Unit I American History Assignments

Unit I:  Different Worlds Meet begins with the Bering Strait and briefly covers Native American tribes such as the Aztecs, Mayas, and Incas.

A brief overview of explorers Bartholomeu Dias, Vasco da Gama, Christopher Columbus, and Ferdinand Magellan and their impacts on the western world are explored.

It then jumps forward to cover the early conquest of Spanish Conquistadors; Hernan Cortes, Francisco Pizzaro, and Juan Ponce De Leon.

The unit ends with the beginning of the Colonization period for the English, Spanish and French. check the Unit I 

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Links for Unit I:

These links can be used as additional resources for helping students prepare/succeed in Unit I.

Christopher Columbus Biography
Vasco Da Gama Biography
Bartolomeu Dias Biography
Ferdinand Magellan Biography
Vikings, Americas first visitors

Christopher Columbus' Route

Vasco Da Gama's Route

Ferdinand Magellan's Route

Unit I:  Different Worlds Meet

Unit I PowerPoint:  This is the same PowerPoint we use in class, helpful for completing missed notes, and studying for exams.

Primary vs. Secondary Sources Project:  The purpose of this assignment is to familiarize students with the differences between primary and secondary sources, and to help identify major sources of each.

Units of Measurement and Time Homework: (Homework) The purpose of this assignment is to gain a basic understanding of measuring systems used throughout time, and throughout the world.

Unit I Timeline pt 1:  Students will work with the teacher in this step by step timeline project.

Unit I Timeline pt 2:  Now that students have an understanding of the timeline project, they will create their own.  The purpose is to familarize themselves with historical events in the current period of study.

Unit I Timeline Poster:  (Homework) Students will create a poster of an 'interesting' event in a certain time period, this is designed for students to complete quick basic research and hopefully peak interest in outside historical events.

Unit I Vocabulary: Vocabulary Worksheet These are the major vocabulary terms associated with Unit I.  These will be used on a daily basis as well as quizzes and exams.


Unit I Vocabulary Crossword:  A crossword to help students review their vocabulary terms.

World Map Project / Blank Map:  This assignments purpose is to identify major world landmarks both past and present, to give the student a broader understanding of the world and its locations.

Aztec Human Sacrifice Homework: (Homework)  This assignment is a history and the reasoning behind the Aztecs use of Human Sacrafice in their religion.

First Americans Review Questions:  (Homework)  A series of review questions covering the basics of the first Americans and their civilizations.

Latitude and Longitude Homework:  (Homework)  This basic geographic homework assignment is designed to help students become accustumed with using maps, and reading and interpreting lines of latitude and longitude.

Christopher Columbus Biography:  Students will complete a handout detailing important events in Christopher Columbus' life, as well as examining his legacy for centuries to come.

Christopher Columbus Comic Strip/Story:  Taking information from class/notes and the Biography assignment, students will create a comic strip or a short story that characterize Columbus life.

Explorers Foldable:  We will create a foldable that outlines the routes and achievements of important explorers during this time period.

The Viking Diaries:  A "free-write" assignment designed to put students in the shoes of Vikings when they first discovered America, detailing their interactions with eachother, the Natives, and their subsequent return trip home.

Unit I Test Review Questions:  (Homework)  This series of questions is designed to help students prepare for their upcoming exam.

Unit I Study Guide:  (Extra Credit)  This study guide is eligible for up to 20 points of extra credit.  It can replacing any missing assignments (not in the Standardized Category).

Unit I Standards Review:  These review questions are taking directly from the standards and are graded as an exam.  Outside resources are allowed, and are encouraged to be used in completing these questions.