Put the Title of the Lesson Here - Johnson Elementary Library



The Age of Exploration:

Hero or Villain?

A WebQuest for 4th Grade (Social Studies)

Designed by

Laurel Aiello

aiellos302@

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Introduction | Task | Process |Resources| Evaluation | Conclusion | Credits | Teacher Page

Introduction

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Early explorers searching for the “three g’s” (gold, glory, God) paved the way for future settlements that impacted the political, economic, and social development of our country. As we read in Jane Yolen’s book, Encounter, the indigenous people were also impacted.

In this quest for information, you are a sailor traveling with one of these early explorers. Was your explorer a hero or a villain? You and your team will examine the evidence and decide.

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The Task

In this quest, your group will choose from the following explorers: Christopher Columbus, Ferdinand Magellan, Amerigo Vespucci, Robert de La Salle, Henry Hudson, or Jacques Cartier. You will complete the following activities to help you decide if your explorer was a hero or a villain.

• Research your explorer and complete information in a Fact Packet.

• Apply for the job as a sailor to go on the journey.

• Research the Chickasaw tribe and complete a comparison chart to tell about their culture then and now.

• Write journal entries that show two points of view (the explorer and the Native American).

• Create a poster to present your conclusion: Hero or Villain?

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The Process

1. First you will be assigned to a group of 3-4 students and will choose your explorer.

2. Once you have picked your explorer, you will look an interactive map to locate the route your explorer took to the New World:

Columbus, de La Salle, de Soto, Hudson, Cartier

Magellan and Vespucci

Find your explorers name and click on it to see where your captain went. Each person in the group will draw the route onto the map in their packet.

What states (or islands) were explored? Choose one of the states and find out more about it using Fact Monster. What is this state (or island) like today? Identify the population and cash crops and add them to your notes.

3. Next you will find out important facts about your Captain. Look at the Famous Explorers web site to find out more. You will scroll down to find the name of your explorer and double click. Find the following information to add to your packet:

• What country did your explorer represent?

• What year?

• Why was he exploring? (gold, glory, or God)

• 3-5 interesting facts.

Columbus, Magellan, Vespucci, de Soto, Hudson, Cartier

de La Salle

4. Now that you have some information about your Captain, let’s learn more about the ships. Watch the video about Columbus’ Modern Ship and then explore the Explorers at Sea web site.

5. Discuss with your team what skills a sailor with your explorer would need. Make a list of these skills. Fill out the application in your packet.

6. Learn about the Native American point of view. Use Kids Infobits (password: Elvis) to learn about the Chickasaw experience with the explorers. Type Chickasaw: History in search box. You may read or listen to the article. Working together with your team, fill in the “Then and Now” chart in your packet.

7. Reflect individually on the information you have gathered so far. The book, Encounter, tells the story of Christopher Columbus from the point of view of a Native American boy. Today, you will consider both points of view. Write two journal entries in your packet. The first entry will be from the point of view of your explorer. What are you thinking and feeling as you explore this new world? The second entry will be from the point of view of the Native American. How do you feel as you see these new strangers in your land? Write 2-3 good paragraphs for each entry.

8. Discuss with your team what you have learned in your quest for information. Do you think your explorer was a hero or a villain? Why? Create a poster defending your position. Your poster should contain a picture and name of your explorer with a map of the area he explored and 3-5 facts about him. The poster should also contain at least 3 things that you discovered that you think support your position. These facts may be presented using pictures combined with text.

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Resources

Webquest Packet (file)

Encounter by Jane Yolen

(interactive map)

(interactive map)

(Fact Monster)

(famous explorers)

(Mr. Nussbaum)

(History)

(explorers at sea)

(kids infobits)

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Evaluation

This is a group project, but also has some individual assignments. You will be graded individually for completion of your packet, use of class time, and two journal entries. You will receive a group grade for the final poster project. See the rubrics below:

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Conclusion

Congratulations! You have completed your quest. You have examined history from two points of view, before deciding what you think. Here are a few more resources that you may enjoy exploring to learn even more.

The Mariners’ Museum

National Geographic Kids

American Journeys Eyewitness Accounts

Ducksters (Native Americans)

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Credits & References

Picture Resources:

(bright).gif (USA map: National )

(Christopher Columbus)

(Henry Hudson)

(Amerigo Vespucci)

(HS85-10-16601).jpg (Robert de la Salle)

(Jacques Cartier)

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Last updated on August 15, 1999. Based on a template from The WebQuest Page

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