Colonial America - Henry Hudson

This lesson explores the voyages of Henry Hudson in 1610-1611, focusing on his attempts to find the Northwest Passage and the discoveries he made. Students will learn about his explorations, the challenges he faced, and their long-term impact. Activities include video analysis, guided reading, analyzing primary sources, and writing PEEKA paragraphs. The lesson concludes with a discussion on Hudson’s legacy and the ethical implications of his leadership.

Lesson Content and Activities:

Introduction:
Discuss the historical context of the Age of Exploration and the significance of Henry Hudson’s voyages.
Introduce today’s keywords: Northwest Passage, Hudson River, Hudson Bay, Mutiny, Arctic Exploration.

Why Were Their Travels Important?
Explain that Henry Hudson was sent by the English Muscovy Company and later by the Dutch East India Company.
Discuss his exploration of the Arctic and northeastern North America, including the discovery of the Hudson River and Hudson Bay.

Video Task:
Watch videos on Henry Hudson’s voyages.
List the places he visited and the important experiences he had.

How Do We Know What He Did?
Explain that Hudson kept detailed journals of his voyages.
Read through a condensed version of his journal and complete the worksheet focusing on his attempts to find the Northwest Passage and the discoveries he made.

Guided Reading Activity:
Complete the guided reading activity.
Subtitle each paragraph, write down three key facts, and look up the meaning of any unknown words.

Postcards from the Voyage:
Imagine you are Henry Hudson on your voyage to find the Northwest Passage.
Create a postcard from one of the destinations he visited, mentioning transportation, distances traveled, weather, unusual sights or dangers, and a description of the picture used.

Writing Task:
Write a PEEKA paragraph explaining one way in which Hudson’s discoveries were influential in shaping the future.
Use the PEEKA planning sheet for guidance.

Class Discussion:
Share and discuss the PEEKA paragraphs.
Reflect on the long-term impact of Hudson’s discoveries and the ethical implications of his leadership and the mutiny.

Resources:
Video links on Hudson’s voyages
Primary source documents (Hudson’s journal excerpts)
Guided reading text
Postcard creation materials
PEEKA paragraph guidelines and planning sheet