Central America and the Caribbean

Learn about the history of Central America and the Caribbean.

Objectives:

  • Students will be able to describe the location and geography of Central America and the Caribbean.
  • Students will understand that Christopher Columbus first landed in the West Indies on one of the islands that are now the Bahamas.
  • Students will be able to describe the mixture of people that live in Central America and the Caribbean.
  • Students will be able to identify Haiti as the only country to gain independence via a successful rebellion of slaves.
  • Students will be able to describe the climate and natural dangers of Central America and the Caribbean.

Suggested Grades:

4th Grade – 5th Grade – 6th Grade

Procedure:

  1. Read lesson or have students read it silently.
  2. Have students answer the questions on the worksheet.
  3. Discuss answers to questions.

Lesson Excerpt:

Central America is a narrow piece of land, called an isthmus, which links North America and South America. The eastern shore of Central America is along the Caribbean Sea. There is a long chain of islands in the Caribbean Sea known as the West Indies. The climate is always warm in this region of the world because it is near the equator. There are two seasons – a rainy season that lasts from May to November and a dry, sunny season during the rest of the year.

In 1492, when Christopher Columbus sailed west from Spain, the first place he landed was a Caribbean island that is now part of the Bahamas. He named the island San Salvador. Spanish colonists came to the Caribbean islands and Central America to grow tropical crops like sugar, coffee and cacao beans (which are used to make chocolate). The colonists enslaved the natives who lived in the region. Later, they brought slaves from Africa to work for them as well. Today, many people from the Caribbean and Central America can trace their family roots to Africa.

 

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Canadian Expansion and Canada Today

Learn about the expansion of Canada and what it is like today.

Objectives:

  • Students will be able to describe the expansion of Canada.
  • Students will be able to identify the Canadian Pacific Railway as an important factor in the expansion of Canada.
  • Students will be able to identify the various immigrant groups who have settled in Canada and the circumstances under which each group arrived.
  • Students will be able to identify French and English as the two official languages of Canada.

Suggested Grades:

4th Grade – 5th Grade – 6th Grade

Procedure:

  1. Read lesson or have students read it silently.
  2. Have students answer the questions on the worksheet.
  3. Discuss answers to questions.

Lesson Excerpt:

When Canada became a country in 1867, most Canadians lived in the southeastern part of the country. While a few people lived on the plains and along the west coast, they were separated from the rest of the population by the Canadian Shield and the steep mountains of the Canadian Rockies. The Prime Minister, John McDonald, wanted Canada to be a country that spanned from the Atlantic to the Pacific. He decided that the best way to unite the distant territories with the rest of the nation was to build a railroad, and that’s what he promised to do.

The promise of a railroad encouraged more provinces to become part of the country. In 1870, the plains province of Manitoba joined the nation, and in 1871, the west coast province of British Columbia was added.  But it was not until 1881 that the construction of the Canadian Pacific Railway finally began. Under the direction of the American engineer William Van Horne, the railway was completed in 1885. Later, in 1905, two more plains provinces – Alberta and Saskatchewan – became part of Canada. The country now stretched from sea to sea.

 

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Canada’s Road to Independence

Learn about the colonization of Canada and how Canada became an independent country.

Objectives:

  • Students will understand that the French were the first Europeans to set up colonies in Canada.
  • Students will understand when and how English colonies were established in Canada.
  • Students will be able to describe how Canada became an independent country.
  • Students will be able to name the first Prime Minister of Canada.

Suggested Grades:

4th Grade – 5th Grade – 6th Grade

Procedure:

  1. Read lesson or have students read it silently.
  2. Have students answer the questions on the worksheet.
  3. Discuss answers to questions.

Lesson Excerpt:

Like the United States, Canada is a nation of immigrants with an interesting history. In 1534, the French explorer Jacques Cartier arrived in Canada while searching for a westward route from France to Asia. He found a land rich in forests, furs and fish. Other French settlers soon came to Canada, and in 1608, Samuel de Champlain started the first French Canadian colony in the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence Lowlands. The colony was called New France.  French settlers became friends with the native Huron Indians and quickly established profitable fur trading posts throughout New France.

In the mid-1700’s, New France came under British control as a result of the French and Indian War. Canada was ruled by Great Britain until 1776, when the American colonies rebelled. French Canadians did not follow their American neighbors in rebellion against Great Britain, and when the American Revolution ended, many colonists who had remained loyal to Britain and not fought for independence moved north to Canada. Some British Loyalists settled on the island of Nova Scotia, while others moved to the mainland and established the colony of New Brunswick. Many more moved to the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence Lowlands region. There, British Loyalists found themselves in conflict with French Canadians. The conflict grew so heated that Great Britain finally divided the region into two colonies in 1791. The two colonies were Quebec (French) and Ontario (English).

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Canada’s Geography

Learn about the geography of Canada.

Objectives:

  • Students will be able to name the regions of Canada.
  • Students will be able to identify the location of each region in Canada.
  • Students will be able to describe the unique features of each region in Canada.

Suggested Grades:

4th Grade – 5th Grade – 6th Grade

Procedure:

  1. Read lesson or have students read it silently.
  2. Have students answer the questions on the worksheet.
  3. Discuss answers to questions.

Lesson Excerpt:

Canada is the second largest country in the world, spanning 3,200 miles from coast to coast. The country consists of six regions. The largest of these regions, the Canadian Shield, is the oldest part of North America. Once covered with glaciers, it is now mostly dense forests. There are also flat swamps called muskegs throughout the Canadian Shield. Muskeg is a Chippewa Indian word for swampy ground. There are many logging, lumber and paper companies in the Canadian Shield. The lakes and rivers created by melting glaciers are now used to power machines that make electricity.

The smallest region in Canada is the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence Lowlands Region. It is located in the southeastern part of Canada and borders the United States. The St. Lawrence River flows between the two countries. Often called the “Mother of Canada,” the St. Lawrence River was used by the first Europeans who explored Canada. Canada’s major cities of Quebec, Montreal, Ottawa and Toronto are built along this river. Since it is the warmest part of Canada, the growing season in this region is long enough for crops such as corn, beans, squash and sunflowers to grow. There are also fruit orchards and dairy farms in the St. Lawrence Lowlands.

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Dictators and the Start of World War II

Learn about the rise of dictatorships that led to the start of World War II.

Objectives:

  • Students will be to name the dictators that ruled Italy, Germany and Japan during World War II.
  • Students will be able to explain what a dictator is.
  • Students will be able to describe how Adolf Hitler rose to power.
  • Students will be able to identify the countries that formed the Axis Powers in 1936.
  • Students will be able to explain why World War II started.

Suggested Grades:

4th Grade – 5th Grade – 6th Grade

Procedure:

  1. Read lesson or have students read it silently.
  2. Have students answer the questions on the worksheet.
  3. Discuss answers to questions.

Lesson Excerpt:

When the United States fought in World War I, President Woodrow Wilson wanted to “make the world safe for democracy.” But soon after the war ended, some governments in Europe and Asia became anything but democratic. In many countries, dictators were gaining control. A dictator controls a country without giving the people any rights.

In 1922, Italy became the first European country to fall under the rule of a dictator. The dictator’s name was Benito Mussolini. He took control of Italy by promising to end the poverty that had become widespread in the country after World War I. Under Mussolini, the Italian people had no rights or freedoms. The dictator defended his way of ruling by saying that “men nowadays are tired of liberty.”

In Germany, similar trouble was brewing. The Treaty of Versailles that ended World War I had forced Germany pay for damages, leaving the country with no money to rebuild itself. The Great Depression also affected Germany, and by 1932, one third of Germans did not have jobs. They turned to a leader named Adolf Hitler who promised that he could end hard times and make Germany a powerful empire. Hitler told the Germans that they were members of a “master race.” He convinced some that they were destined to rule the world. Hitler blamed Jewish people for the troubles in Germany. His followers, known as Nazis, set out to eliminate the Jews. Under Hitler, millions of Jewish men, women and children were sent to concentration camps where they were starved and murdered.

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World War I

Learn about World War I, the results of the war, and how and when the U.S. became involved.

Objectives:

  • Students will be to state that World War I began in 1914 after the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand.
  • Students will understand that the United States remained neutral at the start of World War I and did not enter the fighting until 1918.
  • Students will be able to identify the Lusitania and explain why it is significant to World War I history.
  • Students will be able to identify the sinking of American ships by Germany as the impetus for the U.S. to declare war on Germany in 1917.
  • Students will be able to describe the purpose of the Treaty of Versailles and the League of Nations.
  • Students will understand that President Wilson signed the Treaty of Versailles but it was never approved by Congress and the U.S. did not join the League of Nations.

Suggested Grades:

4th Grade – 5th Grade – 6th Grade – 7th Grade

Procedure:

  1. Read lesson or have students read it silently.
  2. Have students answer the questions on the worksheet.
  3. Discuss answers to questions.

Lesson Excerpt:

The First World War began in 1914, a few years before the United States entered the battle. The war began when Archduke Franz Ferdinand, heir to the throne of Austria-Hungry, was assassinated. Countries took sides with their friends, and soon a world war was in full force.

In the beginning, President Woodrow Wilson asked Americans not to take sides in the war taking place between the Central Powers and the Allied Powers. The Central Powers included Germany, Austria-Hungary, and Turkey. The Allied Powers included Great Britain, France, and Russia. Greece, Serbia, Romania, Italy and Portugal also fought on the Allies’ side. While the U.S. remained neutral at first, it did send supplies to troops fighting overseas on both sides of the war. This was seen as simply a matter of doing business with other countries. However, early on, American ships carrying supplies to the Central Powers were stopped by the British Navy, but no one interfered with American trade to the Allied countries.

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The United States under Theodore Roosevelt

Learn about the 26TH U.S. President and the changes that took place while he was in office.

Objectives:

  • Students will be name Teddy Roosevelt as the 26th President and explain that he became President when William McKinley was assassinated.
  • Students will be able to describe the key events that took place under Roosevelt’s administration, including the “fair deal,” building of the Panama Canal and conservation efforts.
  • Students will be able to list and describe the three things Roosevelt created as part of his conservation effort – national forests, wildlife refuges and national parks.
  • Students will recognize the invention of the Model T Ford and the Wright Brothers’ first flight as events that took place while Teddy Roosevelt was in office.

Suggested Grades:

4th Grade – 5th Grade – 6th Grade

Procedure:

  1. Read lesson or have students read it silently.
  2. Have students answer the questions on the worksheet.
  3. Discuss answers to questions.

Lesson Excerpt:

In 1901, Theodore Roosevelt became the 26th President of the United States. He had been Vice President under William McKinley and became President when McKinley was assassinated on September 6, 1901. Theodore – who was usually called “Teddy” – and his wife moved into the White House with their six children and a large collection of pets that included dogs, rabbits, squirrels and even a black bear and a badger!

Teddy Roosevelt was not like any other President before him. He had a lot of energy and was often found playing football on the White House lawn or having pillow fights with his children. He was energetic about his job too, and many changes took place in the country while he was in office from 1901-1909. For example, in 1902, coal miners went on strike for shorter hours and more pay. Mine owners were angry, but Roosevelt was on the workers’ side. He demanded that big business treat workers fairly, and with his help, the coal miners won a raise and a shorter workday.

 

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The Cold War

Learn about the Cold War between the United States and communism.

Objectives:

  • Students will understand that the cold war was not a physical war.
  • Students will be able to explain why the cold war took place.
  • Students will be able to define communism.
  • Students will be able to identify the European countries that were communist during the cold war.
  • Students will be able to describe the arms race between the U.S. and the Soviet Union.

Suggested Grades:

4th Grade – 5th Grade – 6th Grade

Procedure:

  1. Read lesson or have students read it silently.
  2. Have students answer the questions on the worksheet.
  3. Discuss answers to questions.

Lesson Excerpt:

In 1945, representatives from 50 countries met in San Francisco, California to set up a new organization called the United Nations (UN). Their goal was to prevent war, protect human rights and work to make the lives of all people better. At the time, the United States and the Soviet Union were the two most powerful countries in the world. Though they were both called superpowers, the U.S. and the Soviet Union were very different from each other.

The Soviet Union was the first communist country in the world. It was ruled by a dictator named Joseph Stalin. In a communist country, almost everything is owned and distributed by the government. In contrast, the United States is a democracy run by elected leaders where people are allowed to live and work anywhere they choose. The differences between the two superpowers had been put aside during World War II when the U.S. and the Soviet Union both fought on the side of the Allies. However, after the war, conflict began to arise between the two nations.

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The Spanish American War

Learn about the Spanish American War and its results.

Objectives:

  • Students will be able to explain why the United States went to war with Spain.
  • Students will be able to describe the first battle of the Spanish American War.
  • Students will be able to describe Roosevelt’s ride up San Juan Hill and its results.
  • Students will be able to explain what happened to Cuba, the Philippines, Puerto Rico and Guam when the Spanish American War ended.
  • Students will understand that Cuba and the Philippines are now independent countries while Puerto Rico and Guam remain territories of the United States.

Suggested Grades:

4th Grade – 5th Grade – 6th Grade

Procedure:

  1. Read lesson or have students read it silently.
  2. Have students answer the questions on the worksheet.
  3. Discuss answers to questions.

Lesson Excerpt:

In 1896, Spain had two colonies in North America – Cuba and Puerto Rico. It also had several colonies in Asia. In Cuba, people had rebelled against Spain and reports of Spanish cruelty in Cuba reached the United States. Then in 1898, the American battleship Maine mysteriously blew up while visiting Cuba. While no one knew for sure why the ship exploded, Spain was blamed. The United States decided to go to war to free Cuba from Spain.

The first battle of the Spanish-American War was fought in 1898 in the Philippines, a Spanish colony in Asia. The Philippines is a group of islands in the western Pacific Ocean. On May 1, 1898, the American navy, led by the commander George Dewey, attacked the Philippines. After a week of fighting, Spain had lost nearly half of its navy. At the time, the Assistant Secretary of the navy was Theodore Roosevelt. Roosevelt quit his job and volunteered to lead a group of 17,000 troops called the “Rough Riders” into Cuba to fight the Spanish.

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Alaska and Hawaii – Geography and Acquisition

Learn about the geography of Alaska and Hawaii and how each region was acquired by the United States.

Objectives:

  1. Students will be able to describe the geography of Alaska.
  2. Students will be able to explain how Alaska was acquired by the United States and tell when it became a state.
  3. Students will be able to describe the geography of Hawaii.
  4. Students will be able to explain how Hawaii was acquired by the United States and tell when it became a state.

Suggested Grades:

4th Grade – 5th Grade – 6th Grade

Procedure:

  1. Read lesson or have students read it silently.
  2. Have students answer the questions on the worksheet.
  3. Discuss answers to questions.

Lesson Excerpt:

Alaska and Hawaii became territories of the United States in the 1800s. The U.S. purchased Alaska from Russia in 1867, and Hawaii became a territory in 1898. Later, these territories would become the 49th and 50th states – the only U.S. states not connected to the mainland.

Alaska consists of a large peninsula, a group of islands and a narrow panhandle that is separated from Canada by a steep mountain range. There are many other mountain ranges throughout the Alaskan Peninsula. One of these mountain ranges is home to Mount McKinley, the tallest mountain in North America. Mount McKinley reaches a height of 20,320 feet. The geography of Alaska also features volcanoes, rivers and glaciers that still remain from the Ice Age. Along the north shore of the region is a frozen plain known as the Alaskan Tundra. In Russian, tundra means “where the trees are not.”

 

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