(3) Q & A !

In any learning, the most important part is engaging with questions (Q) and answers (A). Here, I am using The Bengalūru Brotheyrds’ (Moksh and Amsh) video to help you get started into looking at a few more aspects of the geographies involved in the saga of the chillies.

The geography that is taught in most classrooms is nothing more than rote memorization. Geography is a LOT more than that. It can help you develop critical thinking skills. Asking geography questions is crucial. It is far more useful than the way geography is taught in many schools today.

This effort goes beyond identifying names and such. It requires you to think further than that. You will also have to search for some information.

I’ll give you a set of questions that you can attempt to answer. Write your answers in the comments section below this article. Remember to:

• identify the question you are answering with the question number.
• share your name (optional; you could also give only one part of your name, if you want),
• the class you are studying in (if you are homeschooling, you can say ‘homeschooling’), and
• if you take information from some source, give credit to that source (for example, giving the link to your source if it is online).

1. Why was there so much interest among rulers in western Europe to find a sea route to India?
2. Did Columbus succeed in finding a sea route to India? If not, who did? When? What was the route taken? How did knowledge of global winds help?
3. Why was Columbus mistaken in identifying the people he met on his voyage as “Indios”?
4. Why would you consider Columbus’ first voyage to be a success or a failure or a mixture of both?
5. What did Columbus’ voyages contribute to geographical knowledge about the world?
6. What were some of the impacts of Columbus’ voyages on the native peoples of the Americas?
7. Which varieties of chillies do you consume in the food at home? (This will also likely involve interviewing your caregivers, visiting the market, etc. — doing research!)
8. Columbus’ voyages occurred centuries ago! What use is learning about them today?
9. Which other fruits and vegetables that you use in your diet came from other parts of the world? What are the sources of your information?
10. Pick a dish that you enjoy. Make a list of the ingredients in that dish. Make a table showing:
    • Name of the ingredient
    • Where it came from
    • Source of your information

These are some questions that I have given you.

What geography questions can you come up with? What are your answers to them? Share these in the comments section below this post.

Featured image:By Unknown author – http://www.usda.gov/oc/photo/73cs0339.htm, Public Domain, Link