Handout
Chicago Zoological Society

Chicago Zoological Society: Zoo Explorer: North American River Otter

For Students 9th - 10th
Familiarize yourself with the North American river otter by browsing this brief overview from the Brookfield Zoo. This animal guide includes quick facts and information on the appearance, habitat, social and eating habits, and other...
Unit Plan
Smithsonian Institution

National Museum of American History: Jamestown, Quebec, Santa Fe: Three North American Beginnings

For Students 9th - 10th
Explore the origins of Canada and the United States as Jamestown, Quebec, and Santa Fe celebrate their 400th anniversary.
Unit Plan
Annenberg Foundation

Annenberg Learner: American Passages: Exploring Borderlands: Samuel De Champlain

For Students 9th - 10th
This passage highlights passionate French explorer, Samuel de Champlain, in his conquest for new lands in present day Canada and his establishment of France's North American capital of Quebec. Click the "Samuel de Champlain Activities"...
Unit Plan
Wisconsin Historical Society

American Journeys: Eyewitness Accounts Early American Exploration/settlement

For Students 9th - 10th
A collaborative project of the Wisconsin Historical Society and National History Day, this site contains over 18,000 pages of primary source, eyewitness accounts of North American exploration starting with the Vikings.
Interactive
PBS

Nova: America's Stone Age Explorers: Before Clovis

For Students 9th - 10th
A terrific map from NOVA showing pre-Clovis sites in North America. The key tells where the site is, what was found there, and when Paleoindians inhabited the site.
Handout
University of Groningen

American History: Outlines: The First Europeans

For Students 9th - 10th
The first Europeans to arrive in North America -- at least the first for whom there is solid evidence -- were Norse, traveling west from Greenland, where Erik the Red had founded a settlement around the year 985. In 1001 his son Leif is...
Website
Other

Bowdoin College: Arctic Museum: Biographies: Matthew Henson

For Students 9th - 10th
Biographical information about Matthew Henson, an African American explorer who was with Robert Peary's team, in 1909, when he reached the North Pole.
Handout
State Library of North Carolina

N Cpedia: John W. Kinchelo, Iii: American Indians at European Contact

For Students 9th - 10th
Native Americans inhabited the New World long before European explorers began establishing settlements on the land. This entry addresses the challenges the natives had to face upon Europe's arrival, trials in relationships, and how...
Website
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt

Harcourt: Biographies: Matthew Henson 1866 1955

For Students 3rd - 8th
Find out about the exciting life of African American explorer Matthew Henson, who helped to discover the North Pole along with Robert Peary. Click on a camera to view some great photos.
Website
Other

Encounters: Wild Explorer: Beaver

For Students 9th - 10th
Scroll to Beaver to learn comprehensive facts about the lives of the impressive beaver with pictures and sounds, by anthropologist, Richard Nelson.
Graphic
Other

American Journeys: Map of the Spanish Entrada Into North America [Pdf]

For Students 9th - 10th
Map showing the routes taken by fourteen Spanish explorers in the Americas between 1509 and 1543.
Primary
National Humanities Center

National Humanities Center: Toolbox Library: The French, American Beginnings: 1492 1690

For Students 9th - 10th
Three maps reflecting French exploration along rivers in North America and three French explorers' accounts of the astonishing hardships they endured and the possibilities for trade with natives they opened.
Primary
National Humanities Center

National Humanities Center: Toolbox Library: Indians' Accounts, American Beginnings: 1492 1690

For Teachers 9th - 10th
Four accounts by Native Americans of their complex responses to and reactions toward European explorers near present-day Canada and Mexico.
Primary
National Humanities Center

National Humanities Center: Toolbox Library: Rivalry Ii, American Beginnings: 1492 1690

For Students 9th - 10th
Two eighteenth-century maps and four accounts of the mutual perceptions, suspicions, and observations between Spanish and French explorers on the Gulf Coast.
Website
Other

Peary & Henson Foundation: The Discovery of the North Pole

For Students 9th - 10th
Read about Admiral Peary's North Pole discovery, view pictures of the expedition, and find biographical information on the American Arctic explorer.
Website
Discovering Lewis & Clark

Discovering Lewis & Clark: David Thompson, Lewis, Clark, Jefferson

For Students 9th - 10th
This web site is a group effort devoted to Lewis and Clark, the explorers. This section of the site describes David Thompson's role in their expeditions.
Handout
Black Past

Black Past: Henson, Matthew

For Students 9th - 10th
A brief encyclopedia entry about Matthew Henson, the African-American who, along with Robert Peary, reached the North Pole.
Website
Other

Northwest Journal: Life of David Thompson

For Students 3rd - 8th
An overview of the life of David Thompson, arguably Canada's greatest explorer.
Handout
Other

Unmuseum: Virtual Exploration Society: Matthew Henson

For Students 9th - 10th
Read the exciting account of Matthew Henson's explorations of the Arctic region and his assault on the North Pole.
Website
Other

Matthew Henson: Co Discoverer of Noth Pole With Peary, April 6, 1909

For Students 9th - 10th
A huge resource for information about Matthew Henson, co-discoverer of the North Pole. Clicking on the Table of Contents will take you to the extensive index of articles, photos and interviews.
Website
Ducksters

Ducksters: North Carolina State History for Kids

For Students 1st - 9th
On this website, students read about the history and timeline of the state of North Carolina including early explorers, Native Americans, Roanoke Colony, the American Revolution, and the Civil War.
Website
Ducksters

Ducksters: North Dakota State History for Kids

For Students 1st - 9th
Kids explore the history and timeline of the state of North Dakota including early explorers, Native Americans, Louisiana Purchase, and becoming a state on this site.
Website
University of Groningen

American History: Essays: Europe's North South Conflicts Reach the Americas

For Students 9th - 10th
An essay detailing early English and French exploration and settlement in the New World to challenge Spanish control.
Graphic
Curated OER

American Journeys: Eyewitness Accounts...

For Students 9th - 10th
A collaborative project of the Wisconsin Historical Society and National History Day, this site contains over 18,000 pages of primary source, eyewitness accounts of North American exploration starting with the Vikings.