Introduction
Hello my world travelers! The world is made of many various landforms and bodies of water. Early explorers discovered benefits and limits of living in various locations. If you were to chose your place, where would you rather live, near a major river or mountain range? Today, we are going to look at some of the major rivers and mountain ranges and the various resources produced in those areas. Also, you will discover how some of the early explorers made their living in these areas of North America. Watch this brief Youtube video on why early colonial explorers came into North America.
Task
Use the website to discover details about what early colonists went through as they discovered new lands. Determine what type of things you might see if you were one of the early explorers.
Each student will use their interactive journal and note taking tools to record information discovered along the way.
This information will be used to build upon the next lesson relating to the main theme, "Our American Landscape".
Final task will be a performance task. More lessons and activities to follow.
Process
History : Colonial American jobs and occupations (5:00 minutes)
https://www.ducksters.com/history/colonial_america/jobs_occupations.php (there's an option to listen to the video at the bottom the page)
What are mountains?
https://www.dkfindout.com/us/earth/mountains/
Appalachian Mountains
https://www.dkfindout.com/us/earth/mountains/appalachians/
Rocky Mountains
https://www.dkfindout.com/us/earth/mountains/rocky-mountains/
* After viewing each link, use the teacher provided KWL chart to complete the information viewed.
* You may work with a partner to complete your KWL chart.
* Create atleast 2 questions about what you would like to know more about from the links.
* Discuss with your peers and record possible sources you can use to further your research on your chosen questions.
* Think about these possible questions in your research:
a. How can learning about major land features and the early settlers’ experiences help determine where you would want to live?
b. What forms of economic exchange was used within the colonies and tribes?
Evaluation
Let's Play a Game:
Content Rubric for Performance Task
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Criteria |
Does Not Meet (1) |
Needs Improvement (2) |
Meets Standard (3) |
Exceeds Standard (3.5) |
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Uses academic vocabulary relating to overarching theme |
Does not use academic vocabulary |
Evidence of some academic vocabulary used |
Uses most academic vocabulary in the product |
Uses most academic vocabulary plus included illustrations with labels |
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Check the box for one rating: |
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Describes how the landscape affects economic environment |
Does not make any connections to economic impact |
At least 1 impact mentions economic impact of landscape |
Uses 2 or more reasons that landscape affects economics |
Includes atleast 2 economic impacts plus includes how explorers and natives worked together |
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Check the box for one rating: |
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Uses appropriate grammar and sentence formation. |
Uses limited appropriate grammar and sentence formation. |
Some evidence of sentence formation to include details from research. |
Sentences include appropriate grammar and sentence formation. |
Includes appropriate grammar and sentence formation with transitional word usage. |
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Check the box for one rating: |
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Student produced product is visually appealing. |
No pictures used in their display. |
Some pictures used with limited lables. |
Pictures and color included in their product to support their theme. |
Pictures and color included along with illustrations to support theme. |
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Teacher Page
By Raymond C
This Webquest was designed as the 1st of 3 lessons on a thematic topic, Our American Landscape, created for a 3rd grade classroom. This is the introduction to the native Americans and explorers as related to locations on the map.