European Colonization Teacher Resources

The uglier side of European colonization of Africa is detailed in these slides, which include pictures and information about the Belgian Congo, the Dutch South Africa, and Britain's ongoing tensions with the Boers. Students will be...

Help your class determine why European was able to dominate the African continent. They read 5 excerpts, each related to a reason why Europe colonized Africa. Then they answer 4 critical-thinking questions.

Bring the Age of Exploration into the 21st century with this ancestry activity! Learners get a chance to explore the complex genealogy of the Spanish settlers through watching two video clips (approximately five minutes each) featuring...

In this African colonization worksheet, students respond to 1 short answer question that accompanies a reading selection about European Imperialism. Students also complete a graphic organizer based on the selection.

Your students' world will literally take shape in this presentation, which chronicles the growing edges of the (flat) earth during European Exploration of New Worlds. Dias, da Gama, Magellean, and Columbus are key players in this game of...

Primary source documents provide a realistic context for pupils to explore. Included are 5 experts relating European ideals and methods for colonizing and controlling the African continent. Middle schoolers answer 4 critical-thinking...

Examine European colonialism in Africa with an image-driven presentation. Social Darwinism, King Leopold, diamond mines, the Boer War and The Berlin Conference are all discussed.

Take a closer look at what was traded between the Europeans and the Americas during the Columbian Exchange and which led to important cultural and economic developments in both regions. Tip: Expand the assignment to include animals,...

Students complete many activities including mapping, reading books, and Internet research to learn about European exploration. In this European lesson plan, students study geographical mapping, trade, and colonization.

Eighth graders explore the nature of the European colonization in the Americas. They compare how it relates to the inception of their community. Students identify the major players in America's colonization and explore the motivations...

Newspapers are the perfect medium through which to explore different perspectives in informational text. After researching the fur trade and resultant colonization, groups write a newspaper, including an editorial page, selecting one of...

What motivated Europeans to explore the New World, and what effects did their exploration have on Native American populations? The second installment of a 16-part American Passages series prompts pupils to watch a video and read several...

Witness the birth of the Americas in this presentation, which details the European Explorers who contributed to adding vital details on our modern-day maps. Viewers' worlds will literally expand after seeing the results of Cortes and the...

Students explore Africa. In this global studies lesson, students research the history of African nations, noting the impact of European colonization and other historical events. Students design posters about the nations they research.

In this African colonization worksheet, students respond to 4 short answer questions that accompany a reading selection about political motives in Africa. Students also complete a graphic organizer based on the selection.

Discover the first attempts made to colonize and establish the first permanent English colonies in the North American region, from Sir Walter Raleigh's colony at Roanoke and settlement at Jamestown, Virginia to colonies in Maryland and...

Students analyze the European colonization of America. In this colonial America lesson, students use provided Internet resources to research colonization and representative government. Students use their finding to create webpages,...

In this online interactive world history worksheet, students answer 11 multiple choice questions regarding the European colonization of Africa. Students may submit their answers to be scored.

Fifth graders discover where and why groups of people colonized and settled in the United States by building their own colonies. Using Kidpix, have students make a poster persuading all the other students to come live in their colony.

Fifth graders complete a variety of activities surrounding European exploration of the New World. They research one explorer and write and present an essay or script in which they portray that explorer as he makes his final report to his...

Delve into the complex social and political structures of Native Americans prior to the arrival of European colonists. This video provides an overview of pre-Columbian America, with particular regard to the the colonization efforts of...

Students complete a unit of lessons on the similarities and differences between Native American homes and European settlement houses. They explore websites, read stories, design a dream house, and construct wigwam models.

What was the main cause of European colonization in America? How did Thomas Paine's Common Sense play a role in the establishment of the United States? What was the trans-Atlantic slave trade? These are just a few of the many questions...

While Ethiopia may conjure up images of famine, the most populous landlocked country in the Horn of Africa actually has a bright future ahead of it. The nation was able to hold off European colonizers and other invaders from the...