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Assessment Plan
Social Studies
1. Students will label cities on a current map of North America where Columbus, Balboa, Hudson, de Soto,
Cartier, and Cabot landed and explored. Students will be graded on accuracy of label location. The students
can receive a maximum of 6 points on the assignment. 6/6 will be a 100% (A), 5/6 will be an 83% (B), 4/6
will be a 76% (C), 3/6 will be a 68% (D), 2/6 will be a 33% (F), will be a 16% (F). Students will need to
get 5/6 or more correct in order to pass this assignment.
2. Students will create a map detailing the route that you would take to find Asia and present it to the class.
Students will be graded on completion and accuracy. The route will be split up into 5 bullet points that the
student has to pass through to receive credit for the assignment. A=all 5 points are passed through, B=4
points passed through, C=3 points passed through, D=2 points passed through, F=1 point passed through.
3. Students will recreate their favorite explorer by dressing up as them and discuss what that explorer did. The
students will be graded on participation. The students can receive a maximum of 40 points by doing this
activity. The student must do four things to get the maximum 40 points. Each component will be worth 10
points. The student must dress like their explorer, act how they think their explorer would act (get into
character), and tell the class about the explorers greatest feats in history. Lastly, the student should spend
10 minutes talking about their explorer. A=all four components are fulfilled, B= only 3 components are
fulfilled, C= only 2 components are fulfilled, D= only 1 component is fulfilled, F= the student does not do
any of the components.
4. Students will trace out a route to America from Spain using Google Earth and compare routes to classmates
and explorers. The students will be graded based on accuracy and completion. This assignment will be
graded on accuracy. If the student does not do the assignment, they will not receive a grade. If the student
does the assignment, but it is not accurate, they will not receive a grade. The student will receive the full
100 points if they do the assignment.
5. Students will record a podcast from the perspective of Native Americans about how the Europeans taking
over makes them and their families feel. The podcast should be at least 25 minutes long and should discuss
the feelings of the Native Americans and how they plan to handle the influx of Spaniards. The students
should list and explain 10 ways they plan on handling the invasion of the Spaniards. The project will be
worth 100 points. A=90-100 pts., B=80-89 pts., C=70-79 pts., D=60-69 pts., F=50-59 pts.
Reading
1. Students will read an article on the religions of Native Americans and create a Venn Diagram comparing
them to one another. Students will be graded on their ability to accurately state the religions of Native
Americans and the practices in each religion, while comparing them to the other religions in a Venn
diagram. Students will compare 2 different religions and 4 practices that are conducted in each religion.
This assignment is worth 50 points. The student can receive the maximum amount of points if they name at
least 2 Native American religions and list at least 10 characteristics of each and 5 similarities. Each
characteristic missing will deduct 12 points from the final grade. A(50 points)= 100, B(38 pts)= 88, C(26
pts.)= 76, D(14 points)= 63, F(2 pts.)= 51.
Writing
1. Students will pretend to be Columbus and write a letter to King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella explaining
why they need to find a new trade route to Asia. Students will be graded on formalities, conventions, and
good use of language. For example, there is a different manner in which you talk to a king or queen than
you would your friend. Students will be graded out of 100 points. Five points will be deducted for each area
of criteria missing. A=95 to 100%, B=90 to 85%, C=80 to 75%, D=70 to 65%, F=60 to 55%
Emily Jacobs and Caty Mae Loomis
Math
1. Students will calculate how many miles Columbus was away from Asia when he landed in North America.
Students will be graded on accuracy by using Google Earth and making bullet points along Columbus
route, using a SMART board. Then, they will find how far away Columbus was by marking it on the map.
Students will be graded by how far off their measurements are by tens. A=0 to 10 miles away, B=11 to 21
miles away, C=22 to 32 miles away, D=33 to 43 miles away, F= 44 to 54 miles away.
Science
1. Students will write a scientific journal entry detailing the different types of plants and animals in North
America compared to Europe. Include drawings of each plant. The students should have a total of 15
journal entries and 15 plant drawings. The students will be graded on completion. A=15 drawings and 15
entries, B=12-14 drawings and entries, C=9-11 drawings and entries, D=6-8 drawings and entries, F=0-5
drawings and entries.
Rubric
SOCIAL STUDIES PROJECT: Mock Trials- The class will hold a mock trial, one side being the Native Americans,
the other side being the Spaniards, and the third group will be the jury and the judge. The students will be challenged
to research the invasion of the Spaniards into Native American lands, and each side will come up with reasons why
they should get to keep the land. Each side should give at least 10 reasons why they think they should have the land.
The jury will have the final say in who had the most compelling argument. The students will hold the mock trial for
2 days and write a reflection about their experience doing this project. The reflection should be a page typed, 12
point font, Times New Roman. The project will be graded based on the quality of evidence that each group comes
up with, and the jury will be graded on their reasoning for granting the rights to the land to either side. Overall, the
project will be a participation grade, but I will also use the reflections as an assessment to see how much they
learned. The students can receive a maximum of 300 points.
C- 100-199 points Student only uses 4 reasons for why their side
should receive the land, their paper is only a half of
a page and does not show deep thought or effort.
Student shows some interest in the activity.
D- 90-99 points Students do not get into their character nor do they
provide at least 2 reasons for why they should have
the land. The student writes only half a page for the
Emily Jacobs and Caty Mae Loomis
Pre/Post Test
Multiple Choice- Choose the best answer out of the options below.
3. Explorers went to the New World because they were in search for
a. Wood
b. Gold and Silver
c. New instruments
d. Better technology
7. What was the conflict between the Native Americans and the Europeans?
a. Control of land and people
b. Cultural differences
c. Language difference
d. All of the above
True/False- Determine whether the following statements are True (T) or False (F).
8. Christopher Columbus found a new trade route to Asia. (F)
9. The Native Americans and the Europeans always got along. (F)
10. Hernando de Soto explored what is now Georgia, Tennessee and the Carolinas. (T)
11. Henry Hudson was funded by the Dutch West India Trading company to travel to North America. (F)
12. Hernando de Soto became lieutenant governor of Cuzco before he was made governor of Cuba. (T)
Short Answer- Write one or two sentences to answer the following questions.
22. List three obstacles that the European explorers faced when exploring North America
Answers may vary but must include 3 of the following:
Unknown waters and other lands they would come into contact with
Ships leaked and had rats and roaches which led to diseased caused by unsanitary conditions
Poor maps and unreliable navigational tools
Lack of useful supplies such as medicine, food, and drinkable water
Fear of the unknown
23. Identify two differences about the European verses Native American mindset about land?
Answers should include:
Natives thought it should be used by all the people to promote the welfare of the community
Europeans wanted to own and claim the land for themselves
24. Why did the Europeans want to explore the New World?
Answers may vary but should include:
Emily Jacobs and Caty Mae Loomis
25. How did the Europeans and the Native Americans cooperate?
Answers may vary but should include:
Europeans and American Indians cooperated on the basis of trade, crops, weapons, and tools
In Jamestown, the Powhatan Indians saved the settlers from starvation by showing them how to grow crops
The Pilgrims at Plymouth in 1620 were helped by the Wampanoag confederacy
Trade with the Europeans brought Native Indians knives, axes, weapons, fish hooks, and other useful tools.
They also brought with them disease ridden animals and Old World sicknesses such as smallpox