Hillcrest High School
Subject/Grade or Course: US HISTORY 10A
Unit Name: Unit I: Age of Exploration
Pacing: 2-3 weeks
Idaho State Content Standards
CCSS ELA
CCSS Reference: Site specific
 USHI. 1.1.1
 RH9-10.9 & WHST9.10.a
standard from CCSS or TIA
 USHI.1.1.2
 RH9-10.9 & WHST9-10.4
document; several standard
 USHI.1.5.3
 RH9-10.4 & WHST9-10.1c
references
applicable
to
this
 USHI.2.1.1
unit should be clustered
 USHI.1.5.2
together
 USHI.3.1.1
 USHI.4.1.1
Overarching Understandings(s):
Essential Questions:
To understand how colonization effected the economic, social
 What factors led to Europe’s increased exploration and the
and political development of the American Colonies.
discovery of the New World?
 How did the spread of civilization begin in the Americas?
 Why and how did Europeans begin to explore more of the world?
 How did European exploration affect the Americas?
STUDENT-FRIENDLY LEARNING TARGET STATEMENTS
Knowledge,
Reasoning, or Skill
Targets
“What I need to
know.”
“What I can do with
what I know”
“What I can
demonstrate”
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I know the definition of these terms: exploration, interaction, native peoples, European settler/explorer,
religion, political, economy, religious motive, political motive, economic motive, Columbian Exchange,
Conquistadors, .
I can identify important explorers of the New World (i.e. Columbus, Cortez, Prince Henry, Pizarro, Cabot.
I can explain the impact the Columbian Exchange had on both Europe and the New World.
I can explain how the American Indians may have migrated to the Americas.
I can identify Native American groups impacted by colonization such as Aztecs, Incas, and Mayans.
I can describe the contributions of the different Native American groups and their impact on culture.
I can describe the conditions in Europe in the fifteenth century.
I can analyze how the changes taking place in Europe affected its inhabitants.
I can describe the major developments on the Iberian Peninsula at the end of the Middle Ages and the start of
the Renaissance.
I can identify the goals of Christopher Columbus and explain the consequences of his journey to the Americas.
I can analyze the effects of European contact with the people of the Americas.
I can create a presentation that demonstrates an understanding of exploration and migration of the Americas.
I can examine maps, graphs, charts and interpret the data as it relates to colonization.
Performance
Targets:
“What I can make to
show my learning.”

Hillcrest High School
I can write a short essay incorporating any number of topics pertaining to exploration and migration of the
Americas.
MATERIALS FOR LESSON PLANNING
Materials/Resources United States History, Chapter: 1 Sections: 1, 2, and 4; www.thinkfinity.org;
http://abcnews.go.com/WN/popup?id=3130823. (Jamestown map). Video: “Who Discovered America?”
Vocabulary
 Ice age
 Middle Ages
 Amerigo Vespucci
 Migrate
 Renaissance
 conquistador
 Mayas
 Prince Henry the Navigator
 Hernan Cortes
 Aztecs
 Bartolomeu Dias
 Montezuma
 Incas
 Vasco da Gama
 Columbian Exchange
 Iroquois League
 Christopher Columbus
 Pedro Alvarez Cabral
 John Cabot
Teacher Notes