History of English Treasure Hunt

Up
Syllabus
Schedule
Links

English Language History Hunt
an Internet Treasure Hunt on History of English

Introduction | The Questions | Internet Resources

Printable Worksheet for use with Treasure Hunt

Introduction

Get ready to explore! Grab your computer mouse, put on your thinking cap and head for the further reaches of cyberspace. There's a lot to learn in this information age. Using the Web allows you to discover tons more than you may have ever known possible. Below is a list of questions about the history of the English language. Cruise the Internet links on this page to find answers to the questions. Do not forget to complete the task in the Big Question box. Have fun and avoid a bumps in the road.

Questions

  1. What are the main periods in the history of the English language?
     

  2. What is the main difference between Old English and the language we speak today?
     

  3. What event caused significant changes in the Old English language?
     

  4. English borrowed words from many languages. List the languages and give examples of some of the borrowed words.
     

  5. From where did rules of modern English grammar develop?
     

  6. What are the dates of the Old, Middle and Modern periods of the English language?
     

  7. What are advantages and disadvantages of Modern English?
     

  8. How did the colonization of America affect the English language?
     

  9. What is the principle difference between early modern and late modern English?
     

  10. How has syntax changed since the Middle English period?

The Internet Resources

The Big Question

Use Inspiration software to create a graphic organizer that illustrates what you have learned about the history of the English language. Include a cell explaining why this information is useful to you as a middle school teacher.

Upload the graphic organizer and answer sheet to your instructor's digital dropbox on the your instructor's Sharepoint site.