Grades K-2 Lesson Plan - A First Encounter

Map 3 Main Page

Core Map: William Bligh, "Chart of the Sandwich Islands," from James Cook and James King, A Voyage to the Pacific Ocean…in the Years 1776, 1777, 1778, 1779, and 1780, 2nd. Ed. 3 vols. London: G. Nicol and T. Cadell, 1785. Newberry call Number: Case fG 13.19 Vol. 3 opp. 2. (Printable PDF version of the Core Map)

Resources related to Map 3.
Curator's Notes for Map 3.

Overview
In this unit students will use the map from A Voyage to the Pacific Ocean to distinguish geographic features. In addition students will learn to identify the four cardinal points of the compass. This lesson should be used after students have gained some map reading skills.

Objectives
By the end of this lesson students are expected to:

1. identify symbols for ocean and land features.
2. describe some differences between Polynesians and Europeans of the eighteenth century.
3. describe some differences between the people of the eighteenth century and us.
4. identify the four cardinal points of the compass (north, south, east and west).

Materials
Computer image or overhead of the core map, copies of the core map, "A View of Karakakooa, in Owyhee" (plate 68), "Tereoboo, King of Owyhee, bringing Presents to Capt. Cook" (plate 61), "An offering before Cap't. Cook in the Sandwich Islands" (plate 60), a modern map of Hawaiian Islands, crayons or coloring pencils, construction paper, glue or tape, scissors, King's Journal entry for January 19 - 26, 1779 (for instructor)

Time
Two hours

Getting Started

1. Display the core map. Discuss with students its origin and maker (see Curator's Notes).

2. Identify the symbols Captain Cook used for the following features: mountains, shorelines, rocks, beaches, huts, sailing routes.

3. Point to a selection or all of the following place names: Owhyee (Hawaii), Karakakooa (Kealakekua) Bay, Mowee (Maui) Island, Morotoi (Molokai) Island, and Woahoo (Oahu) Island, Atooi (Kauai) Island. Discuss why Captain Cook named the islands the Sandwich Islands (see Curator's Notes).

4. Compare core map briefly (for purposes of orientation) with a modern map of Hawaii.

5. Identify the four cardinal compass points (i.e. north, south, east, west) on the core map and on the modern map.

1. Pass out copies of the picture of "A View of Karakakooa, in Owyhee" (plate 68), and match the features in the picture with the same ones on the map of the bay. Have students color the picture.

2. Pass out copies of "Tereoboo, King of Owyhee, bringing Presents to Capt. Cook" (plate 61) and "An offering before Cap't. Cook in the Sandwich Islands" (plate 60). Help the students identify the King and Captain Cook. Have students color the pictures.

3. As a class, discuss the similarities and differences between Europeans and Hawaiians in Captain Cook's time. Next discuss how the people in the picture look the same as and different from today's people.

4. Have students create a color code, make a key, and then color the map accordingly. Lastly have the students add an arrow indicating north.

5. Using the pictures and King's Journal entry for January 19 - 26, 1779 [Cook had died before he could write an account of this event; see curator's notes], write a script that has students recreate an encounter between Captain Cook and the King of Owyhee. The king's headgear could be cut out from construction paper. Have the students perform the play, if possible for an audience other than just the class.

For 4 points, the student has gone beyond the assignment in the care taken and added details not in the original.

For 3 points, the student has done all that was asked for in a thorough manner. The work is correct and neat, and exhibits only few if any areas left untouched.

For 2 points, the student has done most of what was asked for, and the work is, mostly correct and neat, with only a few areas untouched or stray marks.

For 1 point, the student's work does not do what the assignment asked, or exhibits major flaws or large areas without color.

Extension
Work with the students to create a clay or plaster model of the Hawaiian Islands. Make the islands taller and wider than they appear on the map. Immerse the model in a pan of water so that the students may see that the islands are actually the top parts of very large volcanoes that are partially covered by the ocean.