Teaching American History

Geography and Early America (The First People and Explorers)

2011-07-13T19:56:00.000-07:00

Depending on how you teach, you may find some things more useful than others. Below are some possible Enduring Understandings (EU) and Essential Questions (EQs).

From Alpine TAH

EU – When two cultures meet, conflict often occurs.

From UEN.org

Exploration and colonization of North America transformed human history.
Global trade and cultural exchanges alter the lives of people around the world.
Personal freedom among individuals and groups significantly affect us today.
Conflicts between cultures and countries contrast with trade and development of self-rule.
The New World and the U.S. developed through the struggles of individuals to overcome political problems and conflicts with people and the land.
Geography is the foundation for civilization, settlement, and culture.

From Alpine TAH

EQ – What were the pre-Columbian native cultures like as influenced by their regions?

EQ – Why did the Europeans explore?

EQ – What were the consequences of European exploration?

From UEN.org

What motivates people to leave their homeland and settle in a new place?

Why do people explore?

Why do people settle?

How were the early American colonies settled and how did they grow?

My ideas though certainly influenced by many others:

EQ - How is geography the foundation for civilization, settlement, and culture ?

EQ - How can we tell what "The People" (American Indians) valued?

EQ - What are values and how can we show their worth to us?

Below are some interesting questions/ideas from a teacher's website www.nashua.edu/walshly (not deep but can help foster ideas)

Introduction to Geography
What does the word Geography literally mean?
What are the five themes of Geography?
What does the theme of location study?
What does the theme of place study?
What does the theme of region study?
What does the theme of movement study?
What does the theme of human interaction with the environment study?
Location, Location, Location! (The Theme of Location)
What are the two types of location?
What is relative location?
What is absolute location?
Is the Equator a longitude line or a latitude line?
What is another term for latitude line?
What is the name of the line at zero degrees latitude?
What is another term for longitude line?
The Prime Meridian passes through which important city and country?
The imaginary line on the opposite side of the Prime Meridian at 180 degrees is what?
Give an example of relative location.
Give an example of absolute location
Which two hemispheres is New Hampshire in?
Mapmaker, Mapmaker, Make me a Map! (The Theme of Location cont.)
What does migration mean?
What is a cartographer?
What is a globe?
What is a map?
Why does making a globe into a map cause distortion?
Name three ways that map projections distort the Earth.
Name four types of map projections.
Which map projections are most accurate or correct in showing correct land area?
What are the three types of maps?
What does a political map show?
What does a physical map show?
Name three examples of a special purpose map.
Wish You Were Here! (The Theme of Place)
Name three ways that you can describe what a place is like.
Give an example of a special purpose map.
What is climate?
Name three factors that affect climate.
How is a place's climate affected by it's distance to the Equator?
Be able to label the climate zones (frigid, temperate and torrid)
How does altitude affect climate?
How do wind and ocean currents affect climate?
What is a landform?
What is population density?
Explain the difference between urban, suburban and rural areas
What is culture?
Name four things that define a culture.
The Reason for Regions! (The Theme of Region)
Define the theme of region.
Name three ways that regions are sometimes determined.
Name three examples of regions.
How many hours does it take for the Earth to rotate one time?
At what imaginary line does each new date begin?
Name the five time-zones in the United States
Name five of the Earth's major biomes.
Movin' and Groovin' (The Theme of Movement)
Name three ways that people move.
Name three ways that products move
Name three ways that ideas move.
Why do countries around the world rely on each other for products they need?
Give three examples of why people move.
Pollution is Not the Solution (The Theme of Human/Environment Interaction)
What do Geographers study when they study Human interaction with the Environment?
Give three examples of how humans affect the environment
Give three examples of how the environment affects humans
Why are natural resources important?
Give three examples of a renewable resource.
Give three examples of a non-renewable resource.
Why could deforestation be a problem for people?
Name three ways that we pollute our environment.
Explain and label the water cycle.

EQ - What motivates people to leave their homeland and settle in a new place?

EQ - Why do people explore?

EQ - Why do people settle?

EQ - How were the early American colonies settled and how did they grow?

From www.wallingford.k12.ct.us

EQ - How does geography influence lifestyle and point of view?

EQ - How do geography, climate, and natural resources affect the way people live and work?

EQ - What story do maps and globes tell?

EQ - What makes places unique and different?

EQ - How do maps and globes reflect history, politics, and economics?

EQ - What effect do people have on their environment?

EU - Exploration and colonization of North America transformed human history.

EU - Global trade and cultural exchanges alter the lives of people around the world.

EU - Personal freedom among individuals and groups significantly affect us today.

EU - Conflicts between cultures and countries contrast with trade and development of self-rule.

EU - The New World and the U.S. developed through the struggles of individuals to overcome political problems and conflicts with people and the land.

EU - Geography is the foundation for civilization, settlement, and culture.

From www.wallingford.k12.ct.us

EU - Geography influences needs, culture, opportunities, choices, interests, and skills.

EU - There is a relationship between the consumption and conservation of natural resources.

The Civil War... 150 Years Later

2011-05-03T18:19:00.000-07:00

Burnside Bridge, Gettysburg, PA -Erica Decker

Many of us are really excited about our deepened knowledge of the Civil War. This is the 150 year anniversary and there are many amazing resources available for teachers.

The House Divided Project, is by far, one of the most amazing resources available. Another really neat thing that is happening is a real-time Civil War Reenactment. This is happening in conjuction with the House Divided Project through the Washington Post. They are using primary source documents from both the Union and the Confederacy. Much like Twhistory, The Post is tweeting the events (and quoting Union and Confederate Leaders) of the Civil War as they occured150 years ago. Sign up for Twitter today and follow the list @CivilWarWP.

Civil War Links and Resources:

Taken at Gettysburg By Erica Decker

Civil War Life/Death

Montgomery Letter (Confederate Soldier)
"The Last Words" (Folder includes pieces to put it back together in case it doesn't download correctly)

Confederate and Union Haversacks

Dialogue Idea - Williamsburg Packet

National Archives

Matthew Pinsker Professor/Historian/Author

From lincolncottage.org

Gilder Lehrman

Library of Congress:

Places We Visited and Resources We Can Share

Gettysburg, PA by Erica Decker

Gettysburg

Tredgar

Antietam

Grant's Cabin: City Point

Ford's Theater

Harper's Ferry

Pamplin Park

Confederate White House

Fredrick Douglass Home

Petersburg

City Point, Virginia - Grant (center) and some advisors, 1863

City Point, Virginia - Matthew Pinsker, Grant Cottrell, John MacNamara, 2011

Boston and Williamsburg Trip Presentations

2011-05-03T14:02:00.000-07:00

TOPICS:

PILGRIMS

WAMPANOAG / AMERICAN INDIANS

This is a link to a good video if you have a streaming.discoveryeducation.com:

Contact and Conflict (video from American Indian Perspective, Great to talk about Steroetype)

LOYALIST INSTITUTE

A Civil War Picture Recreation

2011-05-03T08:34:00.000-07:00

City Point, Virginia - Grant (center) and some advisors, 1863

City Point, Virginia - Matthew Pinsker, Grant Cottrell, John MacNamara, 2011

1950s Conflict and Compromise: Civil Rights, Cold War, Cultural Change

2011-04-05T08:26:00.000-07:00

Coming Soon

World War I and World War II

2011-03-23T05:22:00.000-07:00

The topic at our last TAH Cohort was World War I and World War II. The day was very affective and engaging. At the bottom of this blog there will be some links that may help you as you teach about WWI and WWII. The "Handouts" link will contain all the handouts given at cohort that day. The "PowerPoint" links will contain the Shane's presentation. You must have the username and password to access the handouts and Powerpoints due to copyright agreements (we need our TAH teachers to be careful not to distribute the username and password so that we will be able to continue providing digital resources). We will provide many other ideas and resources for teachers on the topic that will be opensource, or linked information. If you have some great resources or ideas for teaching these subjects, we would love to hear from you! Leave a comment and if there is something you want me to upload, just send an email.

Links to Resources Used at History Cohort
WWI and WWII Enduring Understanding and Essential Questions
TAH Handouts: Password Protected
Shane's WWI PPT: Password Protected
Shane's WWII PPT: Password Protected
Erica's Notes (Warning: perfect grammar and spelling not guaranteed)
Other WWI and WWII Teacher Resources:
A Teacher's WWI Webquest

Suggested Book List:

American History Goes Digital

2011-03-22T21:45:00.000-07:00

In our rapidly changing digital world, we are playing catch-up. This blog is intended to give resources and ideas to teachers who teach K-12 American History. Some material will require a username and password because it is only open to certain people due to copyright and participation in certain classes. Opensource items will be available to all.