de Soto's Expedition: An Alternate Route

Designed by Jeff Fouste, Gibbes Middle School

GRADE LEVEL: 8     SUBJECT: U.S. / S.C. History

FYFI (For Your Further Information): A Learning Enhancement Exercise

CORE CURRICULUM OBJECTIVE(S): (8.8.1) Make and use maps, globes, graphs, charts, and models to illustrate and analyze location and spatial distributions of physical and cultural features in South Carolina and the United States.

OVERVIEW: In this lesson, the students will compare the traditional maps (as is found in our text books) with new maps based on a recent reexamination of the route of Hernando de Soto's expedition.

PURPOSE/FOCUS QUESTION(S):

The purpose of this exercise is as follows:

A. Familiarize students with various sorts of maps

B. Enhance the student's knowledge of early European exploration

C. Assist the students in realizing that there may be alternative historical theories

D. To become ore familiar with online services such as Searchopolis and with the practical use of word processing programs such as Microsoft Word

Focus questions include the following:

A. Your textbook Call to Freedom states that de Soto "explored as far north as present-day North Carolina...". How does this differ with the map found at the Searchopolis site?

B. What city marks the northernmost point reached by de Soto's scouts?

C. What current states of the United States were crossed by de Soto's expedition in our text book? How many states are crossed by the "new" map?

D. Which online map is the easiest to read? Why?

E. Why is it important to consider other alternative or new ideas?

TIME FRAME: 1 - 2 class periods

RESOURCE/MATERIALS:

Website:  www.floridahistory.com/index.html

A. Internet capable computers with Yahooligans (Students should all have attended the District's Internet Acceptable Use Policy orientation) as well as Microsoft Word.

B. Students are encouraged to always carry a pen and paper with them. These will not be used as part of this graded assignment.

ASSESSMENT: Students are expected to answer the above questions in a Microsoft Word document and participate by paying attention while working efficiently.

INSTRUCTIONAL ACTIVITIES:

A. Students will participate in an orientation to the exercise.

B. Students will access Yahooligans through the Richland Clicks web site. Clicking on History by Subject they will follow this sequence to access the correct web page: Explorers to 
Conquest of America to 
Spanish Exploration and Conquest of America to 
Organization to Old Ideas to 
Final Report of the Official Commission to 
Official Maps to 
Hernando de Soto's Trail as taught in America's schools

RUBRIC: Students will be assessed using the following rubric.