I. Traditional Social Studies Lesson Plan

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/15^th 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.