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Essential Question

What were the habitats and animals of the Chesapeake Bay in 1608, and how do they compare to the Bay of today?

Objective

• Students will analyze primary sources in order to assess the presence of various animals and the quality of the Chesapeake Bay habitats in the 1600s.

• Students will compare the Chesapeake Bay of the 1600s with that of today.

Background

This detailed lesson could be broken down into smaller mini-lessons. It is appropriate for upper elementary or middle school students. Students will examine resources that describe the animals and plants that John Smith and his crew encountered on the Chesapeake Bay in 1608. They also will read reports about the habitats that Smith described during his travels. Students will issue a “report card” on the Bay’s health in 1608, using evidence from primary sources to support their assessment. Students will compare the health of the Bay’s fisheries and habitats in the 17th century with the Bay’s health today. Finally, students will compare their report card grades to score/s annually issued by the Chesapeake Bay Foundation to determine whether or not the Bay has changed since 1608.