III. Technofied Lesson

Social Studies Lesson Plan

Original Lesson Plan by Sarah Segal and Suzy Miller

Technofied Version by 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 a Brain Pop video of this historical event, learn related vocabulary words (voyage, explorer, slavery, New World, and Old World), 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. As a group students will view the related quizzes on the Brain Pop website and use Interactive Board clickers to demonstrate acquired knowledge.

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 (scan selected illustrations to interactive board)

The Encounter (scan selected illustrations to interactive board)

Interactive White Board with Internet and access to Brain Pop JR

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

Preparation:  Organize access to websites.  Prepare food.  Organize CD.

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 using Google Maps on the Interactive Board.  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

·       View the Brain Pop video, Columbus Day with Annie & Moby.  Based on a review of this video, it is geared specifically for this age child; the video includes excellent maps and a very visual depiction of the historical story of Christopher Columbus including the facts that he stole gold and food. Also stated is the fact that he placed natives into slavery. 

·       Select five volunteers to play the Brain Pop Sequence Game, which is a quick review of the sequence of the arrival of Columbus in the New World. 

·       Select five volunteers to explore the Word Wall on the related Brain Pop website. 

·       Reinforcement of concept – (if time constraints are a concern, consider scheduling on a different day.) Reading books depicting the two cultures, Follow the Dream and Encounter.  These books should be read aloud with the illustrations presented on the interactive board.

Process the Concept – Move students to cohesive group circle.

1. Students enjoy foods from both cultures as the music of each culture is played.

2. 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?  Relate the differences in the pictures and video to the meaning of culture.

3. 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?

3.             Brain Pop Quizzes – Students use clickers and take the related Easy Quiz and Hard Quiz on the Brain Pop website. 

References

Brain Pop Jr (Website).  Social studies: Columbus Day. Retrieved from

                 

                  http://www.brainpopjr.com/socialstudies/nativeamericans/columbusday/

Google Maps. Retrieved from http://maps.google.com/maps?hl=en&tab=ml

Segal, S., & Miller, S. K. (2002).  Culture shock – Christopher Columbus and the Taino People. 

                  Lesson Plan required for Social Studies Method Class – University of Montana.

Sis, P. (1991).  Follow the dream. New York: Alfred A. Knopf.

Yolen, J. (1992).  Encounter.  New York:  Harcourt Brace & Company.