American Centuries

Pocumtuck Valley
Memorial Association

American Centuries > Lessons > History Lessons By Teachers > A Man’s Home Is His Castle: The Story of the Erving Castle

A Man’s Home Is His Castle: The Story of the Erving Castle

Details

Author
Marcia Bernard
Topic/Subject Area
Land, Environment, Geography; Manners, Morals, Ethics; Media, Periodicals, Communication; Architecture, Buildings
Historical Era
National Expansion and Reform, 1816–1860
Grade Level
Elementary (K–5)
Creation Date
2011
Last Revision Date
2024

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About This Lesson

Summary and Objective

Using primary documents and picture books about John Smith and Henry David Thoreau, students will understand that the lives of the two men from the 1800s shared similarities and differences. Students will learn why each man sought solitude; they will explore the local legend of Smith’s home, the Erving Castle, locate it on a map, and fine-tune their research skills through critical questioning.


Materials & Resources

From the Collection:

Teaching Plan

  1. Read the class the picture book, Henry Builds a Cabin, by D.B. Johnson, including the author’s note. Discuss why someone would want to find solitude in a cabin. What is a hermit?
  2. Read the class pages 53, 57-58 of the pamphlet “The Hermit of Erving Castle.” Discuss with the class, what was Smith’s “Castle”? Why was Smith seeking solitude?
  3. On the map of Erving and Wendell, have students locate the Erving Castle. Identify key surrounding geographical features such as the Miller’s River and Rattlesnake Mountain. Where was the Castle in relationship to the town center? Was the Castle easy to get to or remote? Was it difficult for people to visit John Smith?
  4. After hearing the description of the Erving Castle on p.53 of “The Hermit of Erving Castle”, students will draw their interpretation of Smith’s home. Compare students’ drawings of the Castle to Thoreau’s cabin.
  5. Have students list the similarities and differences between Thoreau and Smith. Record these on chart paper.
  6. How do we know Thoreau’s and Smith’s stories are true? What do you question? Could either story be a legend with parts that are real and parts that are made up? Even if stories were made up, what is their value? Why do you like them?
  7. To expand the lesson, local classes could take a field trip to the site of the Erving Castle. This is a vigorous 4-mile roundtrip hike accessible from Mountain Rd. in Erving. It is especially lovely in the Fall.