Common Core Lesson Plan printable pdf download

Common Core Lesson Plan

Topic: Early Explorers

Title: Early Exploration and the Columbian Exchange

Resources (primary resource documents, artifacts, material needs, etc.)

Excerpt from the journal of Christopher Columbus

King Ferdinand’s letter to the Tainos

The Treaty with Massasoit

The Columbian Exchange

Columbian Exchange Map

Common Core Standards

RH 1-6, 8 and 9

Essential Standards

8.H.1.3, 8.H.1.4, 8.G.1.1

Background Information

Students will have an understanding of the interaction between Europeans and South Americans from the 6

grade social studies curriculum

Instructional Sequence (before, during, and after instruction)

Step 1

Have students answer the following question: “What happens when you mix blue and yellow paint? Blue and red?

Yellow and red?” Use their answers to highlight the fact that once the two colors mix, they each have parts of the other

in the whole, even if they are separated again. Make the comparison of the blended colors to what it was like when

Europe and the Americas first mixed. Have students brainstorm what specific things the colors might represent (ie –

food, animals, plants, diseases, technologies, religious beliefs, styles of governing). Discuss findings as a class.

Step 2

After briefly introducing the Age of Exploration, have students complete the Primary Source packet questions in small

groups. Have the groups share their answers from each section with the class.

Step 3

As a class, determine what direction they think the interaction between Europe and the Americas will take. Have them

rate their answer from one to ten, with one to four being bad for the Europeans (one being the worst) and good for the

Native Americans, seven to ten being bad for the Native Americans (ten being the worst) and good for the Europeans,

and five/six being equally bad for both groups. Compile the data on a spectrum graph (straight line) on the board that

looks something like this:

Discuss the findings as a class, examining reasons why the class as a whole sampled the way they did.

30-May-12

WCPSS Middle School Social Studies (919) 431-7482

Common Core Lesson Plan