NYCDOE: Passport to Social Studies - grade 7, unit 1 - ADA version

This is the WCAG 2.0 accessible version.

This is the first unit of the Grade 7 Scope and Sequence, titled: Native Americans, Early Encounters and Colonial Development. The unit was developed by a team of DOE staff and teachers, in collaboration with social scientists and cultural partners. This introductory unit to American history digs into North America before European exploration and examines the factors that led to the exploration and development of the New World. Representative lessons from this unit include:

• Lesson 1 - students examine the migration patterns of North America's first peoples during the Ice Age period and the influence of geographic and climate factors.
• Lesson 6 - students synthesize information about the Columbian Exchange using data tables, graphs, and texts to understand its positive and negative impact of Native American and European cultures.

This unit also includes a Post-Unit Assessment, where students write an essay defining the major themes discussed in the unit - power, wealth, and morality. Students choose three documents from the six provided to support their position.

Please note: the complete set of NYCDOE K-8: Passport to Social Studies Core Curriculum materials include a variety of documents, trade books, and primary sources, in addition to this unit of study. To support rigorous social studies instruction and student inquiry, it is recommended that you utilize this unit of study in conjunction with these resources.