Copyright © 2004 Verizon Foundation. All Rights Reserved.
The World Isn't Flat
On May 14, 1804, Lewis and Clark departed St. Louis, Missouri, to begin their now-famous exploration of western America. This month, MarcoPolo brings you several dynamic lessons and resources to help your students discover and interpret the world around them. Use the warm-up activities below to introduce the concepts of navigation, mapping and exploring as they are woven into music, geography, mathematics, creative writing and science. Then scroll down for more links and resources for you and your students.
Explore the current list of new MarcoPolo lessons and resources by visiting MP Now! at http://www.marcopolo-education.org/partner/24mp_mpnow.cfm.
Copyright © 2004 Verizon Foundation. All Rights Reserved.
 |
1. In the late 13th century, Marco Polo traveled from Venice to China to visit the great Kublai Khan. His round-trip journey lasted 24 years and he stopped often to visit towns and observe their cultures. On a National Geographic map, trace Marco Polo's route and mark the cities he visited. Can you name some modern-day cities that Marco Polo might have passed through? Select a city and prepare an outline or brief summary about how its culture, government and borders have changed since Marco Polo's time. |
| Take a journey with "Marco Polo" (All Grades), Xpeditions, National Geographic Society. |
David H. Burr's 1839 map of the U.S. Courtesy of American Memory and the Library of Congress Geography and Map Division. |
2. Before Lewis and Clark departed for their journey west in 1804, little was known about the territory beyond the Mississippi River. Many people, including President Thomas Jefferson, read in books that unicorns lived out West (they were wrong). Plan an expedition to a new park or other large public area. Before you visit, create a graphic organizer to show what things you expect to find there. Will there be animals? People? Plants? Buildings? What kind of terrain do you expect to encounter? In small groups, explore the area and keep a field diary of your actual findings. When you return to school, compare notes with your classmates to discover things you might have missed. |
| What happened "On This Day with Lewis and Clark"? (Grades 3-5), EDSITEment, National Endowment for the Humanities. |
 |
3. Pioneers and explorers often had to ration their supplies and bring only what was essential during their journey. They also had limited funds with which to purchase these items. What items would you bring on a three-month journey to an island? To the mountains? Set up and stock several trading posts, each with different items. Starting with 15 tokens, purchase or trade for the items needed for the chosen journey. Explain why those items were selected. |
| Get ready to take "Off to Interactive Island" (Grades K-2), EconEdLink, National Council on Economic Education. |
4. Many animals have amazing navigational powers -- think of salmon, monarch butterflies and homing pigeons. Even newborn sea turtles, who are blind at birth, quickly race to the ocean surf. Scientists believe that the location of the sun and magnetic fields help animals find their way. Humans often use a compass or, more recently, global positioning systems (GPS) for navigational assistance. Using the resources available, write directional instructions (using latitude and longitude or cardinal points on a compass) to help other classmates navigate to a selected, but secret, location. If possible, divide into small groups -- some using a compass, and others using computer equipment. Exchange tools and see who can find the destination in the shortest amount of time.
Choose a side in "Animals Versus
People: Who's the Better Navigator?" (Grades 9-12), Xpeditions, National Geographic Society.
5. The Cartesian graphing system was developed in the 15th century by Descartes, whose name is literally translated as "of the maps." Descartes understood that x and y coordinates can be used to describe directional movement -- "x" indicates horizontal movement and "y" indicates vertical movement. Using the Cartesian system, create a simple "connect the dots" picture for your classmates to complete. Use x and y coordinates as the clues.
Learn some new "Tips for Teaching Cartesian Graphing: Linking Concepts and Procedures" (Grades 3-8), Illuminations, National Council of Teachers of Mathematics.
"Marco Polo" (All
Grades)
(Xpeditions, National
Geographic Society)
http://www.marcopolo-education.org/partner/24xp_marcopolo.cfm
In this activity, students retrace Marco Polo's
route from Europe to China.
"Off to Interactive Island"
(Grades K-2)
(EconEdLink,
National Council on Economic Education)
http://www.marcopolo-education.org/partner/24econ_island.cfm
Students assume the role of pioneers with limited
funds and resources to live on.
"Ladybug Adventures -
Learning Geometry and Measurement Concepts by Creating Paths and Navigating
Mazes" (Grades K-2)
(Illuminations, National Council of Teachers of
Mathematics)
http://www.marcopolo-education.org/partner/24ill_ladybug.cfm
In this four-part lesson, students use
interactive applets to move a ladybug from one place to another.
"Introduction to Latitude
and Longitude" (Grades K-2)
(Xpeditions, National Geographic Society)
http://www.marcopolo-education.org/partner/24xp_lat.cfm
Students learn about latitude and longitude and
their importance to navigation.
"The Wilderness Road - A
Gap, A Map, A Song and An Improvisation" (Grade 3)
(ARTSEDGE,
Kennedy Center for Performing Arts)
http://www.marcopolo-education.org/partner/24ae_wild.cfm
Students discover the importance of Daniel Boone
and the Wilderness Road in the settling of the West by incorporating music and
improvisation into the lesson.
"Distance: The Great Silk
Route" (Grades 3-4)
(ARTSEDGE, Kennedy Center for Performing
Arts)
http://www.marcopolo-education.org/partner/24ae_asian.cfm
Students learn about the geography of China,
using map-reading and problem-solving skills in history and geography. This
lesson is from the "National Symphony
Orchestra's Virtual Tour of Asia," an ARTSEDGE Mini-site.
"Planning a Trip" (Grades
3-5)
(Illuminations, National Council of Teachers of
Mathematics)
http://www.marcopolo-education.org/partner/24ill_trip.cfm
Teams of students use math,
art and social studies skills to plan a class trip.
"On This Day with Lewis and
Clark" (Grades 3-5)
(EDSITEment, National Endowment for the Humanities)
http://www.marcopolo-education.org/partner/24ed_lewis.cfm
Students travel step-by-step with Lewis and Clark
on their expedition through the United States.
"There's No Place Like
Home" (Grades 3-5)
(Xpeditions,
National Geographic Society)
http://www.marcopolo-education.org/partner/24xp_home.cfm
Students use maps and literature (including
Little House on the Prairie) to explore reasons for past and present
settlement.
"Tips for Teaching
Cartesian Graphing: Linking Concepts and Procedures" (Grades
3-8)
(Illuminations, National
Council of Teachers of Mathematics)
http://www.marcopolo-education.org/partner/24ill_cartesian.cfm
This resource provides tips on how to teach
Cartesian graphing to students.
"Animals Versus People:
Who's the Better Navigator?" (Grades 9-12)
(Xpeditions, National Geographic Society)
http://www.marcopolo-education.org/partner/24xp_navigator.cfm
Students explore the
navigational differences between animals and humans.
"Other Worlds: The Voyage
of Columbus" (Grades 9-12)
(EDSITEment, National Endowment for the Humanities)
http://www.marcopolo-education.org/partner/24ed_columbus.cfm
Students learn about Columbus's voyage and the
far-reaching consequences upon Hispanic culture.
"The Great Plains: A Harsh
Welcome to Settlers" (Grades 9-12)
(Xpeditions, National Geographic Society)
http://www.marcopolo-education.org/partner/24xp_plains.cfm
Students explore how settlers survived in the
American Great Plains during the late 1800s.
MarcoPolo also provides links to reviewed web sites about exploration and discovery, including Lewis and Clark, the history of the American West and Marco Polo. Bookmark these sites to enhance your classroom learning.
American Memory: Discovery and Exploration
http://www.marcopolo-education.org/partner/24loc_explore.cfmLewis and Clark: The Journey of the Corps of Discovery
http://www.marcopolo-education.org/partner/24pbs_discovery.cfmExploring the West from Monticello
http://www.marcopolo-education.org/partner/24valib_monticello.cfmNew Perspectives on the West
http://www.marcopolo-education.org/partner/24pbs_west.cfmOn the Western Range with Remington
http://www.marcopolo-education.org/partner/24crayola_rem.cfmNational Geographic Feature: "Marco Polo"
http://www.marcopolo-education.org/partner/24ng_marcopolo.cfmSearch for more lessons and reviewed sites
http://www.marcopolo-education.org/partner/24mp_search.cfm
Get
Oriented:
MarcoPolo provides Flash tours of each of the MarcoPolo sites. Each tour features an introduction to the Partner organization, as well as an overview of the standards, lesson plans, reviewed web links, and other highlights found on the site.
Explore the MarcoPolo Partners
http://www.marcopolo-education.org/partner/24mp_partners.cfmDownload Macromedia Flash Player 6.0
http://www.macromedia.com/shockwave/download/alternates
|
MarcoPolo: Internet Content for the Classroom  |
 |
FREE ON-SITE PROFESSIONAL
DEVELOPMENT TRAINING
The MCI Foundation provides free professional development to
teacher-trainers nationwide. MarcoPolo training is taking place across
the U.S. and has reached more than 40,000 educators to date. Built on the
train-the-trainer model, the MarcoPolo program is designed to help
teachers effectively integrate Internet content into the K-12 curriculum. The
Professional Development Training Program provides best practices guidelines for
managing an Internet-equipped classroom. Request free training for your district
at http://www.marcopolo-education.org/partner/24mp_request.cfm.
Download free training materials at http://www.marcopolo-education.org/partner/24mp_download.cfm.
 |
|
is the founder and an active
contributor to the MarcoPolo partnership, providing
staff, technical support and funding since 1997.
http://www.marcopolo-education.org