Lesson Plan #:  CC-0098

Crossroads:
High School Curriculum

Unit I: A World of Their Own: The Americas to 1500

Concepts:

archaeology, culture, comparative religion, cultural distinction, folklore,
norms, geology, indigenous culture, climatology, primitive culture,
ecology, pantheism, linguistics, polytheism, anthropology, communal,
ethnologist, common law, ethnohistorian, confederation, supermajorities
Rationale:
Study of the Americas before 1500 at the high school level is important for two reasons. First, it provides an excellent context for students (I) to build an understanding of the nature of historical inquiry that they will use throughout the year of study and (ii) to learn and use analytical, evaluative, and synthesizing thinking in grasping the continuing controversy surrounding historians' various interpretations of the period. Second, as students examine the repeated contacts between European settlers and indigenous peoples in American history, they will be able to analyze these encounters from the perspectives of both parties. These dual perspectives will give students a fuller understanding of the relationships of cause, effect, and contingency among events, and these events' consequences for both the Indian and European cultures and actions.

Many of the concepts embedded within the unit have been introduced at the middle school level at the more concrete and iconic level through the use of actual objects, graphic displays, field trips, etc. Since high school students most likely will return to the study of the United States history in their junior or senior years, most, if not all, will have had additional exposure to these concepts in their science, English, art, technology, and global studies courses. This experience will enable them to pursue study of these concepts at a much more abstract and symbolic level. Just as important, a new and more advanced study of concepts will enable the students to build larger conceptual maps that they can use to bridge the gaps between disciplines and bodies of knowledge.

Lesson 1
Lesson 2
Lesson 3

Unit I | Unit II | Unit III | Unit IV | Unit V | Unit VI | Unit VII |
Unit VIII | UnitIX | Unit X | UnitXI | Unit XII