Classroom Resource

Archaeology Adventures: Early Alabama History (Full Episode)

Subject Area

Social Studies

Grade(s)

2, 4

Overview

In this video from PBSLearningMedia, three young kids venture outside their 2-D animated world to learn about early Alabama history for their upcoming school report. Aided by their hyper-intelligent robotic friend Roto and a magical portal, they visit some of Alabama’s historic sites to learn about Native American societies, early settlers, and the beginning of Alabama’s statehood. With the help of local archaeologists and historians, they just might make it back home in time to get to school and turn in their report!

Social Studies (2010) Grade(s): 2

SS10.2.3

Use various primary sources, including calendars and timelines, for reconstructing the past.

Unpacked Content

UP:SS10.3.13

Vocabulary

  • primary sources
  • calendars
  • timelines
  • reconstructing
  • past

Knowledge

Students know:
  • How to use a calendar.
  • How to interpret a timeline.
  • Vocabulary: primary sources, calendar, timeline, past, historical letter, artifacts

Skills

Students are able to:
  • Read a calendar.
  • Create and use a timeline.
  • Analyze a historical document.
  • Utilize maps, photographs, and other visual historic resources.

Understanding

Students understand that:
  • Primary sources play an important role in reconstructing the past.
Social Studies (2010) Grade(s): 4

SS10.4.1

Compare historical and current economic, political, and geographic information about Alabama on thematic maps, including weather and climate, physical-relief, waterway, transportation, political, economic development, land-use, and population maps.

Unpacked Content

UP:SS10.4.1

Vocabulary

  • agriculture
  • economic development
    • physical-relief maps

Knowledge

Students know:
  • Many events can impact the population, economic development, and land use in an area.

Skills

The students are able to:
  • Analyze characteristics of Alabama using physical and thematic maps.
  • Describe the relationship between human migration and population.

Understanding

Students understand that:
  • Events can impact the population, economic development, and land use in an area.
  • The climate and weather of our state impacts the population, economic development, and land use.
Social Studies (2010) Grade(s): 4

SS10.4.2

Relate reasons for European exploration and settlement in Alabama to the impact of European explorers on trade, health, and land expansion in Alabama.

Unpacked Content

UP:SS10.4.2

Vocabulary

  • settlement
  • European exploration
  • culture
  • expansion
  • trade (barter)

Knowledge

Students know:
  • The location, purpose, and importance of European settlements including Fort Conde, Fort Toulouse, and Fort Mims in early Alabama.
  • The routes taken by early explorers including Juan Ponce de León, Hernando de Soto, and Vasco Núñez de Balboa.
  • Reasons for conflicts between Europeans and American Indians in Alabama from 1519 to 1840, including differing beliefs regarding land ownership, religion, and culture.

Skills

The students will be able to:
  • Explain the impact of European explorers on trade, health, and land expansion in Alabama.
  • Locate on maps European settlements in early Alabama, including Fort Condé, Fort Toulouse, and Fort Mims.
  • Trace on maps and globes, the routes of early explorers of the New World, including Juan Ponce de León, Hernando de Soto, and Vasco Núñez de Balboa.

Understanding

Students understand that:
  • There were specific reasons Europeans began exploring and settling in Alabama and this impacted existing settlements in Alabama.
Social Studies (2010) Grade(s): 4

SS10.4.3

Explain the social, political, and economic impact of the War of 1812, including battles and significant leaders of the Creek War, on Alabama.

Unpacked Content

UP:SS10.4.3

Vocabulary

  • culture
  • settlement
  • relocation
  • acquisition
  • territory

Knowledge

Students know:
  • Key battles of the War of 1812 that took place in Alabama including the Battle of Burnt Corn Creek, Fort Mims, the Canoe Fight, and the Battle of Horseshoe Bend.
  • Key leaders of the Creek War including Andrew Jackson, William Weatherford, Tecumseh, and Alexander McGillivray.
  • Reasons for and the impact of the Trail of Tears in Alabama.

Skills

The students will:
  • Analyze the social impact of the War of 1812 including the adoption of European culture by American Indians, opening of Alabama land for settlement.
  • Analyze the political impact of the War of 1812 including the forced relocation of American Indians.
  • Formulate an opinion of whether or not Andrew Jackson was a hero and will defend that opinion.
  • Analyze the economic impact of the War of 1812 including acquisition of tribal land in Alabama by the United States.
  • Analyze the impact of the Trail of Tears on Alabama's American Indians' lives, rights, and territories.

Understanding

Students understand that:
  • The political, economic, and social decisions made by Alabama's early settlers impacted the lives of American Indians living in the territory.
Social Studies (2010) Grade(s): 4

SS10.4.5

Describe Alabama’s entry into statehood and establishment of its three branches of government and the constitutions.

Unpacked Content

UP:SS10.4.5

Vocabulary

  • legislative
  • executive
  • judicial
  • constitution
  • senate
  • congress
  • house of representatives
  • governor
  • checks and balances
  • capital
    • capitol

Knowledge

Students know:
  • Alabama has had six different constitutions. Alabama has three branches of Government: Executive, Legislative, Judicial.
  • The reasons why Alabama has had five different capitals.
  • The roles of prominent political leaders during early statehood in Alabama, including William Wyatt Bibb, Thomas Bibb, Israel Pickens, William Rufus King, and John W. Walker.
  • What the U.S. Constitution and the Northwest Territory require of a territory to become a state.
  • The history of early settlements in Alabama and the cession of Indian lands.
  • What it means to have a republican form of government.

Skills

The students are able to:
  • Analyze Alabama's entry into statehood.
  • Identify and differentiate the roles of the three branches of government.
  • Compare and contrast Alabama's constitutions.
  • Explain political and geographic reasons for changes in location of Alabama's state capital.
  • Recognize roles of prominent political leaders during early statehood in Alabama, including William Wyatt Bibb, Thomas Bibb, Israel Pickens, William Rufus King, and John W. Walker.

Understanding

Students understand that:
  • Many prominent people were involved in Alabama's entry into statehood and that our government was designed in a way that allowed a system of checks and balances to be in place.
Link to Resource
https://aptv.pbslearningmedia.org/resource/2ea3cc35-603f-46a1-9e1c-b493bba82503…

CR Resource Type

Audio/Video

Resource Provider

PBS
Accessibility

Accessibility

Video resources: includes closed captioning or subtitles
License

License Type

Custom

Custom License Type (URL)

https://aptv.pbslearningmedia.org/help/terms-of-use/#permitted

Comments or Notes

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Approved Date

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