Summer Reading Assignment
Social Studies
For Students Entering Eighth Grade, accelerated level
Dear Student,
The summer is a great time to get outside, have fun, and spend time with your family
and friends. It is also a good time to get yourself ready for your next year of school. This
summer reading assignment has been developed to help you get off to a good start next
year. This project will introduce you to some of the most important concepts you’ll be
learning in social studies next year.
Here’s how it works:
There are three activities in this assignment. You will earn points for each part of the
assignment that you do. Activity one will introduce you to the major concepts of the
Exploration of Americas. You may find that this is a review of information you have already
learned in social studies. You’ll need to read the chapter and take notes. For activity two,
you will examine a visual about the Columbian Exchange and a chart about the Explorers
and will answer a few questions. Finally, you will read a primary source document from
Columbus’s Diary to respond to questions before, during, and after reading.
This assignment will be due to your social studies teacher when you meet in class on Friday,
September 2, 2011.
We want you to be a successful student next year. Working on this assignment this
summer is one step to making sure that you’ll have the best head start!
Sincerely,
Your social studies teachers
Social studies summer reading
For Students Entering Eighth Grade, accelerated Level
EXPLORATION
Objective:
Describe the influence of explorers from Spain, France, and England on colonization
Understand the Columbian exchange
o Impact of the Columbian exchange on Europe and North America
Describe how the perspective of the first explorers’ exchange with Native Americans influenced the
European perspectives of them
Describe how ideas, events, technology, and people impacted exploration
Read and analyze a primary source
Steps:
1. 48 points. 3 points per box. Read chapter two the American Journey on Exploration and
complete note-taking guide.
2. 32 points. 4 points per question. Use the graphic in the American Journey about the
Columbian exchange and the chart that describes the purposes of the major European
explorers. Answer teacher-generated questions.
3. 24 points. 4 points per question. Read the primary source document, “Columbus Meets
the native Americans” from Eyewitness History and respond to questions.
The summer assignment will count as a test-grade within the first marking period.
Students will have the opportunity to make-up the assignment, according to teacher’s
policy regarding make-up work.
1. 48 points. 3 points per box. Read chapter two the American Journey on Exploration
and complete note-taking guide.
Note-taking Guide for Chapter 2
Name: _______________________________________________
Ideas
List at least
three key ideas,
events,
technology and
key players in
the
corresponding
column.
Explain how the
ideas, events,
technology,
and key players
impacted
exploration.
Rank the factors
in row #1 that
had the
greatest
influence on
exploration.
Explain why.
Events
Technology
Key Players
2.
28 points. 4 points per question. Use the graphic in the American Journey about the Columbian exchange
and the chart that describes the purposes of the major European explorers. Answer teacher-generated
questions.
Graphic about the Columbian Exchange
Questions for Columbian Exchange:
Answer the questions below using complete sentences.
1. What kinds of items were exchanged?
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2. The intrigue of new and different goods and items encouraged Native Americans
and Europeans to exchange their products. Relating this to today, what goods or
items have you purchased from another country?
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3. Choose an item that was exchanged during the Columbian period. How would
your life today be different without that item?
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4. The Columbian exchange enriched the lives of natives and Europeans. Write a
paragraph to prove or disprove this statement using evidence to support your
answer.
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Exploration Chart
Questions for the chart:
Answer the questions below using complete sentences.
1. List the explorers, who sponsored their exploration, and what regions in the New
World did they explore.
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2. Why do you think each sponsor-country decided to explore each region?
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3. Which country launched the most expeditions?
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4. Based on the information in the chart, what effect will these expeditions have on
colonization?
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3. 24 points. 4 points per question. Read the primary source document, “Columbus
Meets the native Americans” from Eyewitness History and respond to questions.
Primary sources are first-hand or eye-witness accounts of events in history.
Read all directions below. Answer questions on a separate sheet of paper.
Pre-reading
1. You’re about to read a journal written by Christopher Columbus when he first encounters the
Natives. What do you know about Christopher Columbus? Based on what you know, what do you
expect to read about in his journal?
Read the attached journal entry written by Christopher Columbus. As you are reading, complete the
During Reading activities.
During reading
1. Highlight words or phrases that interfere with your understanding. In the margin, try to write
down what you understand the words or phrases to mean.
2. Circle the most important paragraph that gives you the most insight into Christopher Columbus and
his perspective of the natives.
Post-reading
1. Develop two discussion questions about the journal entry that can not be answered with a “yes” or
“no” answer.
2. Has your understanding of Columbus changed after reading his journal entry? Explain your new
understanding of Columbus.
3. What are the pros and cons of reading a primary source?