Handout
University of South Florida

A Short History of Florida: Ponce De Leon: Florida's First Spanish Explorer

For Students 3rd - 5th
Read about Juan Ponce de Leon, his exploration of Florida, and his fruitless search for the "Fountain of Youth."
Handout
University of South Florida

Floripedia: A Florida Encyclopedia: De Narvaez, Panfilo

For Students 3rd - 8th
Information about the Spanish conquistador, Panfilo de Narvaez, taken from a 1904 book, A History of Florida. The page includes some recall questions interspersed with the original text.
Website
University of South Florida

Exploring Florida: Hernando De Soto Arrives and Explores Florida

For Students 3rd - 8th
A description of Hernando de Soto's explorations, focusing primarily on his expedition in Florida.
Website
Library of Congress

Loc: Parallel Histories: Exploration and Early Settlement

For Students 9th - 10th
Read about the Spanish conquistadors who explored what was to become Spanish America. Included are links to digital collections from the Library of Congress and the National Library of Spain.
Handout
Texas State Historical Association

Texas State Historical Association: Alvarez De Pineda, Alonso

For Students 9th - 10th
An account of the Spanish expedition led by Alonso Alvarez de Pineda in 1519 that explored the Gulf of Mexico between Florida and Cabo Rojo, Mexico. The explorers tried to establish the Panuco colony but were unsuccessful.
Website
Walled Lake Consolidated Schools

Loon Lake Elementary School: Juan Ponce De Leon

For Students 3rd - 8th
A biography of Spanish conquistador, Juan Ponce de Leon, who sailed with Columbus, and landed on Florida. Find pictures and maps of his exploration.
Handout
Curated OER

National Park Service: Hernando De Soto

For Students 9th - 10th
A biography of Spanish conquistador Hernando de Soto who explored the southern coast of what became the United States. Read about his travels and demise.
eBook
Other

Eldritch Press: Cabeza De Vaca's Adventures in the Unknown Interior of America

For Students 9th - 10th
Read this fascinating account by Alvar Nunez Cabeza de Vaca, one of four survivors who traversed Florida and the Southwest for eight years, from 1529-1537.Read the preface which gives a background to this narrative before delving into...
Handout
Siteseen

Siteseen: Land of the Brave: Juan Ponce De Leon Facts

For Students 9th - 10th
Covers the life of Ponce de Leon, a Spanish explorer known for leading the first official European expedition to Florida in 1513.
Website
PBS

Pbs the West: Alvar Nunez Cabeza De Vaca

For Students 9th - 10th
A biography of this Spanish explorer who was born in 1490. Click on "route" for a map of his travels, and click on "account" for a translation of his published account of his experiences.
Handout
A&E Television

Biography: Juan Ponce De Leon

For Students 9th - 10th
A biography of Juan Ponce de Leon, a Spanish explorer from the 15th and 16th centuries. He was at one point the governor of Puerto Rico, and is credited with discovering Florida. Ponce de Leon is also remembered for having searched the...
Website
Curated OER

National Park Service: De Soto National Memorial

For Students Pre-K - 1st
A description of Hernando De Soto's involvement in expeditions in the New World, hinting at but not fully describing his exploration of La Florida and much of the rest of southern North America prior to his deat.
Unit Plan
Library of Congress

Loc: Parallel Histories: Atlantic and Gulf Coasts Settlements

For Students 9th - 10th
Insights, primary and secondary source material and timeline on early exploration and Spanish settlement of Florida and the Atlantic Coast.
Unit Plan
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt

Harcourt: Biographies: Alvar Nunez Cabeza De Vaca

For Students 3rd - 8th
Gain insight into the life and adventures of Spanish explorer, Cabeza de Vaca, whose expeditions led him to Texas and Mexico.
Handout
Walled Lake Consolidated Schools

Loon Lake Elementary School: Panfilo De Narvaez

For Students 3rd - 5th
A biography of Panfilo de Narvaez (1470: 1528), a Spanish conquistador and explorer who was famous for the exploration of Cuba and for leading an ill fated expedition to Florida and North America. This site has a Google widget that will...
Website
PublicBookshelf Corporation

Our Country, Vol. I: Panfilo De Narvaez

For Students 9th - 10th
From a history book published in the late 19th century, this account of the exploits of Panfilo de Narvaez in the new world relies primarily on an account by Alvar Nunez Cabeza de Vaca, upon his return to Spain.
Graphic
Curated OER

Educational Technology Clearinghouse: Clip Art Etc: Hernando De Soto

For Students 9th - 10th
(1496-1542) A famous Spanish conquistador and navigator who explored Florida.
Graphic
Curated OER

Educational Technology Clearinghouse: Clip Art Etc: Ponce De Leon

For Students 9th - 10th
(1460-1521) A famous Spanish conquistador who settled Florida.
Graphic
Curated OER

Educational Technology Clearinghouse: Clip Art Etc: Ponce De Leon

For Students 9th - 10th
A Spanish conquistador. Juan Ponce de Leon founded the state of Florida.