Mark Catesby's Colonial Explorations and Modern Connections
Mark Catesby explored the British colonies of North America beginning in 1712 during a visit to his sister in Virginia. Fascinated by the plants and animals that inhabited a landscape filled with both potential and danger, he began documenting his explorations with drawings and descriptions of the colonial environment. According to the Catesby Trust, "he was the first to conduct a critical study of the lush and varied habitat of the southeast colonies of North America, particularly the environs of the Lowcountry and the Piedmont area. As a scientist, he was the first to empirically observe and recognize the natural and man-made dangers impacting species’ survival. As an artist, his meticulous paintings and etchings of birds, other animals including fish, and plants captured the diverse natural beauty of colonial America a century before Audubon." Catesby's explorations would be an excellent way to study the beginnings of the Carolina colony or the southeastern colonies in general. This lesson features a "flipped classroom" technique in which students will review websites, videos, and articles at home, and then they will complete Facebook style pages that analyze the information they have learned about Catesby's explorations and his impact on other naturalists, artists, and scientists.
Lesson Created By: Eugene Ramsey Hardin IV
Lesson Partners: Catesby Commemorative Trust
Essential Question
In what ways did the work of Mark Catesby in the British colonies during the 18th century influence scientists, explorers,and artists of his own and later eras?
Grade(s):
- 8
Subject(s):
Recommended Technology:
Computer access or Chromebook
Google Docs or Microsoft Word
Google Slides or Powerpoint
Printed Handouts if computer access is unavailable
Other Instructional Materials or Notes:
Each student needs his own copy of all documents, either printed or digital.
Lesson Progression
I. Introduction
In Class: Introduce Mark Catesby using Slide 1. Access the Catesby Trust Website by clicking on Catesby's portrait. Watch the video to see an overview of Catesby's life and legacy. Show the digital version of Catesby's books at the Biodiversity Library:
https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/item/126524#page/7/mode/1up
Review each of the slides, showing students how to click on links to look at the attached resources. Show each of the worksheets that will be completed with the resources on each slide. Discuss the "Flipped Classroom" approach with the students, emphasizing that they will be using the slides to access websites and texts at home. In class, they will discuss what they have seen, discuss key ideas with other students, and respond to questions about the online resources. Emphasize that the Wall writings will be the final assessment, and show the rubric by which it will be evaluated.
At Home: Students may watch the video again to review key ideas. Next, they should proceed to Slide 2 where they will view the video gallery of Catesby's work and access the website, The First Audubon?, where they will learn about the similarities between Catesby's and Audubon's work.
2. Art Analysis
In Class: Using the Painting Analysis Worksheet, students should work with groups of 3 or pairs to respond to the questions as the teacher guides them, pointing out key traits of Catesby's painting shown on Slide 2. Ask the students to circle or highlight ideas that would also fit the Audubon painting pictured next to Catesby's.
At Home: Students will select one of the paintings in Catesby's gallery and complete an Painting Analysis independently. Next, they should read Catesby's entry in the SC Encyclopedia Online that is linked to Slide 3. They should answer the research question that is directly above the SC Encycloedia link so that they are ready to share responses when they arrive in class.
3. Catesby the Naturalist
In Class: Working with groups of three or pairs, students should read the article by David Yih that is linked to Slide 3. Then, students should answer the questions on the Research Article Notes Worksheet.
At Home: Using the answers written in class, students will complete the Catesby's Science Summary worksheet. They should review both the research article and the SC Encyclopedia entry to add details to their answers.
4. Comparing Colonial Naturalists
In Class: Students will work in groups of three or pairs to read The Animals, Plants, and Resources of the British Atlantic Colonies: Images and Commentary, 1692-1760 that is linked to Slide 4. Students should work with their peers to begin the Comparing the Naturalists comparison chart while the teacher moves among the groups to point out key ideas or assist in understanding the Colonial era vocabulary. It may be helpful for the teacher to read more difficult entries aloud so that students can understand any confusing language.
At Home: Students will complete the Comparing the Naturalists worksheet and answer the General Discussion Questions that were adapted from the National Humanities Center Toolbox Library.
5. Writing on the Wall
In Class: Students will return to Slide 1, Catesby's Wall. Students will use this slide to summarize key events, ideas, or contributions in Catesby's life and work. They should have a small illustration for each one, and each one should include a brief quote from Catesby or from research articles. The teacher should review the Assessment Rubric. Begin by asking groups of four or five to suggest events, ideas, or contributions that would help students to understand Catesby and his impact. They should write their suggestions on chart paper to post around the room and shared for the entire class.
At Home: Students will complete the Wall Writing Assignment. for Slide 1. They may use any information gained from their Catesby study. They may also find the following websites helpful for quotes.
.From the Sports Illustrated Archive--Many accounts of Catesby's explorations and ideas
https://www.si.com/vault/1960/10/31/583857/a-legend-comes-to-life-mark-c...
From the Smithsonian Magazine--explains how Catesby used the work of other artists and explorers
https://www.smithsonianmag.com/arts-culture/mark-catesbys-new-world-9827...
From Kids Encyclopedia--has images, links, and simple text
https://kids.kiddle.co/Mark_Catesby
Catesby Onstage
Early American naturalists were both artists and scientists; they studied the movement of animals in their natural habitats to better understand their behavior and to document the diversity of life...
View LessonCatesby - Seeing the Parts and Connecting the Whole
The student will explore and compare how individual elements influence the whole to create a new environment, specifically making the connections between bird migration and the development of the rice...
View LessonCatesby - ZOOM!
Students will demonstrate observation skills by using the elements of art, while drawing an item from nature from three distances.
View LessonCatesby Investigation
Students will identify and discuss Mark Catesby as an artist and recreate some of his artwork while analyzing the characteristics of the environment from his artwork.
View LessonBird Survival Through Adaptations
A series of historical illustrations by naturalist, Mark Catesby, will be used as a foundation for students to assess how adaptations contribute to a species ability to survive in a particular...
View LessonCatesby History Facebook Pages
Facebook template with Catesby lesson, containing numerous links that provide additional information. Each student should have an individual copy so that he can edit the first slide to write on Catesby's Wall.
View ResourceAnalyze a Painting
Questions that assist students in identifying the key traits of a painting. Worksheet to accompany Slide 2.
View ResourceResearch Article Notes: Reading Guide for "Pioneering Naturalist, Artist, and Horticulturalist
Questions to assist students in determining key ideas in a research article. Worksheet to accompany Slide 3.
View ResourceThe Animals, Plants, and Resources of the British Atlantic Colonies: Images and Commentary, 1692-1760
PDF copy of document also provided by link on Slide 4.
View ResourceEngaging Students with Primary Resources
A variety of techniques that assist students with primary resources.
View ResourceGrading Rubric for Writing on Catesby Wall
Suggested criteria for Assessment of Wall writing and other worksheets.
View ResourceStandards
- 8.1.CO Compare the three British North American colonial regions economically, politically, socially, and in regard to labor development.
- This indicator was developed to encourage inquiry into how the three British colonial regions developed in terms of their culture, economies, geography, and labor. The indicator was also developed to encourage inquiry into the unique story of the development of South Carolina.
- 8.1.E Utilize a variety of primary and secondary sources to examine multiple perspectives and influences of the economic, political, and social effects of South Carolina’s settlement and colonization on the development of various forms of government across the colonies.
- 1 Literacy Skills for Social Studies
- Earth Science: Earth’s History and Diversity of Life
- 8.E.6 The student will demonstrate an understanding of Earth’s geologic history and its diversity of life over time.
- C Communication
- VA.C Connecting - I can relate artistic ideas and work with personal meaning and external context.
Assessments
Formative Assessment: Completion of worksheets that accompany slides
- Analysis of Catesby's Artwork
- Research Article Notes Worksheet
- Catesby Science Summary
- Comparing the Naturalists Worksheet
Summative Assessment: Use Wall Rubric to evaluate Writing on Catesby Wall
Writing on Catesby's Wall (Slide 1)