Standards

·        Current Events: Students will discuss articles involving positive interaction between various people.

·        Social Studies: Students will report on a famous 17th-century Native American or European explorer.

·        Social Studies: Students will watch an appropriate movie about the explorers and discuss the conflicts that can arise in such situations.

1.     Use the News: It seems easier to find articles in the newspaper about conflict rather than agreement. Find an example of people working together in a beneficial and peaceful way. It could be a political, business, sports, community, etc., type of news report. What is the situation? How did they manage to get along? Is there a possibility of conflict?

2.     Choose a famous explorer or Native American to research and report on in class. What had their life been like before meeting the other culture? How did it change?

3.     How do you feel about the interaction between the explorers and the native people of America? Watch one of the movies about this time, such as “The New World” (teachers should check it out first to decide whether it’s appropriate for their grade level) or “Pocahontas” (for younger viewers). What happens when one culture interacts with another, even if they come in peace?

World of Wonder meets many state educational standards. This guide helps teachers identify standards and related activities generally intended for grade 6, but teachers can modify activities to the appropriate grade level.