Explorers Lesson Plans

Film is a wonderful way to communicate any concept or idea. Fifth graders will use IMovie and GarageBand software to create a IMovie about one of eight European explorers. They will chose an explorer, research his travels and life, then create and present their films. This is a great way to build interest and have learners understand the many applications of research.

Fifth graders research different European explorers. In this European exploration lesson, 5th graders receive a "mission envelope" with the name of an explorer and their mission overview. They research this explorer and assume the persona of him during a panel discussion. 

Young scholars comprehend the history of European exploration of North America. They are introduced to basic reasearch techniques. Students focus on four explorers who visited New York State: Verrazano, Cartier, Champlian, and Hudson. They use the Webquest to put themselves in the role of one explorer.

Fifth graders create an explorer's map. In this explorers lesson students use a map of the world as reference to draw their own map of Europe, North America, Central America, and the Caribbean Islands. The students use their maps to show the paths that European explorers used.

Fifth graders sequence events of European exploration and colonization by creating timelines. They define the differences between primary and secondary sources. They discuss claims to Texas land in the 17th Century.

Sixth graders investigate the characteristics of explorers. They research the factors that contributed to the first European explorers that came to North America. Students also concentrate on the interactions that explorers had with Native Americans.

Learners research investigate three early European explorers in Arkansas history. They write an persuasive paragraph to convince classmates that the explorers of choice has had the greatest impact on Arkansas.

Students discover European history by examining images. In this famous explorers lesson, students analyze a box of clues and information provided to them which is based on an individual explorer from Europe. Students collaborate with classmates to determine who the individual is and then move on to a new box.

Students read sections in their text about European Exploration of the American continent. They complete a chart, supplementing with information from lecture notes or other resources as needed. Students discuss their answers and the experiences all countries share related to exploration.

Young scholars compile a list of important European explorers that explored the New World between 1400 and 1700. They work in pairs to research and write a biography about one of the explorers. Students use their research to create a flipbook.