Students are introduced to the early history of the Native Americans and their treatment by European settlers. Then they explore the causes and effects of both the American Revolution and the Civil War. Finally, students consider the place of Christopher Columbus in American history.
Students read an overview of the experience and its objectives, view an image of Sitting Bull, and respond to a prompt describing what they notice in the photograph. They then complete a two-column table to record what they already know and what they would like to know about Native American history.
Teacher MovesIntroduce the scope and goals of the experience. Guide a brief discussion of students’ observations about the image and their entries in the K/W table, encouraging curiosity and reminding students that their questions will be addressed in later scenes.
Students are introduced to Native Americans as the original inhabitants of what is now the United States and watch Native Americans to learn about the diversity of Native cultures and their relationships with the environment. They summarize, in their own words, Native American culture before the arrival of outsiders, focusing on how different groups interacted with their environments. Students then explore additional information about Native American life and answer several multiple-choice questions about tribal lifestyles, housing, and use of natural resources.
Teacher MovesPrompt students to focus on cultural diversity and environmental adaptation as they watch and respond. Highlight and share one or more strong student summaries to model effective use of evidence, and clarify any misconceptions revealed by the multiple-choice responses.
Students view an image of George Washington crossing the Delaware and read background text about the English colonies, growing tensions with Great Britain, and the Revolutionary War. They read American Revolution Summary and use a two-column notes table to identify and organize key causes and effects of the American Revolution.
Teacher MovesEmphasize the connection between colonial tensions and the decision to seek independence. Support students in distinguishing causes from effects as they take notes, and prepare them to use these notes in a later comparison of the Revolutionary War and the Civil War.
Students view an image related to the Civil War and read an overview explaining that the United States faced an internal conflict less than 80 years after independence. Using the article Civil War, they focus on sections such as “What Started the War?,” “The Slavery Issue,” and “The Emancipation Proclamation,” and complete a notes table on causes and effects of the Civil War. Drawing on their notes from this and the previous scene, students post to a class wall explaining causes and effects of either the Revolutionary War or the Civil War, including how the chosen war affected people in the United States. They then read classmates’ posts and respond to at least two, one on the same war and one on the other war, with questions or positive comments.
Teacher MovesGuide students to identify central causes and major consequences of the Civil War, especially around slavery and national unity. Facilitate the sharing of wall posts, prompting students to compare the two wars and to consider how each conflict changed life for different groups. Conclude with a brief whole-class summary of the major causes and effects of both wars.
Students examine an image of Christopher Columbus in the New World and read about his traditional status as the “discoverer” of America and the ongoing controversy over celebrating Columbus Day. They watch History vs. Christopher Columbus to explore differing perspectives on his legacy. Students then write a paragraph responding to the question of whether Columbus was an intrepid explorer who connected two worlds or a ruthless exploiter who advanced colonialism and slavery, supporting their opinion with evidence from the video. After posting, they read several classmates’ responses and participate in a class discussion or debate about the differing viewpoints.
Teacher MovesEncourage students to recognize that historical figures can be viewed in multiple ways and to ground their opinions in specific evidence. Facilitate a respectful discussion or debate, prompting students to listen to opposing views, ask clarifying questions, and connect Columbus’s legacy to broader themes of exploration, colonization, and indigenous experiences.
Students complete the exit quiz by answering all the questions.
Teacher MovesFacilitate the assessment and use student data to evaluate understanding, address misconceptions, and identify areas for growth.
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