European Colonization of South America Lesson Plans

Students focus on the geography of the countries of South America. Using a map, they identify the European countries who claimed the South American countries and research the influences they had on South America. To end the lesson, they write an essay about the South American country they want to live in with supporting details.

Learners examine Haitian culture, including its discovery, colonization, and political and economic development. Role-playing in two ethnic groups, they caucus and develop strategies for the Haitian Revolution. In learning centers, students create Haitian meals, assess the religions, and survey immigration policies.

Fifth graders re-enact historical events. In this Reader's Theater lesson, 5th graders read historical documents from various perspectives on Columbus' journey to find new land. A vareity of resources and documents are included as part of this unit of study.

Students explore South African history from pre-colonial times to today. They create a timeline of important events in South African history and reflect on connections between this timeline and the existence of tribal traditions in the country.

Students discover the relationship between tectonic plate boundaries and the communities of life that thrive at such boundaries. In this biology lesson, students find that methane from oxidized carbon in sediments provides nutrients for deep ocean communities. This lesson includes an experiment, vocabulary, extensive background information, and multiple web resources.

Pupils view three prompts on the board or overhead. They discuss the statements. Students use outline maps and identify the location of selected entries. They use their text or Internet to complete a timeline/chart (included with the lesson plan).

Students develop debating and analytical thinking skills. They take a position in the Back-to-Africa discussion, based upon any readings and the two opposing essays they read. In groups, they discuss an issue from two different points of view. To end the lesson, they write an essay from the point of view of non-slaved or enslaved African.

Third graders research early American Southern colonies. They complete a series of lessons in which they research and discuss Jamestown and Pocahontas along with settlements from Maryland, Carolina and Georgia.

Students examine the impact of colonialism on African nations, researching and analyzing post-colonial literature from those countries. They develop and present a creative display of their novel and its historic parallels.

Examine how the immigrants have changed the environment of the United States. Individually, middle schoolers will take a pre and post-test to test their reading comprehension. In groups, they compare and contrast the religions of Hinduism, Buddhism and Islam while they practice reading one page aloud to the class. To end the lesson plan, they analyze graphs and research the contributions of immigrants to the nation as a whole. Resource links are included.