Tag: christopher columbus

For Students, Videos

Solar Eclipse Resources for Your History Classroom

In case you’ve been living under a rock, you know that there is a solar eclipse on Monday, April 8th! We were in the path of totality in 2017. It was amazing! Here I am looking like a big goober with my glasses and a thumbs up.

How does this apply to your classroom? You know your students will probably be discussing it. Why not take a break for a few minutes from your regular content and really enjoy this marvel of nature that only comes around every once in a while? This article has some really cool pictures of people throughout history viewing solar eclipses.

Did you know that Christopher Columbus used an eclipse to trick Jamaican natives into giving him food?! Watch the video below to learn more!

Lewis and Clark witnessed both a lunar eclipse and a partial solar eclipse when they were exploring the Louisiana Purchase.

Probably the most well-known event in US history that was connected to a solar eclipse was Nat Turner’s slave rebellion. Turner took a solar eclipse as a sign that he should lead a slave uprising. His uprising took place months later and led to the murder of about 60 people, which struck fear into the hearts of slaveowners.

The picture at the top is one of President Coolidge and his wife viewing an eclipse in 1925. I hope you get to step outside of your classroom and catch a glimpse of such an awe-inspiring event!

 

Colonial America, Colonization & Settlement, Colonization to Civil War

Free Columbus and New World Doodle Notes

I thought I’d give you something that might help you along your way as you start the new semester. I hope to eventually have instructional videos that go along with these notes, but you can still use these in the meantime. These are doodle notes that cover the basics of the New World, Christopher Columbus, and the Columbian Exchange. I’ve also included an optional assignment idea on the last page of the notes.

If you don’t know what doodle notes are, they are awesome! While you cover the material, students call fill in and decorate the notes. This visual note-taking activates both hemispheres of the brain at the same time. Research shows that connecting images with information enables many students to remember more of the material covered than by using traditional notes. I’ve included tips and links to a couple of helpful resources in the files, so you’ll have all the info you need to implement them.

Would you like more doodle notes on other subjects? What subjects do you struggle with the most and need more resources for? Use the contact form to let me know! I plan on creating more doodle notes this year, as well as other resources. I hope to give away lots of freebies this year (along with posting resources from other sites), so be sure to check back often to see what I’ve posted.

Click here to download my Columbus Doodle Notes!

Also, FYI, I have LOTS of doodle notes available for Economics in my TPT store.

Colonial America, Videos

Great Christopher Columbus Video

I came across this video on Christopher Columbus that I think is very balanced. It acknowledges the fact that he treated the native people brutally but also acknowledges that, for better or worse, his actions still changed the world. It would be great to use as a summary after you have covered notes on Columbus or as a review at the beginning of class the day after you have covered Columbus.

By the way, I’ve got a Christmas freebie coming soon! Check the blog later this week or first part of next week!

 

Image: Wikipedia Commons, Public Domain