Read Works
Columbus Was an Explorer
Get the inside scoop on the European explorer, Christopher Columbus, with a response to reading activity that requires scholars to answer who, what, why, when, and a variety of other questions about the word crew.
University of Florida
Sailing to St. Augustine
Using a Florida map from 1597, young explorers consider the physical characteristics they would need in a site for a new colony and the resources they would need to survive. After selecting a site, class members research to discover the...
Curated OER
Explorers Unit
Fifth graders complete a unit on early explorers. They develop a timeline, sing a Viking song, watch a video, compile a checklist of supplies needed for an expedition, participate in a scavenger hunt, write a letter from Christopher...
Space Awareness
Navigating with the Kamal
Historians have proven that as early as 1497 skilled navigators were using a kamal to sail across oceans. Scholars learn about navigation tools and astronomy before building their own kamals. They then learn how to use it to determine...
Curated OER
Early Explorers- Did You Know Cards
In this early explorers worksheet, students fill in 2 "Did You Know..." cards with information about early explorers. They see a clip art picture of a sailing ship and have blank lines to fill in on the cards
Curated OER
Early Explorers
Middle schoolers discover why explorers left their homes to explore and how they played an important part in the discovery of the New World. Students create PowerPoint presentations of a specific explorer's journey and discoveries and...
Curated OER
My First Biography: Christopher Columbus Storia Teaching Guide | Scholastic.com
Sail with Christopher Columbus on a biographical reading adventure. Young explorers learn about the life of Sir Columbus as they hone their comprehension skills through guiding questions, shared reading, and fluency practice. Included in...
Common Core Sheets
Placing Events on a Timeline
Put important events in chronological order with a lesson about timelines. With a variety of topics stemming from world history, the packet of worksheets provides analytical activity for learners to decide where certain events fall...
Curated OER
Captain John Smith's Shallop
Young explorers, all aboard the shallop to discover how early European explorers would navigate the American coastline to find resources, map terrain, and trade with Native American tribes.
Curated OER
Dear Diary, I Found an Island Today...
In this Galapagos Islands worksheet, students research all they can about the islands and then create a diary entry that shows how an early explorer would have felt upon approaching the island.
Curated OER
Magellan
Learners identify the route of Magellan's voyage. In this map skills lesson, students use a globe to identify various coordinates where Magellan traveled.
Curated OER
Worksheet #18 Questions - New World Explorers in Canada
In this New World explorers quiz worksheet, students learn several terms that relate to the early exploration of Canada in order to further their understanding.
Curated OER
Discoverers and Explorers
In this discoverers and explorers worksheet, students read short paragraphs about Christopher Columbus, Magellan, Sir Francis Drake and Walter Raleigh.
Student Handouts
Christopher Columbus Workbook
Youngsters gain ample reading comprehension practice while studying the history of Christopher Columbus with this great workbook! It includes word puzzles and comprehension checks of multiple assessment styles, including multiple choice,...
Curated OER
Theatre: Persuasive Explorers
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.
Curated OER
An Adventure to the New World
Fifth graders role play the position of an explorer traveling to the new world. They research the explorers journey and create their own explorer's notebook. They complete different activities and then present their evidence to the class.
Curated OER
New Jersey
In this reading comprehension activity, learners read a passage about the early history of the state of New Jersey and answer true and false questions. Students write 10 answers.
K12 Reader
Colonization: for Gold, God, and Glory
Colonization, cartography, and circumnavigation. After reading a short article about early explorations, kids use the information provided to answer a series of comprehension questions.
Curated OER
The West "The People": The Lewis and Clark Expedition
Fourth graders become familiar with the conditions facing the members of the Expedition in the early 1800's, as well as the causes and consequences of the Expedition. They describe the conditions of the land in the 1800's and during the...
Curated OER
Christopher Columbus
In this Christopher Columbus worksheet, 3rd graders will read a six paragraph passage. Students will then answer seven multiple choice questions about what they have read.
Curated OER
Water Features of Virginia
Students locate and identify water features important to the early history of Virginia. Thye recognize where most cities developed and locate and label the rivers on a Virginia wall map.
Curated OER
A Star to Steer Her By
Students determine their latitude using a protracdtor and/or cross-staff to find the altitude of Polaris.
Curated OER
The Deadly Arctic Expedition
Young scholars view a documentary of an Arctic expedition. In 1913, Arctic explorer and scientist, Vilhjamur Stefansson put together a crew of seamen and scientists to explore the Arctic. After viewing, students discuss what they saw and...
Stanford University
Annexation of Hawaii
Once an independent nation, Hawaii became part of the United States only after a business-sponsored coup of its queen. After examining newspapers from the 1890s, learners consider whether native Hawaiians wished to become Americans at...