Georgia SS3H2.a
The Standard
Describe the reasons for and obstacles to the exploration of North America.
Georgia Standards of Excellence for Social Studies · Describe European exploration in North America.
Teacher's field guide
What This Standard Means
What Students Need to Do
- Students explain why Europeans crossed the Atlantic, such as seeking wealth, trade routes, land, or religious influence. They also describe problems such as storms, poor maps, disease, hunger, and limited supplies.
What Mastery Looks Like
- Students correctly separate a motive from a difficulty. They connect specific voyage problems to their effects, such as spoiled food causing hunger or poor maps leading ships off course.
Common Misconceptions
- Students may think every explorer traveled for the same reason or knew exactly where to go. They may also believe Europeans found empty land, ignoring the Native peoples already living there.
How to Assess It
- Give students this exit ticket: Name two reasons Europeans explored and two obstacles they faced, then explain how one obstacle affected a voyage.
Lesson moves
Ways to Teach It
Students sort reason and obstacle cards, then place obstacle cards along a yarn route across a classroom floor map.
Ask students to write which voyage obstacle they think was hardest and support their choice with two details.
Teams play a card game matching voyage problems, such as storms or spoiled food, with their likely effects.
Students plan supplies for a monthlong sea voyage, then compare their list with the food, tools, maps, and medicine explorers carried.
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Printable SS3H2.a Worksheet
A ready-to-print activity worksheet aligned to SS3H2.a, with an answer key for the teacher on its own page. No account needed.
PDF, US Letter, prints cleanly in black and white.
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Related Standards
- SS8H1.b
Explain reasons for European exploration and settlement of North America, with emphasis on the interests of the Spanish and British in the Southeastern area.
- SS4H3
Explain westward expansion in America.
- SS3H2
Describe European exploration in North America.
- SS3H2.c
Describe examples of cooperation and conflict between European explorers and American Indians.
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