Lesson Plan
Social Studies Department
Title of Lesson:
Chapter 1: Three Worlds Meet
Subject Area:
American History
Grade Level:
9th -12th Grades
2007-2008
Target Audience: General and Honors
Length of Lesson: 90 Minute Class Period
Lesson Objectives:
Students will understand native cultures of the Americas, Africa and Europe through the study of
artifacts from the various cultures.
Sunshine State Standards:
SS.A.1.4.3 Evaluates conflicting sources and materials in the interpretation of a historical event
or episode.
SS.A.2.4.1 Understands significant cultural, religious, and economic features of civilizations in
Mesoamerica and Andean South America.
SS.A. 2.4.8 Understands cultural, religious, political, and technological developments of
civilizations in Asia and Africa.
SS.A.3.4.1 Understands the significant political and economic transformations and significant
cultural and scientific events in Europe during the Renaissance.
SS.A.3.4.3 Understands the significant economic, political, and cultural interactions among the
peoples of Africa, Europe, Asia, and the Americas during the Age of Discovery and the
European expansion.
LA.A.2.4.7 Analyzes the validity and reliability of primary source information and uses the
information appropriately.
LA.A.2.4.8 Synthesizes information from multiple sources to draw conclusions.
LA.B.1.4.3 Produces final documents that have been edited for: correct spelling; correct
punctuation, including commas, colons, and common use of semicolons; correct capitalization;
correct instances of possessives, subject/verb agreement, instances of noun/pronoun agreement,
and the intentional use of fragments for effect; and correct formatting that appeals to readers,
including appropriate use of a variety of graphics, tables, charts, and illustrations in both
standard and innovative forms.
LA.B.2.4.1 Writes text, notes, outlines, comments, and observations that demonstrate
comprehension and synthesis of content, processes, and experiences from a variety of media.
LA.D.2.4.4 Effectively integrates multimedia and technology into presentations.
LA.E.1.4.3 Identifies universal themes prevalent in the literature of all cultures.
Classroom Material/Resource: Document camera artifacts from the Americas Europe, and
Africa, NARA Artifact Worksheet
Lesson Development/Method/Procedures:
Preview the Chapter: Walk through Chapter 1 with the students. Have students discuss the
timeline, pictures, diagrams and graphs. Discuss with them what they see and what they should
expect to learn. Mention to the students, the text format with its headings and subheadings.
Ch 1 Artifact Analysis: The teacher will provide students with a variety of authentic artifacts to
be analyzed using the National Archives Artifact Analysis Worksheet. Students should analyze
about two to four artifacts during a forty minute period. The teacher will use the rest of the class
period (50 Min) analyzing artifacts with the students using a document camera and interactive
whiteboard. Specifically, the teacher should have students reflect on what the artifacts tell them
about the people who made the artifact, how it was used, what studying artifacts tells students
about the job of historians and archeologist etc. Using laptops, students can view the images as
the teacher demonstrates artifact analysis using an interactive white board. After analyzing an
artifact, the teacher can then use the document camera to show students excerpts and images
from books that discuss the artifact being analyzed. Using this methodology, students can
interact with the other artifacts while preserving the artifacts from damage and deterioration.
This will then prepare students for their enrichment project.
Modifications and /or Accommodations:
English Language Learners will be paired with a bi-lingual student during classroom lecture and
will be given more time to complete their assessment.
Assessment:
Students will be e-mailed images of artifacts not viewed in class and must then write a 2 page
summary of the artifact using the National Records Archive, Artifact Analysis Worksheet found
at http://www.archives.gov/education/lessons/worksheets/artifact.html.
Enrichment/Extensions:
Students will be given two weeks to find and analyze an artifact of their own, anything from a
stamp to an ancient petroglyph. Students will follow the same method used in class and during
their assessment activity. They will then need to do a classroom presentation discussing their
artifact and explain its function. Students will use the classroom document camera and
interactive whiteboard, with teacher assistance, to explain their arguments to the class. This
project will allow students to develop their critical thinking, research and public speaking skills.
Educator: Roberto Fernandez III
Social Studies Department
School:
Boyd H. Anderson High School
3050 NW 41 Street.
Lauderdale Lakes, FL. 33309.
(954) 497-3800.