Tell It Again! Read-Aloud Anthology - EngageNY

Where Are We?
Show image 1A-1: Map of the world in 149 2
Show students what a map of the world would have looked like over
five hundred years ago, back in 1492. Ask them how they think it
looks different from the classroom map of the world you have today.
Explain that five hundred years ago, new continents and oceans
were still being discovered. Show them the continent of Europe,
and tell them that the people who lived on that continent are called
Europeans. Point out Italy on the map, and then ask them what it
looks like. (a boot) Tell them that today’s read-aloud takes place on
the continent of Europe in the country of Italy. On the classroom
map, locate Asia and the countries on the islands between China
and Australia, such as Indonesia and Malaysia. Explain to students
that this area of Asia used to be called the Indies.
Tell students that at the time the events in today’s read-aloud took
place, some Europeans traveled to faraway Asia, to the Indies.
As you point to Europe and the Indies, ask, “How do you think
they got from Europe to this part of Asia?” Explain to students
that sailing on a body of water was much easier than going over
land, because there were no cars, trains, or buses to take them
over land. People who traveled over land had to walk or ride
on the backs of animals. Because of this, Europeans wanted a
route to Asia that involved mostly traveling on water. Point to the
Mediterranean Sea on the map while you explain that the water
route Europeans took to Asia meant they had to walk part of the
way and go through a city called Constantinople.
Essential Background Information or Terms
If possible, bring some spices to class. Pass them around,
allowing students to smell them. Ask students to identify the
smells. They may use individual names, like cinnamon, nutmeg,
and pepper. Explain that these strong-smelling powders are
called spices. Ask students if they know how spices are used. Tell
students that spices are used in many different ways: to flavor
food, to preserve meats (or to protect meats from going bad), to
make perfumes, and as traditional medicines. Tell them that spices
like these come from plants.
12 Columbus and the Pilgrims 1A | The Spice Seekers
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