Lost Treasure Hunt: Columbus Voyage

Lost Treasure Hunt: Columbus Voyage 4th, 5th, and 6th Grade Materials list:

 Projector  Lost Treasure Hunt https://www.youtube.com/watch? v=r2ctkpK4xYo&feature=youtu.be  http://losttreasurehunt.com/fact_check/introduction#  IPad, tablets, or desktop computers  (Extension activity) http://www.classtools.net/FB/home-page (Fakebook) Approximate time the lesson will take not including the video:

 1-1/2 hours Balanced Literacy Format:

 Shared Reading Lesson Presentation Format:

 Whole Class and Small Cooperative Groups

Specific Strategy:

 Jigsaw

As a whole class, view video Lost Treasure Hunt. Jigsaw Activity 1. Divide students into cooperative groups of five or six. 2. Assign one leader/spokesperson per group. 3. From http://losttreasurehunt.com/fact_check/introduction# assign one topic from the Fact Check Sleuth Artifact List to each person in the group. 4. Explain that each student will become an “expert” on his or her topic. 5. Allow time for students to review their topic and become familiar with it. 6. Have all students with the same topic come together in temporary expert groups. In this temporary expert group, students will confirm information and rehearse their presentation they will be making to their original group. 7. Gather original groups back together. 8. Each “expert” presents their topic to his or her original group. 9. Whole class discussion allowing time for questions and discussion. (Sample discussion topics: What surprised you the most? Are there any facts that you still think are fiction? Which ones? Why? Are there any fictional statements that you still think are facts? Which ones? Why? If Christopher Columbus were exploring today, how would his experience be different than it was 500 years ago?) Quiz:

1. Why were spices so expensive? a. Trade with the Far East was dangerous and expensive. b. The cost of fuel was high. c. Spices were hard to find. d. There was a shortage of ships.

2. Why might Columbus have considered himself a failure? (Check all that apply.) a. He barely found any gold. b. He made four voyages. c. He ended up in prison in Spain. d. He never knew that he landed on a new continent.

3. What did Europeans bring to the New World that wiped out entire cultures? a. Europeans brought guns. b. Europeans brought new foods. c. Europeans brought diseases. d. Europeans brought medicine.

4. Why did Columbus think the quickest way east was by sailing west?

Answer Key/Complexity Levels:

1. a LOW/1 2. a, c, d MODERATE/2 3. c MODERATE/1 4. Sample response: Columbus knew the Earth was round, not flat. He was trying to get to Asia. Columbus based his sailing plan on information about the size of the globe from the Ancient Greeks. MODERATE/3

Suggested Differentiated Instruction Tips:

 Encourage students to complete research on aspects of Christopher Columbus’ life that are not found in the Lost Treasure Hunt Fact Check Sleuth Artifact List. Extension or Enrichment Activity:  Allow students in original groups to combine their expert information into a published report using Fakebook. http://www.classtools.net/FB/home-page