Social Studies Lesson Plan
Sarah Segal and Suzy Miller
Background Information
Grade Level:
2nd
Lesson Title: Culture
Shock-Christopher Columbus and the Taino People
Student Understandings:
1. Concepts and
Skills
Content: Students will gain an understanding of the meaning
of culture; they will realize the differences between the culture of the
Spaniards and the Taino people. Students
will gain an understanding of how the arrival of Christopher Columbus in the
New World affected the lives of the Taino people on an age appropriate
level.
Skills: Students will explore a map of
the world to locate Columbus’s famous voyage.
They will examine pictures of the two cultures (Spaniards and the Taino
people) and discuss the differences.
Students will watch dramatizations of the two cultures, contribute to a
class “Culture” Chart, and discuss the differences. To demonstrate their understanding of the
concepts, students will create a picture related to Columbus’s arrival in the New
World and write a letter to Queen Isabella about the Taino Culture.
2.
NCSS-Culture: (a) explore and describe similarities and
differences in the ways groups, societies, and cultures address similar human
needs and concerns; (d) compare ways in which people from different cultures
think about and deal with their physical environment and social
conditions. Time, Continuity, &
Change: (a) demonstrate an understanding
that different people may describe the same event or situation in diverse ways,
(b) demonstrate an ability to use vocabulary associated with time such as past,
present, future, and long ago.
Previous Knowledge Needed: Students
understand that Christopher Columbus was a famous explorer.
Materials:
Follow the Dream
The Encounter
CD
and CD Player
Paper/paint
supplies for artwork and paper for letter, pencils
Pictures
of the two cultures
Poster
board for “Culture Cloud” - one word responses/to be placed on bulletin board
Foods: fancy cookies/gold napkins – pineapple
chunks/toothpicks/paper plates
Costumes
for Queen Isabella and the Taino woman
Preparation: Prepare food.
Organize desks for the dramatizations.
Instructional Method
Exploratory Introduction
Play “That’s
Me!” Begin with general questions
about the children’s interests, progress into questions regarding their knowledge
of the arrival of Christopher Columbus.
· My favorite color is – red, yellow, blue, green,
orange, pink, and purple.
· I like to swing high into the sky on the swings.
· I like to play soccer.
· I like to swoosh down the slide.
· I like to read.
· I’ve heard the name of a famous person called
Christopher Columbus.
· I know a story about Christopher Columbus.
· I’ve read a book about Christopher Columbus.
Map Activity:
· Introduce the map of the world. Ask individuals to
locate locations: Europe, Africa, North America, South America, Asia,
Antarctica…Italy, Spain, and the Caribbean.
Picture Activity: Present pictures of the two
cultures (Spain and Taino people) to the class.
Discuss the differences: how the people dressed, the physical features
of the people, and types of homes the people live in, and the food that the
people ate.
Development of Concepts
1.
Explore the Concept
· Ms. Miller dressed as Queen Isabella describes the
culture of the Spanish people in the late 1400’s. She tells the story of Christopher Columbus
based on the book Follow the Dream.
(Play music related to Spain/15th Century.)
· Miss Seagal dressed as a Taino girl describes the
culture of her people. She describes the
effect that that Columbus’s arrival in the New World had on her people. Her story is based on the books Encounter and
Morning Girl. (Play drum music related
to the Taino culture.)
Process the Concept – Have students sit on the floor.
· Present the
“Culture Cloud.” (Poster board cut in
the shape of a cloud with the word, culture, written in center.) Each student
takes a turn to write a word related to culture (way of life) on the cloud as
questions are discussed. What do you
believe the word ‘culture “means? What
kind of food did the Spaniards/Taino People eat? What type of clothing? What type of music? Where do they live?
· Closure – Discussion:
Do you think these two groups got along?
Why or why not? Guide students to understand that these two groups of
people did not get along due to cultural differences.
Expansion/Assessment (Play appropriate music while students complete activities.)
1.
Artwork – Students will be evaluated
by their ability to create a picture that relates to their understanding of and
feelings about Christopher Columbus’s arrival in the New World.
2. Letters – Students will be evaluated by their ability to
write two paragraphs within a letter (to Queen Isabella of Spain) regarding
their understanding of the situation involving the Taino People and Christopher
Columbus. Options: 1. Explain the culture of the Taino People to Queen Isabella
of Spain. 2. How was Christopher
Columbus like a hero? How was
Christopher Columbus not like a hero?
References
Aller, S. B. (2003). Christopher
Columbus. Minneapolis: Lerner Publications Company.
Dorris, M. (1992). Morning
Girl. New York: Hyperion Paperbacks for Children.
Sis, P. (1991). Follow
the dream. New York: Alfred A. Knopf.
Yolen, J. (1992). Encounter.
New York: Harcourt Brace &
Company.
