Have you ever sat in a boring Social Studies class? Thinking about the monotone voice of one of my Social Studies teachers makes me cringe even to this day! Needless to say, it was not my favorite subject and I never did well. When I became a teacher many moons ago, I was determined to make Social Studies interesting! In this post, you will find how I teach the beginning of a Colonial Unit. I like to mix it up with videos, projects, and food!
Columbian Exchange:
1. Video: A great 10 minute explanation that keeps your students focused! 1492 Columbian Exchange Part 5
2. Informational Text: I wrote my own informational text, but to keep this post without expense, I found some great websites for text information! This site has information with a map, along with effects and impacts of the Columbian Exchange. Columbian Exchange Website
3. Group Research: Assign each group one of the following: Plants, Animals, Diseases. Have them research where they originated- Old World or New World. They can make a T-chart on with their findings to share with the whole group. Click Here for 3 Free T-Charts.
4. Favorite Food Writing Project: Think about your favorite food. Write down the ingredients of your favorite food and then determine whether or not it originated from the Old World or New World. More than likely some of the ingredients came from the Old World and some from the New World! If you lived in the Old World but one of the ingredients in your favorite food was from the New World, would it taste the same? Choose the Old World or the New World. Write about your findings and tell how it would taste without the ingredients from the other world!
5. Model the Columbian Exchange: Have each student create a picture of an item from the Columbian Exchange. To make sure they don't draw the same picture, I make a list of items and students pick them out of a cup. Then create spaces in the classroom for The Old World and The New World. Have students take their illustration to the the correct designated area. Then have students move from that area to the other area to model the exchange.
European Settlements in North America
1. Spain in the New World: Informational Website: Spanish in America
Spain was the first European country to
use Native Americans as slaves. Some of the slaves were forced to work for
long, strenuous days on the plantations where they tended to crops. Spain’s government traded the crops for
economic growth. The main cash
crops were sugarcane, tobacco, coffee, cocoa,
and cotton. Native Americans were also
sent to mine for gold where
they often encountered harsh working conditions. Many natives died from these poor working
conditions as well as hunger.
~section of text from Rockin Resources
2. France in the New World: Informational Website: French in America
France was sending explorers over to the
New World to claim land and establish fur trade. Robert
LaSalle was a famous explorer who established fur
trade routes up and down the Mississippi.
At first, the King wasn’t pleased with LaSalle’s findings, but quickly
changed his mind when he realized LaSalle had the only fur trading waters that
weren’t freezing over! LaSalle paved the
way for France to send other explorers and settlers to the area. They were settling in the middle of U.S.
which became the Louisiana Territory.
France attempted to develop plantations in these territories. Sadly, the land was not fertile
enough to keep an abundance of crops growing.
Fur
trade continued to be their ticket to wealth in the New World! ~section of text from Rockin Resources
Examples:
3. England in the New World: Informational Website: British in America
England’s political and religious rights
were different than the other countries settling in the Americas. They were allowed to set up their own
governments and laws. They would hold
meetings, elect representatives, and tax themselves. England allowed this self-government as long
as they didn’t take up arms against the Crown.
They were also permitted to practice their own religion. They did not have to abide
by the Church of England. ~section of text from Rockin Resources
Foldable: Divide paper into 4 sections. Write the following in each square: Resources, Religion, Government, Native Americans. Have students take notes in each square. Draw an illustration in each.
Cookies: Students will never complain having food with their study!
Ingredients:
1 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup shortening (margarine)
1 egg
1 1/2 cups flour
1/2 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. cinnamon
1/2 tsp. nutmeg
1/2 cup shortening (margarine)
1 egg
1 1/2 cups flour
1/2 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. cinnamon
1/2 tsp. nutmeg
For HOBNOB COOKIES, add 1 tsp. vanilla and 1/2 tsp cup raisins.
For APPLEJACKS, add 1 cup chopped unpeeled apples.
For APPLEJACKS, add 1 cup chopped unpeeled apples.
Cream together sugar and shortening.
Add egg (and vanilla if you are making Hobnobs). Beat well.
Mix dry ingredients together in another bowl.
Add slowly to sugar mixture, beating well after each addition.
Stir in raisins or apples.
Grease cookie sheet.
Form into small balls, or drop in the shape of balls on the greased sheet, 3 inches apart.
Bake at 375 degrees for 12-15 minutes.
Add egg (and vanilla if you are making Hobnobs). Beat well.
Mix dry ingredients together in another bowl.
Add slowly to sugar mixture, beating well after each addition.
Stir in raisins or apples.
Grease cookie sheet.
Form into small balls, or drop in the shape of balls on the greased sheet, 3 inches apart.
Bake at 375 degrees for 12-15 minutes.
Taken from www.kidactivities.net
4. Map Activity: Get a map of North America. Have students color in the 3 territories (Spain, France, England) and provide a map key.
5. Triple Venn Diagram: Have students create a Venn Diagram like the one below! Then have students answer the following question: If you had a choice, which country's settlement would you prefer to live in?
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