Teacher's Overhead Master for 8th Grade

Early America Walk Through Teacher Notes

Before introducing this Walk Through, present information regarding early European explorations as if each European country was a football team, hoping to win the Super bowl. Each team (country) has entered the competition to be the first to gain the most wealth from its explorations and/or colonizations. That's why the 1500's is called the "Super bowl Century". You can then begin the Walk Through by facing the class as you stand in the front of the room (with a map of the world hanging behind you). Tell the students you are standing in the United States, and Europe is off to your left. Then, as you act out the key movements of holding up five fingers and acting as if you are throwing a football, say the key words, "1500's, Super bowl Century". Have the students repeat the key actions as they also say the key words.

Next, spread out your left arm as if pointing to Europe, and say the key words "Renaissance base, Europe," (then point to where you are standing and say) "Reformation base, United States". Have the students repeat the actions and words.

Next, explain that during the 1500's, Europe's political, philosophical and religious actions had a Renaissance base. Like Michelangelo's (1475-1564) statue of men "tearing themselves out of the rock", Europe took on the notion that, "Man, by himself, will tear himself out of nature and free himself from it" (Schaeffer, 1976, p. 71).

Michelangelo's famous statue of "David" also speaks of the Renaissance ideals that "man waiting with confidence in his own strength for the future" could accomplish whatever he wished if he set his mind to it.

Michelangelo, the master-sculptor, knew the exact proportions of the human body. Yet notice the disproportionate size of David's hands compared to the rest of David's body. David's hugh hands clearly portray the Renaissance message that man, in his own strength, can accomplish whatever he wishes. (Schaeffer, 1976, p. 72).

On the other hand, those who sought refuge in the New World brought with them their Reformation Base. In contrast to the Renaissance Base, reformers believed "people could not just begin only from themselves, and, on the basis of human reason alone, think out the answers to the great questions which confront mankind" (Schaeffer, 1976, p. 81). This Reformation Base led the Founding Fathers to pen words that reflected this base such as, all "are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights." These rights, they believed, originated outside of ourselves.

Before beginning the 1600's, explain to students the difference between the words "barter" and "charter". During the 1600's, much of the colonization of South America and some of the southern areas of North America was based on the "barter" system. Kings would provide land grants to men who had done favors for them. The landowners were not accountable to the people who lived and worked the land. They were only accountable to the one who gave them the land. This often led to an abuse of power. I like to show a clip from a Zorro movie at this point in the curriculum to illustrate how those who lived under this "barter" system of land grants often felt helpless and in need of someone who could rescue them from injustice.

English clip of Zorro

Spanish clip of Zorro

On the other hand, many of the settlements in North America were based on a "charter" system. Men or companies would enter into written agreements with kings to settle an area of land. This written charter was not something that could be taken away at the whim of a king, as could happen under the "charter" system.

Wikipedia: "Magna Carta (Latin for "Great Charter", literally "Great Paper"), also called Magna Carta Libertatum ("Great Charter of Freedoms"), is an English charter originally issued in 1215. Magna Carta was the most significant early influence on the extensive historical process that led to the rule of constitutional law today. Magna Carta influenced many common law and other documents, such as the United States Constitution and Bill of Rights, and is considered one of the most important legal documents in the history of democracy."

Magna Carta

The 1700's are called the Government Experiment Century. The "up" thumb for the Declaration of Independence indicates that the "experiment" worked. The "down" thumb for the Articles of Confederation illustrates that this experimental document did not work. Finally, the "up" thumb for the Constitution indicates that this document worked.

Continue to add centuries, key words and key motions as you move through your 8th grade curriculum. Remember to review often and to make sure that ALL the students, 100%, perform the actions and say the key words. For further clarification of any of the key motions or key words, email the author at: mesontag@hotmail.com

References:

Schaeffer, F. (1976). How should we then live? Old Tappan, NJ: Fleming H. Revell Company.

Last updated 7/2/07