Summary
Talk about East meets West! In this BrainPOP movie, Tim and Moby map out the world-changing effects of the Columbian Exchange. Learn how Christopher Columbus’s voyage in 1492 opened up a new era of contact between the eastern and western hemispheres. Discover which plants, animals, and germs made their way across the Atlantic Ocean, in each direction. And explore the long-term effects of this biological swap on the inhabitants of the so-called "Old World" and the "New World"—like how it reduced famine in Europe, but also led to the rise of the African slave trade.
Viewer safety
Ages 7+
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Teaching resources
Discussion questions
A few questions to talk through after watching Columbian Exchange:
- What is one new thing you learned about columbian exchange?
- Can you explain it to a partner in your own words?
- Where might you see this in the real world?
- What is one question you still have?
Quick work-a-long
Try it:
- Write one sentence explaining columbian exchange.
- Draw or give one example of your own.