Big History Course Outline
OER PROJECT: BIG HISTORYCOURSE OUTLINEUnless otherwise noted, this work is licensed under CC BY 4.0. Credit: “Big History Course Outline”, OER Project, www.oerproject.com/Big History Project Course Outline Course Learning Objectives ......................................................................................................................... 2 Course Pacing .............................................................................................................................................. 2 Unit 1: What Is Big History? ......................................................................................................................... 2 Lesson 1.1: Welcome to Big History ................................................................................................................ 2 Lesson 1.2: Scale .............................................................................................................................................. 3 Lesson 1.3: Origin Stories ................................................................................................................................ 3 Lesson 1.4: Claim Testing................................................................................................................................. 4 Unit 2: History of the Universe and Earth (Thresholds 1–4) .......................................................................... 4Lesson 2.1: Big Bang to Earth .......................................................................................................................... 5Lesson 2.2: Big Bang ........................................................................................................................................ 5Lesson 2.3: Stars Form ..................................................................................................................................... 5Lesson 2.4: Stars Die ........................................................................................................................................ 6Lesson 2.5: Solar System ................................................................................................................................. 6Lesson 2.6: Earth ............................................................................................................................................. 7Unit 3: Life (Threshold 5) ............................................................................................................................. 7Lesson 3.1: Complexity of Life on Earth ........................................................................................................... 8Lesson 3.2: Origins of Life ................................................................................................................................ 8Lesson 3.3: Evolution ....................................................................................................................................... 8Lesson 3.4: Extinction Events ........................................................................................................................... 9Unit 4: Early Humans (Threshold 6) ............................................................................................................. 9Lesson 4.1: Humanity’s New Complexity ......................................................................................................... 9Lesson 4.2: Human Ancestors ........................................................................................................................ 10Lesson 4.3: Collective Learning ...................................................................................................................... 10Lesson 4.4: Migration .................................................................................................................................... 10Lesson 4.5: Foraging Societies ....................................................................................................................... 11Unit 5: Agriculture & Complex Societies (Threshold 7) .................................................................................. 11Lesson 5.1: Farming and Complexity ............................................................................................................. 11Lesson 5.2: Agricultural Revolution ............................................................................................................... 12Lesson 5.3: Complex Societies Appear .......................................................................................................... 12Lesson 5.4: Empires ....................................................................................................................................... 12Lesson 5.5: Expanding Connections .............................................................................................................. 13Lesson 5.6: Museum Project ......................................................................................................................... 13Unit 6: The Modern Age (Threshold 8) ....................................................................................................... 14Lesson 6.1: The Modern World ..................................................................................................................... 14Lesson 6.2: Four World Zones Connect ......................................................................................................... 14Lesson 6.3: Industrial Revolution ................................................................................................................... 15Lesson 6.4: Acceleration ................................................................................................................................ 15Lesson 6.5: Globalization ............................................................................................................................... 16Lesson 6.6: Anthropocene ............................................................................................................................. 16Unit 7: The Future (Threshold 9) ................................................................................................................ 16Lesson 7.1: Complexity & the Future ............................................................................................................ 16Lesson 7.2: Climate ........................................................................................................................................ 17Lesson 7.3: Space........................................................................................................................................... 17Lesson 7.4: Technology .................................................................................................................................. 17Lesson 7.5: Human Systems .......................................................................................................................... 18Lesson 7.6: The Next Threshold ..................................................................................................................... 18
OER PROJECT: BIG HISTORYCOURSE OUTLINEFor teacher instructions and sample answers, hit the hammer icon at the top of each lesson.2Course Learning Objectives1.Explain how thresholds of increasing complexity, scale switching, claim testing, and collective learning help us understand our past, present, and future. 2.Engage in inquiry-based learning by developing and framing questions about historical, scientific, and geographic topics.3.Locate and understand how our own place, our community’s place, and humanity as a whole fit into and impact Big History’s narrative. 4.Use geography to spatially analyze the interaction of physical and human systems. 5.Engage in historical analysis using evidence from multiple disciplines to understand the history of the Universe.6.Create arguments using historical and scientific evidence to support claims and communicate conclusions through individual or shared writing, speaking, and other formats.Course PacingUnitLessonsPacingUnit 1—What Is Big History?4Up to 15 daysUnit 2—History of the Universe and Earth6Up to 22 daysUnit 3—Life 4Up to 14 daysUnit 4—Early Humans5Up to 17 daysUnit 5—Agriculture and Complex Societies6Up to 25 daysUnit 6—The Modern Age6Up to 22 daysUnit 7—The Future6Up to 20 daysUnit 1: What Is Big History? Unit 1 Driving Question: How does learning about the history of the Universe help us understand our past, present, and future?Unit 1 Learning Objectives1.Students will evaluate their place in the Big History narrative using the concepts of thresholds of increasing complexity and scale.2.Compare the Big History origin story with other types of origin stories.3.Create mental maps to organize information about places, environments, and people at different scales. 4.Define claim testing and practice using the claim testers to evaluate a claim or resource. 5.Practice writing claims.Lesson 1.1: Welcome to Big HistoryLesson 1.1 DQ: How does learning about the history of the Universe help us better understand the world today?1.Opener: Welcome to Big Historya.Opener: What Is History?
OER PROJECT: BIG HISTORYCOURSE OUTLINEFor teacher instructions and sample answers, hit the hammer icon at the top of each lesson.32.Yes or No? You Decide!a.Activity: Unit 1 Notebook: Part 13.Our Past, Present, and Futurea.Activity: Introduction to Three-Step Readingb.Article: “What Makes Big History...BIG?” c.Activity: Big History 3-2 -1 4.Thresholds of Increasing Complexitya.Slideshow: The Thresholds Gallery b.Article (comic): “The Thresholds: Big History”c.Activity: Big History Thresholds5.Your Thresholda.Activity: My Threshold6.Closer: Welcome to Big Historya.Closer: Threshold TaglinesLesson 1.2: ScaleLesson 1.2 DQ: How does looking at things from different scales of time and space help us understand our past?1.Opener: Scale a.Opener: Close Up and Far Away 2.Zooming In and Outa.Article: “Scale Switching”b.Activity: What Is Sourcing?c.Activity: What Is Sourcing? Excerpts3.Big History and Youa.Activity: Scale: History of Me4.Introduction to Geographya.Slideshow: Geography 101b.Activity: Geography: Mental Maps5.Cosmic Calendara.Activity: The Universe’s Cosmic Calendarb.Activity: The Universe’s Cosmic Calendar Story6.Closer: Scale a.Closer: Scale: Big History Timeline7.Extension: Universe Comica.Article (comic): “Bang!”Lesson 1.3: Origin StoriesLesson 1.3 DQ: How can you compare the Big History origin story with others? 1.Opener: Origin Storiesa.Opener: A Cosmic Mad Lib2.Origin Stories Jigsawa.Activity: Comparing Origin Storiesb.Article: “Big History Origin Story”c.Article: “Chinese Origin Story”
OER PROJECT: BIG HISTORYCOURSE OUTLINEFor teacher instructions and sample answers, hit the hammer icon at the top of each lesson.4d.Article: “Judeo-Christian Origin Story”e.Article: “Iroquois Origin Story”f.Article: “Maya Origin Story”g.Article: “Greek Origin Story”h.Article: “Zulu Origin Story”i.Article: “Efik Origin Story”j.Article: “Māori Origin Story”3.Your Originsa.Activity: Draw Your Origin Story 4.Closer: Origin Storiesa.Closer: Origin Story Reflection 5.Extension: Indigenous Knowledgea.Activity: Origin Stories Sketchnotesb.Audio: Unknowns Podcast Episode 4 Clip Lesson 1.4: Claim TestingLesson 1.4 DQ: How can claim testing help us evaluate the past, present, and future?1.Opener: Claim Testinga.Opener: The Mystery of the Alien Signalb.Activity: The Mystery of the Alien Signal Story2.Testing Claimsa.Activity: What Are the Claim Testers?3.Making Claims About Knowledge and Disciplinesa.Article: “What Is Knowledge?” b.Activity: Claim Warm-Up 4.A Murder Mysterya.Activity: History Mystery b.Activity: What Will We Leave Behind? Story5.Assessing Claims a.Activity: Claim Testing: Practice6.Closer: Claim Testinga.Closer: Unit 1 Notebook: Part 27.Extension: Disciplines in Big Historya.Slideshow: Disciplines Slideshowb.Activity: What Are Disciplines?Unit 2: History of the Universe and Earth (Thresholds 1–4) Unit 2 Driving Question: How did complexity increase from the origins of our Universe to the formation of the Earth? Unit 2 LearningObjectives1.Explain the basics of the Big Bang theory and the evidence that supports it. 2.Describe how stars created new complexity in the Universe. 3.Explain how the death of stars increased complexity in the Universe. 4.Use evidence to explain the formation and evolution of the Earth over time.
OER PROJECT: BIG HISTORYCOURSE OUTLINEFor teacher instructions and sample answers, hit the hammer icon at the top of each lesson.5Lesson 2.1: Big Bang to Earth Lesson 2.1 DQ: How can thresholds of increasing complexity help us understand the formation of the Universe, our Solar System, and Earth?1.Opener: Big Bang to Eartha.Opener: Unit 2 Notebook: Part 12.Unit 2 Overviewa.Article (comic): “The Thresholds: History of the Universe” b.Activity: History of the Universe Explained3.The First Four Thresholdsa.Audio: Thresholds 1-4 b.Activity: Thresholds 1–4 Graphic Transcript 4.Closer: Big Bang to Eartha.Closer: Threshold Jingle5.Extension: Scientific Giants of the Islamic Worlda.Article: “Standing on the Shoulders of Invisible Giants”6.Extension: The Missing Link?a.Article: “The Maragha Observatory”Lesson 2.2: Big BangLesson 2.2 DQ: How did the Universe begin?1.Opener: Big Bang a.Opener: Universe Quick Poll 2.Causal Thinkinga.Activity: Causation: Alphonse the Camelb.Activity: Alphonse the Camel Story3.Big History’s First Thresholda.Video: Threshold 1: Big Bangb.Activity: Threshold 1 Card4.Origin of the Universea.Video: The Big Bangb.Activity: How the Universe Began5.Geography: Map of the Observable Universea.Activity: Geography: Map of the Observable Universe6.Closer: Big Banga.Closer: Quiz Master7.Extension: Dr. Wu and the Left-Handed Universea.Graphic Biography: Chien-Shiung Wu8.Extension: Revealing the Darka.Graphic Biography: Vera RubinLesson 2.3: Stars FormLesson 2.3 DQ: Why is the formation of stars important?1.Opener: Stars Forma.Opener: Life of a Star
OER PROJECT: BIG HISTORYCOURSE OUTLINEFor teacher instructions and sample answers, hit the hammer icon at the top of each lesson.62.Stars Light Up a.Video: Threshold 2: Stars Light Upb.Activity: Threshold 2 Card3.Star Formationa.Video: How Were Stars Formed?b.Slideshow: How Stars Formc.Activity: Causes of Star Formation4.What Are Stars Made Of? a.Graphic Biography: Intuition and Evidence: Cecilia Payne-Gaposchkinb.Activity: Claim Testing: Intuition5.Who Is an Authority?a.Article: “The Universe Through a Pinhole” b.Activity: Claim Testing: Authority 6.Closer: Stars Forma.Closer: Star Comics7.Extension: Mysteries of the Universe’s Originsa.Activity: Unknowns Graphic Transcriptb.Audio: Unknowns Podcast Episode 1 ClipLesson 2.4: Stars Die Lesson 2.4 DQ: Why is the death of stars important?1.Opener: Stars Diea.Opener: Is It in There?2.New Chemical Elementsa.Video: Threshold 3: New Chemical Elementsb.Activity: Threshold 3 Card3.The Death of Starsa.Slideshow: What Did Star Stuff Give Us?b.Activity: Causation: From Stars to New Elements4.Closer: Stars Diea.Closer: Cosmic Connections5.Extension: Chemical Reactionsa.Activity: Superhero Element 6.Extension: The Evolving Stara.Graphic Biography: Subrahmanyan Chandrasekhar7.Extension: Pure Metala.Article: “Jābir Ibn Hayyān”Lesson 2.5: Solar SystemLesson 2.5 DQ: How is the development of our Solar System an increase in complexity?1.Opener: Solar Systema.Opener: Planet Card Sort2.The Solar Systema.Video: Threshold 4: Solar System and Earthb.Activity: Threshold 4 Card 3.Our Cosmic Neighborhood
OER PROJECT: BIG HISTORYCOURSE OUTLINEFor teacher instructions and sample answers, hit the hammer icon at the top of each lesson.7a.Article: “How Our Solar System Formed”4.Visualizing Our Solar Systema.Video: To Scale: Solar System5.Closer: Solar System a.Closer: Solar System News Headlines 6.Extension: Active Accretiona.Activity: Accretion Simulation 7.Extension: The Rocket Scientista.Graphic Biography: Mary Golda Ross8.Extension: Actually, It’s the Moona.Graphic Biography: Wang ZhenyiLesson 2.6: Earth Lesson 2.6 DQ: How did the formation and evolution of Earth increase complexity?1.Opener: Eartha.Opener: Plate Tectonics Match-Up2.The Early Eartha.Video: What Was the Young Earth Like?3.Theory of Plate Tectonicsa.Slideshow: Earth’s Tectonic Platesb.Activity: Geography: Plate Tectonics4.Continents in Motion a.Article: “Plate Tectonics: Continents in Motion”b.Activity: Claim Testing: Evidence c.Activity: Evidence Detective5.Closer: Eartha.Closer: Unit 2 Notebook: Part 26.Extension: A “Girl Talk” Geological Revolutiona.Graphic Biography: Marie Tharp7.Extension: Unit 2 Assessmenta.Assessment: Prewriting: Earth’s Structure and Processesb.Assessment: DBQ Sources: Earth’s Structure and Processes c.Assessment: Writing: Earth’s Structure and ProcessesUnit 3: Life (Threshold 5)Unit 3 Driving Question: Why did life begin on Earth, and how did it change over time? Unit 3 Learning Objectives1.Describe the origins of life on Earth.2.Explain the differences between life and nonlife.3.Describe how life on Earth changed over time.4.Use evidence to explain adaptation and evolution.5.Evaluate how extinction events change life on Earth.
OER PROJECT: BIG HISTORYCOURSE OUTLINEFor teacher instructions and sample answers, hit the hammer icon at the top of each lesson.8Lesson 3.1: Complexity of Life on EarthLesson 3.1 DQ: How did complexity increase as life on Earth emerged?1.Opener: Complexity of Life on Eartha.Opener: Unit 3 Notebook: Part 12.Life on Eartha.Article (comic): “The Thresholds: Life on Earth” b.Activity: A Brief History of Life on Earth3.Threshold 5: Life on Eartha.Video: Threshold 5: Lifeb.Activity: Threshold 5 Card4.Life and Nonlifea.Article: “What Is Life?”b.Audio: Unknowns Podcast Episode 2, Clip 1 c.Activity: Characteristics of Life5.Closer: Complexity of Life on Eartha.Closer: How Closely Are We Related?Lesson 3.2: Origins of Life Lesson 3.2 DQ: How did life on Earth begin and change?1.Opener: Origins of Lifea.Opener: Order Up Part 12.Life Beginsa.Slideshow: How did Life on Earth Begin?b.Activity: How Did Life Begin?3.How Did Life on Earth Change?a.Video: Mini-Thresholds of Lifeb.Activity: Order Up Part 24.The Biosphere a.Article: “What Is the Biosphere?”b.Infographic: Biosphere Comfort Zonec.Activity: Living in the Extremes of the Biosphere5.Geography and the Biospherea.Activity: Geography: Biomesb.Slideshow: Geography: Climographs6.Closer: Origins of Lifea.Closer: Poetry of Life on Earth7.Extension: The Collectora.Graphic Biography: Ynés Mexía8.Extension: Mysteries of the Origins of Lifea.Audio: Unknowns Podcast Episode 2, Clip 2 Lesson 3.3: Evolution Lesson 3.3 DQ: How did the evolution of life on Earth increase complexity?1.Opener: Evolution
OER PROJECT: BIG HISTORYCOURSE OUTLINEFor teacher instructions and sample answers, hit the hammer icon at the top of each lesson.9a.Opener: The Tree of Life b.Infographic: Tree of Life 2.The Instructions for Life a.Video: What Is DNA?b.Article: “What Is Evolution?” c.Activity: Invent a Species3.Earth, Life, and Evolutiona.Audio: Unknowns Podcast Episode 3, Clip 1 b.Activity: Geography: Earth in Motion4.Closer: Evolution a.Closer: Claim Testing: Life5.Extension: An Immortal Legacya.Graphic Biography: Henrietta LacksLesson 3.4: Extinction EventsLesson 3.4 DQ: How do extinction events change the complexity of life on Earth?1.Opener: Extinction Eventsa.Opener: Surviving an Extinction Event2.What Causes Extinction Events?a.Video: Extinction Eventsb.Activity: Causation: Extinction Events3.Re-C reating Lifea.Activity: De-extinction Debateb.Activity: Bringing the Past Back to Life Story4.Closer: Extinction Eventsa.Closer: Unit 3 Notebook: Part 25.Extension: De-Extinctiona.Audio: Unknowns Podcast Episode 3, Clip 2 Unit 4: Early Humans (Threshold 6)Unit 4 Driving Question: How did the evolution of humans lead to new complexity on Earth?Unit 4 Learning Objectives1.Describe human evolution and how it increases complexity. 2.Define collective learning. 3.Describe how early humans lived. 4.Explain the distribution and migration of human populations across Earth’s surface.Lesson 4.1: Humanity’s New Complexity Lesson 4.1 DQ: How did human evolution lead to new complexity on Earth?1.Opener: Humanity’s New Complexitya.Opener: Unit 4 Notebook: Part 12.Human Originsa.Article (comic): “The Thresholds: Collective Learning”
OER PROJECT: BIG HISTORYCOURSE OUTLINEFor teacher instructions and sample answers, hit the hammer icon at the top of each lesson.10b.Activity: A Brief History of Our Origins3.Threshold 6a.Video: Threshold 6: Collective Learningb.Activity: Threshold 6 Card4.Closer: Humanity’s New Complexitya.Closer: Collective Learning Book CoverLesson 4.2: Human Ancestors Lesson 4.2 DQ: How did early humans evolve on Earth?1.Opener: Human Ancestorsa.Opener: Early Ancestors2.Our Evolutionary History a.Slideshow: Human Evolutionb.Activity: Evolution Comic3.One of Many Humansa.Article: “Human Evolution: Our Many Ancestors”b.Activity: Our Human History 4.Closer: Human Ancestorsa.Closer: Evolution Postcard5.Extension: Mysteries of Our Human Originsa.Audio: Unknowns Podcast Episode 3, Clip 3 Lesson 4.3: Collective Learning Lesson 4.3 DQ: How did early humans share and improve upon knowledge?1.Opener: Collective Learninga.Opener: Cave Paintings 2.Passing Down Knowledgea.Article: “What Is Collective Learning?”b.Activity: Evolution of Collective Learning3.Art and Collective Learninga.Video: Written in Stone: Petroglyphsb.Activity: The Importance of Art4.Closer: Collective Learninga.Closer: Improving Knowledge5.Extension: Toolmakinga.Video: Making Stone ToolsLesson 4.4: MigrationLesson 4.4 DQ: Where and why did early humans migrate?1.Opener: Migration a.Opener: Mapping Predictions2.On the Move a.Slideshow: Human Movement and Migrationb.Activity: Early Human Migration 3.Impact of Geography
OER PROJECT: BIG HISTORYCOURSE OUTLINEFor teacher instructions and sample answers, hit the hammer icon at the top of each lesson.11a.Video: The Sahara Desert Used to Be...Green?b.Activity: Geography: Migration and Climatec.Slideshow: Migration and Climate Maps4.Closer: Migration a.Closer: Causation: Migration5.Extension: The Americasa.Activity: When did Humans Arrive in the Americas?b.Audio: Unknowns Podcast Episode 7, Clip 1c.Graphic Biography: Ales Hrdlickad.Graphic Biography: George McJunkinLesson 4.5: Foraging Societies Lesson 4.5 DQ: How did early humans live?1.Opener: Foraging Societiesa.Opener: Foraging Simulation 2.What’s for Dinner?a.Activity: Survival Challengeb.Article: “Foraging: Life as a Hunter-Gatherer” c.Activity: Claim Testing: Early Humans 3.The Evolution of Our Dietsa.Activity: Hunter-Gatherer Menub.Video: From Foraging to Food Shopping4.Closer: Foraging Societiesa.Closer: Unit 4 Notebook: Part 2Unit 5: Agriculture & Complex Societies (Threshold 7)Unit 5 Driving Question:How did the transition to agriculture increase complexity in human societies? Unit 5 Learning Objectives1.Define agriculture and describe where it emerged.2.Describe how agrarian societies formed.3.Describe how farming changed human societies4.Compare and contrast various agrarian societies.5.Analyze the expansion and interconnection of agrarian societies. Lesson 5.1: Farming and ComplexityLesson 5.1 DQ: How did the transition to farming lead to new complexity?1.Opener: Farming and Complexitya.Opener: Unit 5 Notebook: Part 12.A Farming Revolution a.Article (comic): “The Thresholds: Agriculture and Complex Societies”b.Activity: A Brief History of New Complexities3.Threshold 7
OER PROJECT: BIG HISTORYCOURSE OUTLINEFor teacher instructions and sample answers, hit the hammer icon at the top of each lesson.12a.Video: Threshold 7: Agriculture and Complex Societiesb.Activity: Threshold 7 Card4.Closer: Farming and Complexitya.Closer: Farming JingleLesson 5.2: Agricultural RevolutionLesson 5.2 DQ: How did humans begin farming?1.Opener: Agricultural Revolutiona.Opener: From Farming to Civilizations2.Harnessing Energya.Video: Why Was Agriculture So Important?3.Effects of Farminga.Article: “How Farming Built the First Cities”b.Activity: Before and After4.Farming and the Environmenta.Activity: Geography: The Agricultural Revolution 5.Closer: Agricultural Revolution a.Closer: Making Claims: Farming 6.Extension: Mysteries of the Agricultural Revolutiona.Audio: Unknowns Podcast Episode 7, Clip 2Lesson 5.3: Complex Societies Appear Lesson 5.3 DQ: How did farming lead to the development of complex societies?1.Opener: Complex Societies Appeara.Opener: Three Questions2.Formation of Statesa.Activity: Artifact Investigationb.Slideshow: Where Did the First Cities and States Appear?c.Activity: Cities and States3.The First Statesa.Activity: Frankenstein’s Civilizationb.Article: “Mesopotamia: The Land of Firsts” c.Video: Egyptd.Audio: “Indus River Valley”4.Closer: Complex Societies Appeara.Closer: Did They Jump or Were They Pushed?5.Extension: Causes of Collapsea.Audio: Unknowns Podcast Episode 7, Clip 3Lesson 5.4: EmpiresLesson 5.4 DQ: Why did some agrarian societies become empires?1.Opener: Empiresa.Opener: What Caused Expansion?2.Formation of Empiresa.Video: Why Did Civilization Expand?
OER PROJECT: BIG HISTORYCOURSE OUTLINEFor teacher instructions and sample answers, hit the hammer icon at the top of each lesson.133.Empires Rise and Falla.Activity: Empire Autopsyb.Article: “Han Dynasty China”c.Video: Persians and Greeks d.Article: “The Roman Empire”4.Closer: Empiresa.Closer: The Americas5.Extension: Women in Ancient Empiresa.Graphic Biography: Ban Zhaob.Graphic Biography: Hypatiac.Activity: Her Side of History 6.Extension: A Big History of Horsesa.Article: “Horses and Humans: A History” 7.Extension: Maintaining an Empirea.Article: “Source Collection: The Ancient World”Lesson 5.5: Expanding Connections Lesson 5.5 DQ: How did long-distance connections increase complexity?1.Opener: Expanding Connectionsa.Opener: Geography of Connections2.Making Connectionsa.Video: How Did the World Become Interconnected?b.Slideshow: How Did Cultures Connect?c.Activity: World Travelers3.Connecting Across Distances a.Activity: Trade Gameb.Article: “Silk Road: Merchants of Complexity” c.Article: “Trade in the Americas”d.Article: “Oceania”4.Closer: Expanding Connectionsa.Closer: Unit 5 Notebook: Part 25.Extension: Exploring Interconnectiona.Graphic Biography: Ibn Khaldunb.Graphic Biography: Taking Root: Ibn Bassalc.Article: “Thank You for Algebra: Muhammad Ibn Musa al-Khwarizmi”6.Extension: Mysteries of Oceania Migration a.Audio: Unknowns Podcast Episode 7, Clip 4Lesson 5.6: Museum ProjectLesson 5.6 DQ: How did ancient societies contribute to our world today?1.Opener: Museum Projecta.Opener: Society Superlatives 2.Choosing Your Societya.Activity: Select a Society3.Creating Your Museuma.Activity: Ancient Society Explorer
OER PROJECT: BIG HISTORYCOURSE OUTLINEFor teacher instructions and sample answers, hit the hammer icon at the top of each lesson.14b.Activity: Mapmakers Presentationc.Activity: Artifact Crafters Presentationd.Activity: Storytellers Presentation4.Closer: Museum Projecta.Closer: Ancient WisdomUnit 6: The Modern Age (Threshold 8)Unit 6 Driving Question:What are the positive and negative impacts of interconnection and acceleration?Unit 6 Learning Objectives1.Describe the many changes caused by the connection of the four world zones.2.Evaluate the impact of the Industrial Revolution. 3.Describe the factors that accelerated global change. 4.Evaluate the pros and cons of globalization for different groups of people.5.Explain the key features that define the Anthropocene. Lesson 6.1: The Modern World Lesson 6.1 DQ: How did the world become more interconnected?1.Opener: The Modern Worlda.Opener: Unit 6 Notebook: Part 12.Complexity Acceleratesa.Article (comic): “The Thresholds: The Modern Revolution” b.Activity: The Complexities of Our Modern World3.Threshold 8a.Video: Threshold 8: The Modern Revolutionb.Activity: Threshold 8 Card4.Closer: The Modern Worlda.Closer: Modern Revolution MemeLesson 6.2: Four World Zones ConnectLesson 6.2 DQ: What were the pros and cons of the interconnection of the four world zones?1.Opener: Four World Zones Connecta.Opener: Columbian Exchange Snap Judgment2.The World Connectsa.Article: “The Four World Zones”3.An Accidental Discoverya.Video: The Columbian Exchangeb.Activity: Consequences of the Columbian Exchange4.Economic Changesa.Article: “The Global Economy”5.Closer: Four World Zones Connecta.Closer: Connecting the World 6.Extension: Transforming Environments
OER PROJECT: BIG HISTORYCOURSE OUTLINEFor teacher instructions and sample answers, hit the hammer icon at the top of each lesson.15a.Activity: The Columbian Exchange + Climate Change7.Extension: The Explorersa.Graphic Biography: The Navigator: Mau Piailugb.Article: “Lion of the Sea”c.Graphic Biography: Athanasius Kircher’s Quest to Know Everything8.Extension: Unit 6 Assessmenta.Assessment: Prewriting: Columbian Exchangeb.Assessment: DBQ Sources: Columbian Exchangec.Assessment: Writing: Columbian ExchangeLesson 6.3: Industrial RevolutionLesson 6.3 DQ: What were the positive and negative impacts of industrialization?1.Opener: Industrial Revolution a.Opener: Causes of Industrialization2.An Energy Revolutiona.Slideshow: Energy Through Time b.Activity: The Quest for Energy3.Coal and Industrializationa.Activity: Geography: Industrialization Mystery b.Slideshow: Geography: Industrialization Mystery Maps4.Causes of Industrializationa.Activity: Causation: Industrializationb.Article: “The Industrial Revolution” 5.Effects of Industrializationa.Activity: Urbanization Gameb.Audio: Urbanization Game Narratives c.Slideshow: Urbanization Game Narrativesd.Article: “Modern Social Transformations”6.Closer: Industrial Revolutiona.Closer: New JobsLesson 6.4: Acceleration Lesson 6.4 DQ: How has change accelerated in the last 500 years?1.Opener: Acceleration a.Opener: Appetite for Energy 2.A Changing Worlda.Video: How Did Change Accelerate?b.Activity: Mapping the Worldc.Slideshow: Mapping the World Data3.Impacts of Accelerationa.Article: “The Complexity of War and Peace”b.Activity: Assessing Acceleration 4.Closer: Accelerationa.Closer: Time-Traveler Letter5.Extension: Early Environmental Activisma.Graphic Biography: George Washington Carver
OER PROJECT: BIG HISTORYCOURSE OUTLINEFor teacher instructions and sample answers, hit the hammer icon at the top of each lesson.16Lesson 6.5: GlobalizationLesson 6.5 DQ: What are the positive and negative impacts of globalization?1.Opener: Globalizationa.Opener: Braided Identities2.A Globalized World a.Slideshow: What Is Globalization?b.Activity: Evaluating Globalization3.Follow the Producta.Activity: Geography: Supply Chain4.Closer: Globalizationa.Closer: Claim Testing: Globalization Lesson 6.6: AnthropoceneLesson 6.6 DQ: How has human activity changed our planet?1.Opener: Anthropocenea.Opener: Energy Sort2.What Is the Anthropocene?a.Slideshow: The Anthropocene Explainedb.Activity: The Anthropocene and You3.Our Changing Worlda.Article: “Humans and Climate Change”b.Activity: Evaluating Sources4.Feeding the World a.Video: Corn! How Maize Changed the Worldb.Activity: Global Restaurantc.Activity: Global Restaurant Food Cards 5.Closer: Anthropocenea.Closer: Unit 6 Notebook: Part 2Unit 7: The Future (Threshold 9)Unit 7 Driving Question: What’s the next threshold?Unit 7 Learning Objectives1.Examine how human and environmental issues might affect the future. 2.Evaluate how technology and innovation might affect the future.3.Propose a vision of the future based on new understandings of the past. Lesson 7.1: Complexity & the Future Lesson 7.1 DQ: How might complexity increase in the future?1.Opener: Complexity & the Futurea.Opener: Unit 7 Notebook: Part 1 2.Our Collective Futurea.Article (comic): “The Thresholds: The Future”
OER PROJECT: BIG HISTORYCOURSE OUTLINEFor teacher instructions and sample answers, hit the hammer icon at the top of each lesson.17b.Activity: Future Stories3.Threshold 9a.Video: Threshold 9: The Future4.Closer: Complexity & the Futurea.Closer: Timeline ReviewLesson 7.2: ClimateLesson 7.2 DQ: How might climate change increase complexity?1.Opener: Climatea.Opener: Natural Disasters 2.The Future of the Climatea.Video: Climate History and Our Futureb.Activity: Our Future Climate3.Earth’s Changing Atmosphere a.Video: How Climate Change Affects Our Atmosphere4.Climate Science Pioneera.Graphic Biography: Eunice Newton Footeb.Graphic Biography: Wangari Maathai5.Closer: Climatea.Closer: Visions of the Future: ClimateLesson 7.3: SpaceLesson 7.3 DQ: How might space exploration increase complexity?1.Opener: Space a.Opener: What Do Aliens Look Like?2.The Final Frontiera.Video: Space: The Final Threshold?3.The Red Planeta.Video: A Day on Marsb.Activity: Mars Sketchnotesc.Audio: Unknowns Podcast Episode 5 Clip4.Closer: Spacea.Closer: Visions of the Future: Space Lesson 7.4: TechnologyLesson 7.4 DQ: How might technology increase complexity?1.Opener: Technologya.Opener: Past, Present, and Future Tech2.Future Techa.Article: “Futures of Technology” b.Audio: Unknowns Podcast Episode 8, Clip 1c.Activity: Future Tech Pros and Cons3.Closer: Technologya.Closer: Visions of the Future: Tech4.Extension: The Quantum Scientist
OER PROJECT: BIG HISTORYCOURSE OUTLINEFor teacher instructions and sample answers, hit the hammer icon at the top of each lesson.18a.Graphic Biography: Satyendra Nath Bose5.Extension: Optimism and a 100-Year Futurea.Audio: Unknowns Podcast Episode 8, Clip 2Lesson 7.5: Human SystemsLesson 7.5 DQ: How might human systems increase complexity?1.Opener: Human Systemsa.Opener: Past, Present, and Future Humans2.How Will We Change the World?a.Article: “Human Systems and the Future”b.Activity: Visions of the Future: Human Systems3.Closer: Human Systemsa.Closer: Unit 7 Notebook: Part 2Lesson 7.6: The Next Threshold Lesson 7.6 DQ: What’s the next threshold?1.Opener: The Next Thresholda.Opener: Visions of the Future Revisited2.Future Complexitya.Article: “The Ninth Threshold” b.Activity: Threshold 9 Cardc.Activity: The Next Threshold Podcast3.Closer: The Next Thresholda.Closer: Predicting What’s Next4.Extension: Bite-Size Big History a.Activity: From the Past to the Future