Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Who Where They?

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Pupils 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.
Worksheet
Curated OER

A Study of Panama

For Students 4th - 5th
In this worksheet on Panama, students read an introduction about Panama, then read about its history, The Panama Canal, the Kuna Indians and the Endangered Species of Panama. After each selection, students answer a set of related questions.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Theatre: Persuasive Explorers

For Teachers 4th - 12th
Students act like a famous explorer. In this explorer lesson, students research an explorer and act out persuasive arguments in which that explorer might be involved.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Early Explorer Time-Line

For Teachers 4th
Fourth graders study exploration of the New World. In this Exploration Age lesson plan, 4th graders research early explorers and create time lines that include picture, captions, and the routes of the explorers studied.
Worksheet
Curated OER

Chapters 14 & 15 – Age of Exploration

For Students 9th - 12th
In this U.S. history worksheet, students read assigned textbook pages regarding the Age of Exploration and respond to 49 short answer questions.
Worksheet
Curated OER

National U.S. Holidays: Crossword Puzzle

For Students 5th - 8th
In this United States history worksheet, students use the 11 clues in order to fill in the crossword puzzle with the appropriate answers pertaining to national United States holiday.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Exploration

For Teachers 1st - 3rd
Students are engaged in a research project about the planet Saturn. The learners use research skills in books and on the internet to gather information for an imaginary trip to the planet. This activity is highly engaging because of the...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Nutrition and Health

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students explore the conditions faced while sailing on the ocean regarding health and physical fitness. They experience the importance of Vitamin C. Students analyze the cause of many diseases and sicknesses on the ships.
Unit Plan
Annenberg Foundation

Annenberg Learner: American Passages: Exploring Borderlands:christopher Columbus

For Students 9th - 10th
This passage features explorer Christopher Columbus as an author documenting his travels and experiences through letters and such. Click on "Christopher Columbus Activities" for related artifacts and activities.
Website
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt

Harcourt: Biographies: Christopher Columbus [English]

For Students 9th - 10th
Fascinating biography on Christopher Columbus. You can also find his biographical timeline, links to additional information, and books related to his life.
Primary
Mariners' Museum and Park

Age of Exploration: Christopher Columbus: The Third Voyage

For Students 9th - 10th
Christopher Columbus' third voyage was disastrous for him. Find out what problems he had, and read a letter he wrote hoping for intercession with Ferdinand and Isabella to help him with his problems.
Website
Library of Congress

Loc: An Ongoing Voyage: Christopher Columbus: Man and Myth

For Students 9th - 10th
Part of a larger exhibit from the Library of Congress, this site explores some of the motivations and expectations of Christopher Columbus as a result of his voyages.
Handout
Mariners' Museum and Park

Age of Exploration: Christopher Columbus: The Second Voyage

For Students 9th - 10th
A report of Christopher Columbus' second voyage to the New World. Find out what islands he visited in the Caribbean, and discover how successful he was in finding riches.
Handout
Other

National Maritime Museum: Ships and Seas: Christopher Columbus

For Students 9th - 10th
Learn about Christopher Columbus's reason for sailing west instead of east. Also, discover what he found on his voyages and his return journeys.
Website
Library of Congress

Loc: 1492: An Ongoing Voyage

For Students 9th - 10th
An exhibit by the Library of Congress supplies diverse facts on the famous 1492 voyage. The exhibition first examines the encounter between the European explorers and the native people. They explore five geographical areas: The Caribbean...
Unit Plan
Enchanted Learning

Enchanted Learning: Christopher Columbus

For Students 3rd - 5th
Enchanted Learning offers a description of the life of Christopher Columbus (1451-1506) and his travels. Contains a global map indicating his route.
Website
Internet History Sourcebooks Project

Fordham University: Medieval Sourcebook: Christopher Columbus Journal

For Students 9th - 10th
This site from the Fordham University contains excerpts from the journal of Columbus during his voyage of 1492. This is a great site to check out on the subject.
Website
A&E Television

History.com: Columbus Day

For Students 9th - 10th
This collection includes a description of the life and work of Christopher Columbus, along with a discussion of why Columbus Day is a controversial holiday. Includes video.
Primary
Library of Congress

Loc: Exploring the Early Americas: Columbus and the Taino

For Students 9th - 10th
An on-line exhibit displaying copies of Columbus' journals, other writings about his voyages and findings, as well as information and artifacts of the Taino, the Native Americans Columbus encountered on San Salvador.
Primary
Mariners' Museum and Park

Mariners' Museum: Education: Christopher Columbus: First Voyage

For Students 9th - 10th
This resource provides information about Christopher Columbus and his voyages.
Article
A&E Television

History.com: 10 Things You May Not Know About Christopher Columbus

For Students 9th - 10th
Check out 10 things you may not know about the explorer who sailed the ocean blue in 1492 for example, Columbus didn't set out to prove the earth was round.
Unit Plan
Read Works

Read Works: Columbus Reports on His First Voyage, 1493

For Teachers 10th - 12th
[Free Registration/Login Required] Abridged from the full text located at the Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History, this passage provides a primary source and a discussion of Christopher Columbus' first voyage. Paired texts, a...
Lesson Plan
National Endowment for the Humanities

Neh: Edsit Ement: What Was Columbus Thinking

For Teachers 5th - 8th
These lesson plans guide students' thinking about the effects Columbus' journey to the New World had on Native Americans and uses primary sources such as excerpts from Columbus' diary and letters to Queen Isabella and King Ferdinand.
Lesson Plan
National Endowment for the Humanities

Neh: Edsit Ement: Other Worlds the Voyage of Columbus

For Teachers 9th - 10th
This site has a lesson plan designed for grades 9-12. The lesson plan deals with understanding the culture from which Columbus came, Renaissance Europe, and the culture he found in the New World.