THE VOYAGES OF AMERIGO VESPUCCI
ACTIVITY OVERVIEW
Students will watch two videos to gain a better understanding of what Amerigo Vespucci has done and
why two continents are named after him. They will then be able to map out Vespucci’s voyages
themselves and use free geographic tools on the internet to explore other places, such as their family’s
own countries of origin, to learn more about their own immigration past and how Vespucci has
impacted their lives today.
45 minutes, Grade 6, Ages 10-12
DIRECTIONS
1. DISCUSS VESPUCCI’S VOYAGES: Talk to the entire class as a whole about Vespucci’s voyages. Ask
them if they know anything about Vespucci or the voyages already before giving them the
information. Then show the video “Amerigo Vespucci and the Founding of America - Drive Thru History”.
2. DISCUSS HOW AMERICA GOT ITS NAME: Ask the class if they know how America got its name. It
is important to also discuss Christopher Columbus. If he was the first one to discover America,
why isn’t it named after him? Answer the question by showing the video “How America Got Its
Name”.
3. USE MAPMAKER: Bring up National Geographic’s Interactive MapMaker for the class using a
projector or a SmartBoard. Use the freeform line tool to draw out Vespucci’s voyages at the
direction of the class. Be sure to explain what you’re doing and how in detail so the students can
replicate it on their own later. Also fool around with various other functions, especially the
layers. Keep in mind that your students may or may not know anything about GIS or cartography
when giving your explanations.
4. DISCUSSING GEOGRAPHIC TECHNOLOGY: Now that you have shown the class how MapMaker
works, discuss with them the benefits and uses of such geographic tools. How do they help us
gain a better understanding of the world? Use Google Earth (or Maps) as another example.
Show aerial and street photography of the damage in Port-au-Prince, Haiti from the 2010
earthquake. Since it is now 2013 and there is still damage, what does that say about life in Haiti?
5. HAVE THEM USE MAPMAKER: Now that you have discussed how to use MapMaker, it is time for
your students to do it themselves! Each one should have their own computer with access to the
internet. Direct them to the website where National Geographic’s Interactive MapMaker is
located. Review how to use the layers before handing out the worksheet. After completing the
worksheet, they are allowed to use MapMaker however they see fit and share some of their
discoveries with the rest of the class.
INFORMAL ASSESSMENT
You may look at the worksheets if you choose, but the real assessment comes from the students’
appreciation for geography. Get them to share some of their independent discoveries using MapMaker.
EXTENDING THE LEARNING
Have students use MapMaker to learn about their ancestral countries of origin. Have them think about
what factors may have led their families to America. If Vespucci never went on his voyages, how would
their ways of life be different today?
OBJECTIVES
SUBJECTS AND DISCIPLINES
Geography

GIS and Cartography

Human Geography
History

World History

American History
LEARNING OBJECTIVES
Students will:

Discuss the voyages of Amerigo Vespucci and how America got its name from him

Use geographic tools on their computers to learn more about the world

Gain a better understanding of how geography impacts our lives
TEACHING APPROACH

Learning-for-use
TEACHING METHODS

Discussions

Multimedia instruction

Visual instruction

Discovery learning
Skills Summary
This activity targets the following skills:


Critical Thinking Skills
o
Analyzing
o
Applying
Geographic Skills
o
Acquiring Geographic Information
o
Analyzing Geographic Information
CONNECTIONS TO NATIONAL STANDARDS
NATIONAL GEOGRAPHY STANDARDS
o
Standard 1: How to use maps and other geographic representations, geospatial technologies,
and spatial thinking to understand and communicate information
o
Standard 3: How to analyze the spatial organization of people, places, and environments on
Earth's surface
o
Standard 4: The physical and human characteristics of places
NEW JERSEY STATE STANDARDS
o
6.1.8.B.1.b – Analyze the world in spatial terms, using historical maps to determine what led to
the exploration of new water and land routes.
PREPARATION
WHAT YOU’LL NEED
MATERIALS YOU PROVIDE
o
Worksheets
RESOURCES PROVIDED
o
Audio & Video
o
o
o
Websites
o
National Geographic’s Interactive MapMaker
o
Google Maps
Programs
o
o
Drive-Thru History videos (YouTube)
Google Earth
Technology
o
Computers For Each Student and Instructor
o
Projector or SmartBoard
REQUIRED TECHNOLOGY
o
Internet Access
o
Plug-Ins: Flash
PHYSICAL SPACE
o
Classroom
SETUP
o
Teacher’s computer hooked up to projector or SmartBoard
GROUPING
o
Large-group instruction
BACKGROUND & VOCABULARY
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
Geography is an important field of study that helps us understand the world in spatial terms and there
are many tools available to study it. The voyages of Amerigo Vespucci are a great example of how we
can use space to analyze the world both in the past and the present. For example, what led to Vespucci
coming to America and what were the lasting effects of his voyages? These can be answered simply by
looking at a map. National Geographic’s MapMaker can tell us the conditions of 15th century Europe that
led to the age of exploration and immigration to the New World.
PRIOR KNOWLEDGE
Basic knowledge of Vespucci’s voyages
RECOMMENDED PRIOR ACTIVITIES
None