Grade 4 Lesson at a Glance: Chapter 3, Lesson 1

Houghton Mifflin Social Studies
Oh, California

Lesson at a Glance
Chapter 3, Lesson 1: Early Explorers (pp. 58-62)

The Big Idea
Framework Concept: Conflict Early explorers from Spain and England competed in their search for riches and new lands in the late 1500s.

On the board, write the three reasons the Spanish wanted to explore new lands: New Trade Route, New Settlements, New Wealth. Point out that England also sent ships to explore the new lands. Discuss the following questions with students: Why did England send its own ships? What problems did this create between the two countries?

Lesson Outline
Use the Lesson Outline to preview the content of the lesson. You may wish to print it for your students as a guide during reading.

Check for Understanding

Invite groups of students to hold a debate. One group is the Spanish explorers and the other the English explorers. Who has the right to explore the new lands? Who has the right to claim the riches and the land? What rights do Native Americans have?
Have students create a poster illustrating the early expeditions to North America. Encourage students to include drawings of what explorers were seeking, as well as their experiences and what they found.

Social Studies Center | Houghton Mifflin Social Studies | Grade 4 Home
Education Place | Site Index

You may download, print, and make copies of Lesson at a Glance pages for use in your classroom, provided that you include the copyright notice shown below on all such copies.