Continuing Columbus

As you work toward your goal of writing an essay to answer the question "Was Columbus a Hero, or a Villain?", make sure that you take a look at the outline.  I have made changes on it to account for the quotes you will use.  Essay Outline

Remember that you need at least five quotes that make Columbus look like a hero, and at least five quotes that make Columbus look like a villain before you begin to write.
-You also need one quote from a historian that makes Columbus look like a hero and one quote from a historian that makes him look like a villain.

You will notice on the outline it not only has a place for the quote, but it also has something called a smackdown paragraph.   This is where you acknowledge that not everyone agrees with you and why.  In this paragraph you argue against those who disagree with you.

The Two Faces of Christopher Columbus

Click on the following link for today's lesson.  Copy the graphic organizer to your Google Docs:

Christopher Columbus- Hero, or Villain?

European Exploration

Christopher Columbus

     When it comes to European Explorers, Christopher Columbus is a giant.  However, during his lifetime and even up to the 20th century, he was not given much credit for discovering the "New World".   Instead, that honor was given to Amerigo Vespucci, an Italian map maker who first realized the land was new and named it for himself.
     Today, we give credit to Columbus because his discovery truly led to the European colonization of North and South America.

Today, you will be playing some games and reading about Christopher Columbus.  Click on the following links to play:

Merchants of the Great Exchange

Christopher Columbus

When you have finished playing rags to riches and have won the $1,000,000 prize (check's in the mail),
you can watch the following video at History.com

The real story of Christopher Columbus

If you have time, there will be many videos about Columbus that automatically play after the one above, go ahead and watch a few, I think you will find that they are very interesting.

Native American Culture

Totem Pole Project

In Social Studies we often study the cultures of groups of people.  It is convenient to split culture into four categories for this purpose:

Economics:  How do you get what you need and want?
Social:  What makes one group of people different from another?
Political:  How are rules made and enforced?
Geographical:  What are the physical characteristics of a particular area and how does that affect culture?


As we study Pre-Columbian Native American cultures, I would like for you to consider the cultural aspects of your own life.  To do this, I have assigned a totem pole project.  The instructions are below: 

 your totem pole will probably not look like this one, but this is the general shape of a Pacific Coast Indian totem pole.

 

1.  Draw a totem pole on a sheet of paper.       
2.  Next, split the totem pole into 4 equal sections,
3.  In the top section of you pole draw pictures or symbols that represent how you and your family get money to buy the things you need and want.
4.  In the second section draw pictures or symbols that represent at least one social aspect of your life.  A good example might be a family tradition.
5.  In the third section draw pictures or symbols to represent how rules are made and enforced in your home.  (Political)
6.  In the bottom section of your pole, draw symbols or pictures to represent where you live.  (Geographical)
7.  When finished, make it colorful.

Remember, you cannot use words, only symbols and pictures.
Have fun!

Culture

When we study civilizations, it is helpful to examine their culture.  Culture can be divided into  categories in the following way:

Political:  Way of making and enforcing rules/laws.  This can include villages, nations, leaders, governments, and law-making process.

Economic:  How we get what we need and want.  In modern times, this could be going to work, getting paid, and using the money to buy groceries.

Geography:  Landforms, waterbodies, climate, natural resources, etc.  This includes anything that is naturally found in a region.

Social:  Traditions, families, religion, beliefs, values, etc.

Today, we will be studying the many cultures of Native American tribes that existed in North America before the arrival of Columbus- hence the name Pre-Columbian!
In class, we will work together to create a culture grid for the Pacific Coast region, then you will pick a culture area (Great Plains, Eastern, West and Southwest) to complete a culture grid of your own.  In each area of the grid you will have to make at least one inference (a conclusion based on evidence and reasoning) based on what you know about the culture area.  You should have an explanation for every inference you make.
Click on the following link:   Culture Grid    You will need to click "make a copy" so that you can type on it.

Missing Mayan Mystery

Click on the following link, collect clues, then write your answer to the question- use evidence to

support your answer!

Why did the Mayan city of Copan collapse?

Use archaeology to discover how a great civilization disappeared!

Finished?  Try this Mayan Math site:  Maya Math Game

Welcome Back!!

Welcome to 8th Grade Social Studies