Primary
Library of Congress

Loc: Discovery and Exploration

For Students 9th - 10th
This American Memory site documents the discovery and exploration of the Americas with both manuscripts and published maps, many of which date from the European Age of Discovery. The site includes 22 map titles and descriptions, as well...
Lesson Plan
Writing Fix

Writing Fix: Historical Journal Entries

For Students 5th - 7th Standards
In this lesson, writers will create a detailed journal entry from the point of view of a character who never actually existed. The journal entry will be for a day in history that the writer has researched and found interesting...
Article
A&E Television

History.com: How Portugal's Seafaring Expertise Launched the Age of Exploration

For Students 9th - 10th
In the 15th century, a small kingdom with a population of approximately 1 million launched the era of maritime exploration that would transform the world. Portugal turned to the boundless Atlantic Ocean as its only outlet to the wider...
Handout
Other

Panama History: Juan De La Cosa

For Students 9th - 10th
Article detailing the life of Juan de la Cosa who sailed with Christopher Columbus.
Website
A&E Television

History.com: Amerigo Vespucci

For Students 5th - 8th
Amerigo Vespucci was an Italian-born merchant and explorer who took part in early voyages to the New World on behalf of Spain around the late 15th century. By that time, the Vikings had established settlements in present-day North...
Article
Siteseen

Siteseen: American Historama: Chicago World's Fair

For Students 9th - 10th
Chicago World's Fair was to commemorate the 400th anniversary of 1492 Christopher Columbus landing in the New World. It combined entertainment and educational exhibits with the latest inventions and attracted over 27 million visitors.
Handout
Siteseen

Siteseen: Land of the Brave: John Cabot Facts

For Students 9th - 10th
Overview and biographical facts on the life of John Cabot, the second European to find North America (after Christopher Columbus).
Article
Hartford Web Publishing

World History Archives: Hartford Web Pub.: Pre Columbian Hispaniola

For Students 9th - 10th
This site describes the Arawak and Taino Indians on the island of Hispaniola. Read about their lifestyle, housing, dress, food, and religion.
Unit Plan
Library of Congress

Loc: The Cultures and Histories of the Americas

For Students 9th - 10th
An online exhibit of a vast array of documents, artifacts, and maps detailing cultures in the Americas including the indigenous groups as well as Europeans after contact. From the Library of Congress.
Website
Internet History Sourcebooks Project

Fordham University: Jewish History Sourcebook: Expulsion From Spain

For Students 9th - 10th
This site from the Fordham University gives a detailed and accurate picture of the expulsion and its immediate consequences for Spanish Jewry. It was written in Hebrew by an Italian Jew in April or May, 1495.
Activity
Geographypods

Geographypods: Renaissance Day: Discovering the 'Lost World'

For Students 7th - 9th
Gain knowledge of how exploration, mapping, and voyages of the Renaissance period shaped and changed our understanding of the modern world.
Website
Other

Explore: Dominican Republic

For Students 9th - 10th
After reading a brief history of the Dominican Republic, take a virtual tour of this beautiful island in the Caribbean. Learn facts along the way.
Handout
University of Calgary

Uof C: Advances in Shipbuilding and Navigation

For Students 9th - 10th
This site gives information on technical advances in Portuguese shipbuilding and navigational tools.
Website
Other

Radford University: Prelude to European Settlement of Virginia

For Students 9th - 10th
This site traces the early voyages of explorers from Portugal and Spain who were trying to find new resources.
Activity
Read Works

Read Works: Native Americans Who Discovered America?

For Teachers 3rd
[Free Registration/Login Required] An informational text about the discovery of America. A question sheet is available to help students build skills in reading comprehension.
Activity
Read Works

Read Works: The Doctrine of Discovery, 1493

For Teachers 10th - 12th
[Free Registration/Login Required] Abridged from the full text located at the Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History, this excerpt desribes the contents of the Papal Bull "Inter Caetera" issued by Pope Alexander VI. Paired texts...
Unit Plan
Other

All About Explorers

For Teachers 9th - 10th
This resource provides information about historic world explorers...with embedded false information. It was designed by teachers to help their students discern truthful information from false information.
Handout
The History Cat

The History Cat: Age of Exploration: The Columbian Exchange

For Students 9th - 10th
A fascinating look at the exchanges that took place around the world after the Americas were discovered. This covered the gamut from diseases which wiped out 90% of the native peoples in North and South America, to farm animals, tools,...
Article
Khan Academy

Khan Academy: Motivation for European Conquest of the New World

For Students 9th - 10th
God, gold, and glory motivated European nations to explore and create colonies in the New World. This article discusses the Crusades and how they influenced European colonization projects.
Lesson Plan
Utah Education Network

Uen: Renaissance Trade and Exchange

For Teachers 6th
Sixth graders will research the development of international trade and the resultant cultural exchanges during the Renaissance.
Graphic
Curated OER

Educational Technology Clearinghouse: Maps Etc: North America, 1882

For Students 9th - 10th
A map from 1882 of North America, Central America, and the Caribbean, showing political boundaries at the time, major cities, mountain systems, lakes, rivers, and coastal features of the region. The map is color-coded to show general...
Graphic
Curated OER

Havana Skyline

For Students 9th - 10th
The BBC provides a timeline of key events in Cuban history starting in 1492 when Christopher Columbus claimed Cuba for Spain until the present. Video and audio news included.
Graphic
Curated OER

Fulgencio Batista

For Students 9th - 10th
The BBC provides a timeline of key events in Cuban history starting in 1492 when Christopher Columbus claimed Cuba for Spain until the present. Video and audio news included.
Graphic
Curated OER

Fidel Castro (L) With Soviet Leader Kruschev

For Students 9th - 10th
The BBC provides a timeline of key events in Cuban history starting in 1492 when Christopher Columbus claimed Cuba for Spain until the present. Video and audio news included.

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