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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Native Americans of the Chesapeake Bay: Using Primary vs. Secondary Sources

For Teachers 4th - 5th Standards
Discover the rich Native American culture that existed at the time of early European exploration into the Chesapeake region through analysis of several primary and secondary sources.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Pre-Columbian Cultures in the Americas

For Teachers 4th - 6th
Native American studies is fun, educational, and highly motivating. Fifth graders will gain a deeper understanding of the six major pre-Columbian culture areas on the North American continent. They will choose one group and conduct...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

An Age of Exploration

For Teachers 4th - 8th
Students investigate U.S. history by examining North American timelines. In this American exploration lesson, students research the events that led to Columbus finding America and participate in a jeopardy game regarding his adventure....
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

North American Explorers

For Teachers 6th
Sixth graders discuss famous explorere then research an explorer, collect reference materials and take notes using notecards. They write a three to four page typed and double spaced report then present their findings to the class.
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Lesson Plan
Roy Rosenzweig Center for History and New Media

European Explorers

For Teachers 6th - 8th Standards
To compare how the Spanish, French, and English approached the exploration of North America, class groups examine primary source documents and become experts on one of four explorers: Francisco Coronado, Robert LaSalle, Samuel de...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

WANTED EXPLORERS

For Teachers 2nd - 3rd
Students create their own country and explore other unknown lands. Students identify past explorers and complete the included case of the missing trunks webquest. Students research resources and geographical features for their created...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

AIH-14: Changes to American Indian Cultures

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Learners explore American Indian cultures and changes caused by European exploration in North America.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Lives of Native Americans and Settlers

For Teachers 3rd - 11th
Students assess the effect of contact between the Native Americans and Europeans after 1492. They explore the lives of the early European colonists and the Native Americans living along the East Coast of North America. Lesson contains...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Spanish Explorers and Conquistadors

For Teachers 5th
Prior to taking a test of the Spanish explorers and conquistadors, have students review with this informative PowerPoint. Fifth graders will feel more prepared after using this slideshow as a guide to their studying.  
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

What They Left Behind: Early Multi-National Influences in the United States

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Students examine how the European voyages of discovery influence American culture even today. They map eighteenth century Europe's impact on the United States.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Children of Eric the Red Explore the West: The Norsemen Encounter Indigenous People of North America

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Students read about Viking exploration and complete activities based on the Indigenous people they encountered. In this Viking exploration lesson plan, students compare and contrast stories, write a character sketch, and more.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Vikings in Vinland

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Students examine the role of archaeology in gaining information about past civilizations. After reading an article, they discover evidence of the Viking settlement of North America. They summarize the information in the article by...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

First Nation People and European Explorers

For Teachers 6th
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...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Explorers

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Young scholars work together to examine Dutch, French, Spanish and English explorers. They create a poster of the information they collected and write about one explore they find most interesting. They share their information with the...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Mapping Mistakes

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Young scholars examine early European maps and explore geographic errors. They also view maps of the geography of North America. Students discuss the obstacles faced by early explorers in mapping unexplored territory. They consider what...
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Lesson Plan
Stanford University

Native Californians and the Portola Expedition

For Teachers 9th - 12th Standards
What was California like before the Spanish came? Class members discover the answer to the question using images of Native Americans and diaries of the early Spanish explorers. Scaffolded activities allow instructors to adapt the...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

European Explorers of North and South America

For Teachers 6th
Sixth graders explore the connection between the geography of America and the migration of the Native Americans to the American continents to the future conquering of the continents by the Europeans. They discuss the causes and effects...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Conquering North America

For Teachers 6th - 9th
Young scholars create a study guide on colonization of North America. In this American Colonization activity, students complete a chart of explorers and their conquests. Young scholars complete a crossword puzzle using explorer facts....
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Back to the Age of Exploration

For Teachers 3rd - 6th
Students explore world history by researching explorers of North America. In this famous explorers lesson plan, students research one specific explorer of their choice and identify his successes and failures by utilizing the Internet....
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Clothesline Sleuth

For Teachers 5th
Fifth graders investigate the effect of North American colonization on human history. In this colonization instructional activity, 5th graders explore the global impact of colonization of North America. Students investigate the impact of...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

It’s a Big, Big World

For Teachers 5th - 6th
Students examine the role of the explorers. In this explorers and conquistadors, students create word puzzles (Wordles) regarding the time period in history. Students conduct research regarding a particular explorer and create foldables...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Mystery of Exploration

For Teachers 4th - 5th
Students 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...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Polar Adventure: Read All About It!

For Teachers 4th - 6th
Students investigate reports of an adventure to the North Pole or the South Pole and then chronicle it by writing a newspaper article or making a timeline. The focus is placed on a recent or historic expedition to the region selected.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Early Native Americans

For Teachers 4th
Fourth graders locate on a globe where the land bridge was. They describe the progression of nomadic people into North America.