Unit Overview/Summary - FOCUS: 

There are intersecting causes and effects of migration patterns of Indigenous people and the exploration of Europeans in North America. In this unit, fifth grade students will think like a geographer to show their understanding of why groups migrated, explored, and settled where they did. Students will be able to describe the causes and effects of European exploration and settlement on native lands. Additionally, students will understand that the emergence of the transatlantic slave trade was a direct consequence of European exploration in the Americas. This unit places a particular emphasis on how African and indigenous cultures contributed to agricultural and technological knowledge within European settlements. Through the study of the effects of cultural diffusion students will learn how different cultures have different gender roles and expectations. Students will engage with primary and secondary sources, consider historical context, and develop analytical skills to draw connections between important topics of pre-colonial history.  

Unit Duration:

30 Days Three 30-minute sessions per week x 10 weeks