Student
Teacher
Name
Warm Up: Unit 2 Day 3
Pick three of the seven geographic features/place in
South America and answer the question for three of the
features.
Amazon River
Andes Mountains
Panama Canal
Sierra Madres Mountains
Atacama Desert
Cape Horn
Caribbean Ocean
1. How do you think this geographic feature affects
people? Why?
I think the _____________ affects people
because______________________. In addition,
_____________________________
Agenda
Learning Targets:
-Students will be able to explain and describe Diamond’s view that
geography impacted the history of civilization in a discussion.
Students will examine and debate differing views of Christopher Columbus.
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Seating Chart/Warm-up
Agenda
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Website Protocol, Notebook, Rule Review
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Video: Guns, Germs, and Steel – 20 minutes
Break
Introduction to the Columbus Exchange
Thursday:
Rethinking Columbus
Role Play
tiny.cc/whjager
• 6: They could store food so that in bad times
there was still food.
• 7. Two reasons crops in New Guinea were not
successful were they had less calories and
could not be stored.
• 8. Farming is responsible for the success of
most northern people.
Luck of the Draw
• Why did each of these parts of the world go on to develop advanced
civilizations, while the farmers of New Guinea were apparently left
behind?
Diamond discovers that the answer lies in a geographical luck of the draw
– what mattered were the raw materials themselves.
Of all the plant species in the world, only a limited number are possible, or
useful, to domesticate. To Diamond's astonishment, most of these species
are native to Europe and Asia – species like wheat, barley and rice, which
grew wild in abundance in only these parts of the world.
Two more species are native to Tropical Africa (sorghum and yams) while
only one is native to the Americas (corn), and to Papua New Guinea (taro).
Not a single domesticable plant grows wild in Australia.
Tools to Cities
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From tools to cities
Diamond realized that the development of successful and productive farming, starting nearly
12,000 years ago in the Fertile Crescent, was the critical turning point in the origins of global
inequality. From this point on, one group of people – the natives of Eurasia – would have a head
start on the path to civilization.
Successful farming provides a food surplus, and allows some people to leave the farm behind and
develop specialized skills – such as metal-working, writing, trade, politics, and war-making. Plus,
the simple geography of the continent of Eurasia – one coherent landmass spread on an east-west
axis, with universal latitudes and climates – allowed these technologies and ideas to spread beyond
the Middle East with ease.
Without the environment, or the time, to develop similar skills, the farmers of New Guinea became
trapped in their highland isolation.
Diamond concludes that from the end of the Ice Age, geography ensured that different societies
around the world would develop at different speeds. If Yali's people had had all the geographic
advantages of Europeans, perhaps they could have conquered the world
Domestic able Animals
Animals dramatically increase the productivity of farming, through
their meat, milk, leather, dung, and as beasts of burden. Without them,
farmers are trapped in a cycle of subsistence and manual labor.
Of all the animal species in the world, only 14 have ever been
domesticated. 12 of these are native to Eurasia. One, the llama, is
native to South America – and the farmers of New Guinea managed to
domesticate the pig. But pigs can't pull plows, and until the arrival of
Europeans in the 20th century, all New Guinean farming was still done
by hand.
What does being around animals do?..........
GERMSSSSSSSSSS
ANSWER THE FOLLOWING…
1. Most deaths in children under age 5 are due to:
A. infectious diseases and malnutrition
B. premature birth/birth defects
C. Accidents
2. True or False: At least 40% of the deaths in
children under age 5 that occur worldwide each year
could be prevented by administering existing
vaccines to young children.
3. List what you believe are the 5 most deadly
infectious diseases worldwide.
Question #1
1. Most deaths in children under age 5 are due to:
A. infectious diseases/malnutrition
B. Premature birth/birth defects
C. Accidents
• Answer: A (More than 5 million each year die from
diseases such as pneumonia and diarrhea
combined with malnutrition-mostly in developing
countries)
Question #2
• True or False: At least 40% of the deaths in
children under age 5 that occur worldwide
each year could be prevented by
administering existing vaccines to young
children.
• Answer: True Of the 5 million + children
under five who die each year, 2 million
deaths could be prevented by administering
existing vaccines and most of the rest would
be preventable by other means (i.e. good
nutrition, hygiene, clean water, etc.)
Question #3
• Top 5 Killers?
• Answer: Acute Lower Respiratory
Infections/Pneumonia (3.7 million),
Tuberculosis (2.9 million), Diarrhea
(2.5 million), HIV/AIDS (2.3 million),
and Malaria (1.5-2.7 million)
Things to think about…
1. Were you surprised by the answers to any of the
questions? If so, which ones, and why?
2. As a person living in the U.S., would you expect to suffer
from the infectious diseases that are the top killers
worldwide? Why?
3. In an age where so much medical technology is available,
particularly in the form of medications and vaccines, why
do you think so many people are still dying from
preventable diseases?
4. How does it make you feel when you think about people in
developing countries dying from these types of diseases at
alarmingly high rates?
5. Who should be responsible for helping to eradicate these
diseases? Why?
GUNS GERMS STEEL
• EPISODE #1: Let’s go over the
Review Guide Together….
In your notebook: Title Pre-assessment Unit 2
ACTIVITY #1: Unit 3 Pre-Assessment: European Exploration and ColonizationChristopher Columbus
• 1. THE BIG SCARY QUESTION:) Christopher Columbus
– Who was he? Why is he remembered today? Why
is he celebrated? What were his greatest
accomplishments?
• As far as I know Christopher Columbus was a man
who _________________. He is remembered today
because _________________. We have a federal
holiday for him because _________________. His
greatest accomplishment was ________.
Introduce yourself
• 1. Name
• 2. Favorite Activity
• 3. A highlight from your weekend
• 4. Pet Peeves (thing that ANNOYS YOU!!!)
• 5. Do you like cats or dogs better? Why? DUH CATS
6. Is MTV out of control? Think sweet 16
7. Should 16 year olds be allowed to vote?
8. Should Hillsboro get another Max line or a water park?
Person A speaks 1 min
Then Person B speaks 1 minute
Activity #2: Examining Columbus 
Perspective #1
• Together, let’s read the Columbus poem and reasons to
celebrate Columbus day. Next, complete the following:
Creative Competition!
• 2. Hiyo! First, respond to the following question: What
does the poem teach kids about Columbus?
• 3. Next, write 6 more lines to the poem. You can do it!
Activity #2: Examining Columbus 
Perspective #1
• Together, let’s read the Columbus poem and reasons to
celebrate Columbus day. Next, complete the following:
Creative Competition!
• 2. Hiyo! First, respond to the following question: What does
the poem teach kids about Columbus?
• 3. Next, write 6 more lines to the poem. You can do it!
Activity #3: Forced Choices!
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You must agree or disagree with each statement. There is no in-between. It is ok if you do not
know the answer…just choose.
Please put an “A” for agree or a “D” for disagree next to each statement and explain with at least
one sentence:
1) Christopher Columbus is the founder of our nation.
2) Money drives people to do things they might not do otherwise.
3) Columbus Day should NOT be a National Holiday.
4) Christopher Columbus is a hero.
5) Christopher Columbus was the first person to say that the earth was round.
6) Those that have money should have the power.
7) Without Christopher Columbus there would be no United States of America today.
8) It is okay to take any steps necessary to accomplish your goals, no matter who gets hurt in the
process.
9) It is not Christopher Columbus’ fault that the Natives died.
10) Christopher Columbus was NOT a good man.
11) Even though native people died after meeting explorers, their deaths were a necessary step in
establishing the first colonies in America.
12) In order to appreciate our country, we must appreciate Christopher Columbus.
13) Christopher Columbus should be the only explorer that kids learn about because he is the most
important.
REPRESENT!
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Let’s hear from a few of you on your Choices!.
Please put an “A” for agree or a “D” for disagree next to each statement and explain with at least
one sentence:
1) Christopher Columbus is the founder of our nation.
2) Money drives people to do things they might not do otherwise.
3) Columbus Day should NOT be a National Holiday.
4) Christopher Columbus is a hero.
5) Christopher Columbus was the first person to say that the earth was round.
6) Those that have money should have the power.
7) Without Christopher Columbus there would be no United States of America today.
8) It is okay to take any steps necessary to accomplish your goals, no matter who gets hurt in the
process.
9) It is not Christopher Columbus’ fault that the Natives died.
10) Christopher Columbus was NOT a good man.
11) Even though native people died after meeting explorers, their deaths were a necessary step in
establishing the first colonies in America.
12) In order to appreciate our country, we must appreciate Christopher Columbus.
13) Christopher Columbus should be the only explorer that kids learn about because he is the most
important.