Hexagonal Thinking in Education

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Questions and Answers

What is hexagonal thinking?

A strategy that allows students to make connections between people, places, and events.

How many points does a student earn for each connection made between hexagon shapes?

5 points

2 points

1 point (correct)

10 points

What should a student do after making connections in Round One?

Take a quiz

Write a paper

Start Round Two

Glue the hexagons down (correct)

Hexagonal thinking only allows for connections between events.

False Signup and view all the answers

In hexagonal thinking, if a shape is connected on 5 sides, it involves exploration, Columbus, Spanish, person figure, and __________.

Indigenous person Signup and view all the answers

What educational background does Dawn have?

She earned her Master's degree in Curriculum and Instruction from Texas A&M University. Signup and view all the answers

What is the mission of Social Studies Success?

To revolutionize social studies instruction. Signup and view all the answers

Who were the first Europeans to explore North America?

Vikings Signup and view all the answers

Who is Christopher Columbus?

Christopher Columbus was an explorer who completed four voyages across the Atlantic Ocean and initiated Spanish colonization in the Americas. Signup and view all the answers

Why was Columbus trying to find a new route to India?

To obtain spices and luxury items more quickly. Signup and view all the answers

What did Columbus do that helped Spain?

All of the above Signup and view all the answers

What is a conquistador?

A Spanish conqueror or adventurer. Signup and view all the answers

What were the reasons the Spanish came to the Americas?

To find wealth, establish settlements, and spread Christianity. Signup and view all the answers

What did Columbus do that hurt the indigenous people of the Americas?

He initiated colonization and exploitation of their lands. Signup and view all the answers

Who were the French explorers?

Jacques Cartier and Samuel de Champlain. Signup and view all the answers

Why did the French explore the Americas?

To find wealth and establish trade, particularly in furs. Signup and view all the answers

How did the French differ from the Spanish in the Americas?

The French blended with indigenous cultures rather than imposing their own. Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Hexagonal Thinking Strategy

Hexagonal thinking promotes connection-making between people, places, and events.
Prepare hexagon shapes in advance or provide scissors for students to quickly cut them out during the lesson.
Set a timer for cutting hexagons if done in class for efficiency.

Points and Connections

Each connection made between hexagons earns students 1 point.
Example connections include indigenous people, exploration, Columbus, and the Spanish figure. A connected shape on five sides earns 5 points.
Students must articulate their connections to peers or the instructor.

Further Engagement

After learning about exploration's impact, provide a second set of differently colored hexagons on cardstock for students to arrange and discuss.
Encourage group movement of shapes to stimulate idea flow and discussion.
Assign writing tasks or discussions based on the completed hexagon arrangements.

Professional Background

Dawn holds a Master’s degree in Curriculum and Instruction from Texas A&M University.
Extensive experience includes roles as a classroom teacher, instructional coach, curriculum coordinator, university professor, and professional development trainer.
Has trained over 10,000 teachers in social studies across the U.S. over a span of more than 20 years.

Founded in 2015 to enhance social studies instruction nationally.
Provides consulting, resources, and professional development services, especially in Texas.
Offers various strategies for engaging social studies teaching and supporting struggling readers and writers.

Exploration of the Americas

Indigenous peoples inhabited North and South America for thousands of years, forming diverse cultures, largely unknown to the rest of the world.
European, African, and Asian contact and trade existed for centuries prior to the discovery of the Americas.

Vikings Explore the Americas

Around the year 1000, Viking explorers from Greenland and Iceland initiated European exploration in the Americas.
They established a short-lived settlement in present-day Canada known as Vinland, which was abandoned after a few years.

Columbus's Voyages

Christopher Columbus embarked on his first voyage in 1492, aiming to find a westward route to India for spices and luxury items.
Instead of reaching India, he landed in the Bahamas, mistakenly calling the indigenous people there "Indians."
Columbus undertook four voyages (1492-1504) across the Atlantic Ocean, initiating the Spanish conquest of the Americas.

The Columbian Exchange

Columbus's expeditions instigated the Columbian Exchange, involving the exchange of plants, animals, people, technology, cultures, and diseases between the Americas, Europe, and Africa.
This event marked the first significant migration of European populations to the Americas, leading to conquest and the return of wealth to Europe.

French Exploration

Motivated by stories of wealth, French expeditions began in 1504, pursuing land and riches in North America.
Jacques Cartier claimed northern North America for France, naming it New France, while Samuel de Champlain founded Quebec City in 1608 as the first permanent settlement.
French explorations included Rene-Robert Gavelier, Sieur de La Salle, who explored the Great Lakes and the Mississippi River.
Unlike the Spanish, the French often integrated with indigenous cultures, engaging in trade rather than conquest, focusing on the lucrative fur trade.

Dutch Explorers

The Dutch sent explorers to North America seeking a Northwest Passage to Asia; Henry Hudson was a notable figure in this pursuit, hired by the Dutch East India Company in 1609.
Many explorers attempted to discover this elusive water route across North America, reflecting the broader goal of accessing Asian wealth.

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Description

Explore the hexagonal thinking strategy that encourages students to make deeper connections between various concepts, including people, places, and events. This lesson involves hands-on activities where students create hexagons and explain their associations, enhancing their critical thinking skills.