ExplorationandDiscoveryofAmerica

UnitPlan

Subject:SocialStudies

GradeLevel:5thgrade

StandardsCovered:

5.2Studentstracetheroutesofearlyexplorersanddescribetheearlyexplorations
oftheAmericas.
1.Describetheentrepreneurialcharacteristicsofearlyexplorers(e.g.,
ChristopherColumbus,FranciscoVsquezdeCoronado)andthe
technologicaldevelopmentsthatmadeseaexplorationbylatitudeand
longitudepossible(e.g.,compass,sextant,astrolabe,seaworthyships,
chronometers,gunpowder).
2.Explaintheaims,obstacles,andaccomplishmentsoftheexplorers,
sponsors,andleadersofkeyEuropeanexpeditionsandthereasons
Europeanschosetoexploreandcolonizetheworld(e.g.,theSpanish
Reconquista,theProtestantReformation,theCounterReformation).
3.TracetheroutesofthemajorlandexplorersoftheUnitedStates,the
distancestraveledbyexplorers,andtheAtlantictraderoutesthatlinked
Africa,theWestIndies,theBritishcolonies,andEurope.
4.LocateonmapsofNorthandSouthAmericalandclaimedbySpain,
France,England,Portugal,theNetherlands,Sweden,andRussia.

Introduction(CreatingDissonance):

StudentswillwatchtheiMovieTrailerTheNewWorld.Classwilldiscusstheirreactionto
thetrailer.Questionstopromptdiscussion:
1. Whatimagesdidyouseeinthetrailer?
2. Whowasdepictedinthetrailer?
3. Wheredoyouthinkthistakesplace?
4. Whendoyouthinkthistakesplace?
5. Werethereanyconflictsorproblemsdepictedinthetrailer?
6. Whatfeelingsdoesthetrailerevoke?

UnitActivities:

Activity1:ExplorersJournal

Studentswillworkingroupsandactasagroupofexplorerssailingtofindnewlands.
Eachgroupmaychoosewhichexplorationpartytoportray,andeachstudentmaychoose
theirroleintheexplorationparty(captain,crew,etc).Throughouttheunit,studentswillwrite
journalentriesfromtheirperspectiveasanexplorerbasedoninformationfromthe
textbook,videos,onlinesources,andotherreadingmaterials.Studentswillentertheir
journalentriesintoaGoogleDocsdocumentsharedwiththeothermembersoftheirgroup
andtheteacher.

Activity2:LetterofRequest

StudentswillcreatealetterofrequestfromtheirexplorationpartytotheQueenrequesting
moneyfortheirvoyage.Theymustincludethereasonsforthetripandhowthemoney
wouldbespent.TheletterwillbesenttotheQueen(akateacher)throughgmail.

Activity3:TreasureHunt

Theteacherwillcreateascavengerhuntwithclues/directionsbasedonreadinga
compass.Withintheirexplorergroups,studentswillbechallengedtofindthetreasure
usingthecluesandthecompass.Theywillrealizetheimportanceofmeasuringdevices
whenseekingfornewlands,treasures,etc.

Activity4:UsingLatitudeandLongitude

InInternationalPizzaDelivery,studentsshowunderstandingoflatitudeandlongitudeskills
bydeliveringpizzastoallcornersoftheworld.Theywillrealizetheimportanceofusing
latitudeandlongitudefornavigation.Thisactivitycanbeplannedasacenteractivityonthe
computer.

Activity5:Timeline

Intheirexplorergroups,studentswilldevelopatimelinedepictingimportanteventsinthe
explorationanddiscoveryofAmericaera.StudentswillcreatetheirtimelineinaPrezi
presentation.ThePreziswillbecompiledbytheteacherintoanonlineclassdatabasefor
otherstudentstoreference.

Activity6:MapofRoute

Intheirexplorergroups,studentswillcreateavisualmaponposterboardoftheroutetheir
explorationpartytook.Themapswillbedisplayedintheclassroomwithavideoofeach
groupsexplorerdramatizationprojectedasanaura,usingtheappAurasma,forfuture
viewingbystudentsand/orparents.

Activity7(CulminatingAssignment):ExplorerDramatization

Toshowtheknowledgethatthestudentshavegainedthroughouttheentireunit,students
willdesignaskit,withtheirexplorergroups,inwhichtheywillactouttheirinterpretationsof
theexplorersthatthey'velearnedabout.Groupscanbasetheirskitonanypartof
explorationordiscoveryofAmericathattheychoose(requestingfromtheQueen,lifeon
thesea,firstdiscoveryofnewland,etc).Theywillworktogethertodesignthescripts,
backdrops,andcostumes.Studentsmayfindideasforbackdropsandcostumesusinga
webaggregate,suchasPinterest.Studentswillrecordandproducetheirskitsusing
iMovie.

Activity8(Assessment):ExplorationTest

Studentswillbeassessedontheirknowledgeofimportantfactsandconceptslearnedin
theunitusingthestudentresponsesystem,Socratic.