What Your Child is Learning in Unit 2: "Exploring and Settling America"

This unit introduces the Native Americans who first settled the Americas and the Europeans who followed. Your child will learn about four early American Indian cultures, read about the journeys of famous explorers, and determine the impact of the contact between Europeans and American Indians.

Activities You Can Do at Home to Support Your Child's Learning

Chapter 4 The First People of the Americas

• With your child, learn more about the Native Americans who lived in your area before the Europeans arrived. Find a book in the library or visit a local museum exhibit. What were these people called? How long did they live in your area? Did they hunt or farm or both? What did their homes look like? Do their descendants still live in the area?

• The word Anasazi means "the old ones." With your child, look for books in the library that show the cliff dwellings of the Anasazi and discuss how they lived. Have your child compare the Anasazi way of life with that of the Iroquois.

Chapter 5 The Age of Exploration

• Ask your child to look for stories in the news about new areas of exploration, such as space, the ocean, the human body, medicine, etc. Ask your child to compare this kind of exploration with the exploration of the Americas. Are there similar concerns about money and time? Are there similar promises of great benefits?

Chapter 6 Settling a New World

• Play a game with your child in which the two of you are colonists moving to settle Mars. What items will you bring with you from home? What are you looking forward to? What are you concerned about? In what ways will you need to work with other colonists?