Grade 5 Lesson at a Glance: Chapter 5, Lesson 1

Houghton Mifflin Social Studies
America Will Be

Lesson at a Glance
Chapter 5, Lesson 1: Europe in the Age of Exploration (pp. 104-108)

The Big Idea
Framework Concept: Technology As navigational technology advanced, Europeans wanted to trade with Asia and spread Christianity.

Show students a map of the world, pointing out Europe and Asia. Then have them imagine it is the 1400s and the only way to get from Europe to Asia was by a long, slow journey over land. Ask them how else Europeans might have traveled to Asia. Then talk about the pros and cons of such a journey. List their ideas and have them add to them as they read the chapter.

Ask students to discuss why people want to travel to different planets in the solar system. Have them tell why they think this has not happened yet and predict what they think might happen in the future.

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

Ask pairs of students to think about what it was like for merchants living in Europe in the 1400s. Have them debate whether or not they should try to find new routes to Asia by sea. One student can debate for it; the other can debate against it.
Have children draw a picture showing one or more reasons Europeans wanted to travel to Asia in the 1400s.

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