Wetu Structure Diagram
Balanced Gravity Force
Wind Force ➔
The curved cedar frame transfers gravity and wind loads outward and downward directly into the soil.
Balanced vs. Unbalanced Forces
When a wetu is completely built, it stands perfectly still. This means the forces acting on it are:
Balanced Forces (Stationary, net force = 0)
Unbalanced Forces (Moving/changing shape)
If severe winter wind breaks a sapling branch and the wetu collapses, did the forces become balanced or unbalanced ? Explain:
Engineering Blueprint Challenge
For your homestead settlement, you will need to build strong shelters. In the box below, sketch your own improved wind-resistant wetu design. Use labels or arrows to show how you would secure the base and shield the top opening (smoke hole) from rain.
Unit: Bay State Builders • Grade 3 Page 2
Wampanoag Wisdom Slides Bay State Builders Days 1 & 2 Kickoff
Wampanoag Wisdom
How can historical adaptation and environmental science guide us to build a sustainable Massachusetts settlement?
Phase 1: Geographic & Structural Adaptation
Slide 1 of 3
Climate & Geography Seasonal Migration
Adaptive Lifestyles
The Wampanoag split their year into two strategic locations to survive the changing seasons of Massachusetts:
Coastal Villages (Spring/Summer): Ocean breezes, fertile farming soils, fishing, and shellfish.Inland Wooded Valleys (Fall/Winter): Cold wind protection, thick timber forests for firewood, hunting.
Temperature Shifts
28°F
Winter
48°F
Spring
73°F
Summer
52°F
Fall
How would temperature change affect shelter requirements?
Discuss: How does the sea help in summer and hurt in winter? Slide 2 of 3
Wetu Engineering Forces & Structures
Why a Dome?
Gale Wind ➔
⬇ Gravity Load
Balanced Forces
Bending saplings transfers pressure outward and downward, preventing structural collapse!
Analyzing the Physics
How do forces remain balanced in a finished Wetu?
1
Gravity (Downward): Pulls materials toward earth. Curved arches push back outward.
2
Tension & Compression: Bent wood stores elastic energy, maintaining its rigid dome shape.
3
Friction: Woven cattail mats tied with split cedar bark fibers hold everything snug.
Design Criteria: Use curves and secure stakes to manage high-velocity wind loads. Slide 3 of 3
Builders Pacing Teacher Guide Bay State Builders • Teacher Guide Unit Facilitation
Project Facilitation Guide
Unit Overview
This 8-day interdisciplinary project serves as a comprehensive 3rd-grade summative assessment. Integrating Math, ELA, Science, and History, students explore historical adaptations, apply area and perimeter, design safety solutions for severe Massachusetts weather, and construct a persuasive pitch.
Massachusetts State Standards Alignment
Mathematics:
3.MD.C.7: Relate area to multiplication.3.MD.D.8: Solve real-world perimeter problems.3.NF.A.1: Understand partition fractions.3.OA.A.3: Multiplication/division word problems.
Science & History:
3-ESS3-1: Evaluate weather hazard solutions.3-PS2-1: Examine forces and motion.Grade 3 HSS: Native Peoples (Wampanoag) and early colony history and physical resources.
8-Day Instructional Pacing (50 min/day)
Days 1-2: Wampanoag Wisdom
Day 1: Read migration passage. Analyze average MA temperatures.Day 2: Model wetu dome curves. Define balanced vs. unbalanced gravity and wind forces.
Days 3-4: Homestead Blueprints
Day 3: Design buildings on the 16x10 coordinate grid map. Calculate Area & Perimeter.Day 4: Partition Three Sisters Garden into fractions. Solve crop yield division problems.
Days 5-6: Weather & Water
Day 5: Analyze heavy blizzard snow load (gravity force). Design sloped roof shelters.Day 6: Examine simple machines. Diagram a pulley system well to lift heavy water buckets.
Days 7-8: Colony Campaign
Day 7: Draft a structured persuasive proposal letter to the colony Governor (or tribal council).Day 8: Host the Settlement Exhibition! Students present blueprints & defend their engineering structures.
Bay State Builders Teacher Guide • Grade 3 Page 1
Bay State Builders • Teacher Guide Master Answer Key
Answer Key & Solutions
Phase 1: Wampanoag Wisdom Solutions
Winter Migration: Wooded valleys blocked cold winter winds (acting as a physical barrier) and provided heavy timber for firewood and nuts for food.
Homestead Blueprints Packet Bay State Builders • Phase 2 Day 3 Activity
Homestead Map & Blueprints
Builder Name
Date
Total Area Planned
Directions: Draw your settlement plan on the grid below. Each square represents 1 square unit (1 meter × 1 meter) . Your blueprint must include the following rectangles (do not overlap them!):
A. 2 Residential Wetus: Each must be 3 × 4 units.
B. Three Sisters Garden: Must be 4 × 8 units.
C. Meeting Hall: Must be 5 × 6 units.
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
A
B
C
D
E
F
G
H
I
J
Perimeter & Area Calculations
Show your mathematical formulas below. Remember: Area = Length × Width and Perimeter = 2 × (Length + Width).
Residential Wetu (3 × 4)
Area: ______ × ______ = ________ sq. units
Perimeter: 2 × (____ + ____) = ________ units
Three Sisters Garden (4 × 8)
Area: ______ × ______ = ________ sq. units
Perimeter: 2 × (____ + ____) = ________ units
Common Meeting Hall (5 × 6)
Area: ______ × ______ = ________ sq. units
Perimeter: 2 × (____ + ____) = ________ units
Unit: Bay State Builders • Grade 3 Page 3
Bay State Builders • Phase 2 Day 4 Activity
Garden Fractions & Harvest Math
1. Partitioning the Garden (3.NF.A.1)
The Wampanoag grow Corn, Climbing Beans, and Ground Squash together. This is called a Three Sisters Garden . Partition your 4 × 8 Three Sisters Garden (Total Area = 32 square units) into the following fractional parts. Draw lines on the block below to show how you divide the 32 square units:
1/4
1/4
1/4
1/4
Corn (\(\frac{1}{2}\) of Garden): ________ sq. units
Beans (\(\frac{1}{4}\) of Garden): ________ sq. units
Squash (\(\frac{1}{4}\) of Garden): ________ sq. units
Weather and Water Systems Packet Bay State Builders • Phase 3 Day 5 Activity
Massachusetts Weather Hazards
Builder Name
Date
Assessed Weather Risk
Nor'easters and Blizzard Hazards (3-ESS3-1)
Massachusetts experiences severe storms called Nor'easters . These intense storms bring massive amounts of heavy, wet snow in the winter or torrential rains and flooding in the spring. High winds blow in from the northeast ocean, causing heavy coastal waves.
To build a sustainable settlement that survives a Massachusetts winter, we must design structures that handle the weight of this snow (called snow load ). Flat roofs can easily cave in under heavy wet snow because gravity pulls it straight down. Sloped, steep roofs let gravity pull the snow down and off the sides, keeping the structure safe.
Settlement Storm Shield Plan
Based on historical weather hazards, choose three design strategies to shield your settlement structures:
Steep Dome/Sloped Roofs: Shed heavy blizzard snow easily.
Raised Dirt Foundations: Elevate homes 2 feet to prevent flooding.
Windbreak Tree Barriers: Plant thick cedar trees northeast of houses.
Double Cedar Bark Siding: Provide insulation and block sub-zero winds.
Gravity & Structures
If heavy, wet snow stacks up on a flat roof , describe what happens to the forces. Why does the roof collapse? (Use the word gravity or force ).
Engineering Blueprint: Storm Shielding
Sketch a side-profile blueprint of one of your homes. Show how you designed its roof, foundation, or surrounding barriers to withstand a severe winter Nor'easter storm. Use labels and arrows to explain your storm defenses.
Unit: Bay State Builders • Grade 3 Page 5
Bay State Builders • Phase 3 Day 6 Activity
Water Systems & Simple Machines
Harnessing Forces with a Pulley System (3-PS2-1)
Every historic settlement needs access to clean, reliable water. Dragging water buckets out of a deep underground well by hand is exhausting, because you must pull up against the constant downward force of gravity .
To solve this problem, we can build a simple machine: a Pulley System . A pulley consists of a wheel and a rope. It changes the direction of the pulling force. Instead of hauling a bucket straight up, you pull the rope downward. Because you pull down, you can use your own body weight to help pull the water up easily, creating an unbalanced force that hoists the water bucket.
Colony Campaign Packet Bay State Builders • Phase 4 Day 7 Writing
The Governor's Proposal
Builder Name
Date
Writing Focus Opinion & Facts (W.3.1)
The Mission: Write a persuasive proposal to Governor Winthrop (or Chief Massasoit) to convince him that your settlement design is fully prepared to succeed. Use historical, mathematical, and scientific evidence from your previous activities!
1. The Claim State the name of your settlement and argue why it is sustainable.
2. Math Proof Mention your building areas, garden sizes, or food yields.
3. Science Shield Explain your snow-load roof designs or well pulley systems.
4. Call to Action Ask the governor for formal charter approval.
Dear Governor,
Sincerely,
Unit: Bay State Builders • Grade 3 Page 7
Bay State Builders • Phase 4 Day 8 Expo
Presentation & Rubric
Presenting Your Historic Blueprint
During the Bay State Builders Exhibition , your team will present your blueprint map and structural safety systems. Use this quick checklist to practice:
✓ Stand tall and look at your audience
✓ State your settlement name clearly
✓ Point to your 16x10 blueprint shapes
✓ Explain how you defend against Nor'easters
Bay State Builders Project Rubric
This rubric is used by your teacher and classmates to evaluate your final settlement model, blueprint, and proposal.
Category
Expert (3)
Apprentice (2)
Novice (1)
Blueprint Math (Area/Fractions)
Calculates all areas and perimeters accurately. Perfect garden partitions.
Has 1-2 math calculation errors, or minor fraction drawing errors.
Many incorrect measurements or overlapping building designs on grid.
Wampanoag Adaptation
Shows deep understanding of Wampanoag seasonal housing adaptation.
Mentions coastal or winter differences but leaves out resource details.
No Wampanoag or geographic resources integrated in settlement.
Weather & Forces (Science)
Steep sloped roof prevents snow collapse; clear, clever pulley diagram.
Includes a well pulley and sloped roofs but struggles to explain forces.
Has flat roofs with no snow protection; no simple machines included.
Speech & Letter (ELA)
Persuasive letter is structured, neat, and spoken with a clear, loud voice.
Letter has some structural flaws or presenter reads directly off paper.
