Curated OER
What They Left Behind: Early Multi-National Influences in the United States
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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Other Worlds: The Voyage of Columbus
Students utilize Internet sites to explore and compare current ideas and opinions concerning the impact of christopher Columbus' famous voyage of 1492.
Student Handouts
Letter from Christopher Columbus to Luis de Sant Angel Announcing His Discovery (1493)
When Christopher Columbus landed, he found many things to comment on. Have your class read this letter that he wrote to Luis de Sant Angel in 1493. The text is split up into sections. Each section is paired with two to three...
Curated OER
The Discovery of The Americas
Students come up with different scenarios of what they would do if they participated in discovering America. In this America lesson plan, students see pictures and read articles on discovering America. They then have to come up with a...
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What They Left Behind: Early Multi-National Influences in the United States
Students research the impact of European voyages of discovery and colonial influence on different aspects of American culture. They access a number of online sources and reference maps to trace the influences of England, France, Holland,...
Channel Islands Film
Arlington Springs Man: Lesson Plan 4
West of the West's documentary Arlington Springs Man introduces viewers to the remarkable finds on Santa Rosa Island. Archaeologist have discovered on this small island that is part of the Channel island chain, human and pygmy mammoth...
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Glory, God and Gold: Voyages and Adventures - America 1500
By providing an in-depth and interesting overview of European exploration in the New World, this presentation would be a wonderful complement to a unit on this topic. The 17 slide presentation is both thought-provoking and informative....
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The Voyage
Middle schoolers investigate the Louisiana Purchase. In this Lewis and Clark Expedition activity, students watch the PBS video about the expedition and then complete worksheets based on details of the expedition and review the expedition...
K20 LEARN
But What About Me?: Teaching Perspective In The Social Studies Classroom
How would the story of the discovery of America be different if indigenous people told it through their eyes? Individuals compare the conventional account of this moment in history to an account given by one of the native peoples. After...
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Voyages of Discovery
Pupils create individual "travel logs" for a world explorer whom they studied in history class. This lesson is an interdisciplinary activity for the Language Arts and History classroom.
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Teaching Elementary School Social Studies
Students identify possible social studies themes that can come from the video, "Voyage of Discovery". They list the five themes of geography. They develop elementary-level interdisciplinary unit plans for social study content. They...
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Prince Henry the Navigator
Sanges, Portugal is of great significance in the world of ancient exploration. It was what was believed to be" Land's End," but as we now know it wasn't! Learn all about the travels and navigational triumphs of Prince Henry the...
Curated OER
Who Where They?
Students associate explorers with specific discoveries. They apply research skills to inquire about the explorers. Students switch roles with the instructor for the class to demonstrate what they have learned.
Core Knowledge Foundation
Columbus Sailed the Ocean Blue
Young adventurers embark on a journey, setting sail along the blue ocean with Christopher Columbus. Teachers will find that this unit makes their lesson planning smooth sailing!
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Corps of Discovery: Voyaging with Lewis and Clark
Students include maps, drawings, and personal reflections in a journal they keep while "accompanying" Lewis and Clark on their famous expedition of the Louisiana Territory.
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Christopher Columbus
Help first graders gain an understanding of the beginnings of our nation by learning more about Christopher Columbus. They begin by listening to a read aloud of Christopher Columbus and His Voyage to the New World (another title could be...
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Voyage to the New World
Students examine the exploration of the New World. They write a descriptive account of the first encounter between Europeans and Native Americans, analyze and label maps, plot Columbus's journey on a map, and write a chapter summary.
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The European Conquest of the Americas
Witness the birth of the Americas in this presentation, which details the European Explorers who contributed to adding vital details on our modern-day maps. Viewers' worlds will literally expand after seeing the results of Cortes and the...
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But Where Is It On This Modern Map? A problem-solving, mind-boggling experience!
Trace Columbus' voyages by locating them on 21st Century maps. Using a navigators lesson, 4th graders will examine the Age of Exploration and trace Columbus's routes accurately on laminated world maps using different maps. Note: You...
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Planning a Trip for Christopher Columbus
First graders plan a trip for Christopher Columbus. They use their math skills to construct a ship for Columbus' voyage. They show their ship and calculations to their classmates and build graphs to show the amount of supplies needed to...
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Dia de la Raza - What is El Dia de la Raza?
Students research and write about Christopher Columbus, his voyages, and his impact on the Native Americans. In this Christopher Columbus lesson, students work at stations where they learn vocabulary, perform Reader's Theatre, work with...
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Explorers of the New World
Students research explorers and explore how exploration affected the Western Hemisphere; students demonstrate competency in using multimedia encyclopedia and information software, and present PowerPoint presentation to class with two...
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Columbus Postcard
Students examine Columbus's discoveries in the Americas. In this Christopher Columbus instructional activity, students determine the purpose of the explorer's voyages and then write postcards from his perspective to his parents...
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A Great, Crazy Sailor
Fourth graders become acquainted with the basic facts of Christopher Columbus' discovery of America through singing the following chant.