Goals:

 
1. Familiarize the student with the triangular trade and the course of events that followed the trade.

    

    

2. Experience a fun activity, while successfully completing a word search.

    

    

3. Use critical thinking to answer the questions that follow the word search.

    

    

4. Work with another student to complete the word search and questions (optional).

    

    

5. Participate in a discussion following the activity.

Materials:

 
1. Word search and questions (see sheet).

Time:

Approximate time of 1 to 1.5 hours depending on time it takes the students to complete the word search, questions, and length of discussion.

Procedure:

 
1. Hand out word search and questions.

    

    

2. Divide the students work in teams of two (optional).

    

    

3. Instruct the students on what they are to do and offer them an approximate time that they should complete the task in. Explain to the students that when they are finished they will have to participate in a discussion focusing on the answers to their questions.

    

    

4. Students should begin working on the word search and after completing the word search they should answer the critical thinking portion of the exercise.

    

    

5. Have the students form a circle and begin with the first word on the list. Ask the students if anyone chose this word to connect with the triangular trade. If no one has, then the teacher should connect it to the slave trade as an example for the students.
   Example-
   wind- the trading could not have happened without wind because ships at that time needed wind to sail.

   6. During the discussion, create a schematic map on the board to help the students better understand the information.

Assessment:

1. Each student will turn in the completed word search (Criteria for success = 100 % completion).
2. Each student will turn in his or her answers to the critical thinking portion of the sheet (See writing rubric).
3. Each student will participate during the discussion (See self-assessment rubric).
4. Students who work in teams will be assessed on how efficiently they completed the task (See group assessment rubric).

Curricular Strands:

1. Language Arts- writing down their answers to the critical thinking portion of the sheet and communicating with their team member during the project.
2. Social Studies- In discussion, talking about the historical trade in the form of key words from the word search.

Possible Extensions:

1. After discussion have the students write down connections to the trade with all the words used in the word search.
2. Other fun activities to motivate the students to be interested in the subject, such as, games crossword puzzles, etc

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