Opening Activities

The idea behind these opening activities is to get students to assess what they may already know or assume about the Caribbean. What I have found that is that these activities also help me to plan the rest of the course. It helps me assess where my students are in terms of knowledge and interest.

PART I: Assess Student Knowledge -

Activity 1:

A-Z Activity

Ask students what comes to mind when they think of "the Caribbean". 

They should then record their answers in a list from A-Z. 

Directions: Students should take out a piece of paper, fold it in half vertically and list A-M in the first column and N-Z in the second. Then, time students or give them a set time to complete the alphabetical list with words that they associate with the Caribbean. Then record responses on chart paper. Certain letters may be more difficult than others to fill. If there are blanks leave chart paper with recorded responses on the wall so that you can add to it as you go through the course.

Activity 2: 

Share out Quote and get responses:

Based on what students think they know about the Caribbean, ask them to assess what Haitian academic and anthropologist, Michel Rolph Trouillot, says about the region.

“Caribbean societies are inescapably heterogenous...the Caribbean has long been an area where some people live next to others who are remarkably distinct. The region—and indeed particular territories within it—has long been multi-racial, multi-lingual, stratified, and some would say, multi-cultural.” (Michel-Rolph Trouillot)

Think-Pair -Share

What are some things you would like to learn about the Caribbean?

What resources do we have to learn the answers to some of those questions?

PART II: Questions about Caribbean Geography

Quickwrite: I belong...

Directions: Ask students to participate in a timed writing activity. They should begin with the words "I belong..." and continue from there. The idea behind this exercise is to simply get ideas out. I generally do not collect this or check for spelling or gammer. It a place for students to be able to express themselves freely. Sometimes I have students mark a spot further along on their page a goal for how much they can write in a given amount of time.

Class Discussion question:

"What makes the United States the United States?"

Get students to begin thinking about borders and names and about how we define location and identity. This will help students to begin to understand the complexity involved in the term Caribbean.

Mapping Activity:

Using books, atlases, and other resources in the class, students will try to identify all of the blanks on the map of the Caribbean. (I was old fashioned here and used white out to create blanks and then photocopied the attached document.) Review map with the class to ensure accurate responses and address any questions. I gave my students a quiz on the map the following week.

Reading A Continent of Islands: 

As a class, or individually, assign students to read a selection from Mark Kurlansky's A Continent of Islands: Searching for the Caribbean Destiny about the challenges of defining the geography of the Caribbean. Students should then answer the following questions.

Post Reading Questions:

1. Define geography.

2. According to Kurlansky what other factors besides geography might help to determine what is considered part of the Caribbean region?

3. Do you agree or disagree with his explanation? Why or why not?