Author - Sarah Keith
Category - Lesson Plans, Geography, Explorers
Lesson Plan Duration - 4 day(s)
Grade Level - 3-5

Lesson Plan Description

This unit is designed in conjunction with Howard Gardner’s Theory of Multiple Intelligences. Each of the four lessons utilizes one or more of the categories of intelligences to instruct an indicator from the South Carolina Social Studies Standard 4-1. The lesson plans adhere to ADEPT guidelines and uphold USC-Aiken standards of quality and content. Each section below is actually one of the objectives from each lesson. The unit is WELL DEVELOPED.

Primary Learning Objective(s):

  • South Carolina Social Studies Standard 4-1 (4-4.1 through 4-4.4)
  • Students will demonstrate the exchange of plant life, animal life, and disease that resulted from the exploration of the New World.  Students will understand how the voyages of explorers facilitated the exchange of foods and items across continents.  Students will trace these concepts into the modern globalized food system and discuss ecological impacts associated with consumer food choices.
  • Students will chronologically order the accomplishments of explorations into the New World.  Students will compare the accomplishments of the major explorers. 
  • Students will complete the web-quest to compare the accomplishments of significant explorers of the new world.  
  • Students will demonstrate the exchange of plant life, animal life, and disease that resulted from the exploration of the New World.  Students will understand how the voyages of explorers facilitated the exchange of foods and items across continents.  Students will trace these concepts into the modern globalized food system and discuss ecological impacts associated with consumer food choices.

Additional Learning Objective(s):

Teams of students will create a chart that lists and compares the political, economic, and technological factors that motivated Europeans from Spain, Portugal, and England to explore the new world.  Students will create a box compass.

Procedures/Activities:

Students will chronologically order the accomplishments of explorations into the New World.  Students will compare the accomplishments of the major explorers.

Materials/Equipment:

Students will complete the web-quest to compare the accomplishments of significant explorers of the new world.

Assessment Guidelines:

Students will demonstrate the exchange of plant life, animal life, and disease that resulted from the exploration of the New World.  Students will understand how the voyages of explorers facilitated the exchange of foods and items across continents.  Students will trace these concepts into the modern globalized food system and discuss ecological impacts associated with consumer food choices.