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European Explorer IMovie
Film is a wonderful way to communicate any concept or idea. Fifth graders will use IMovie and GarageBand software to create a IMovie about one of eight European explorers. They will chose an explorer, research his travels and life, then...
Roy Rosenzweig Center for History and New Media
European Explorers
To compare how the Spanish, French, and English approached the exploration of North America, class groups examine primary source documents and become experts on one of four explorers: Francisco Coronado, Robert LaSalle, Samuel de...
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Early European Explorers
Fifth graders complete a variety of activities surrounding European exploration of the New World. They research one explorer and write and present an essay or script in which they portray that explorer as he makes his final report to his...
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Columbus wants to find a shorter route to Asia
Eighth graders identify the reasons why Columbus wanted to find a shorter route to Asia. They make a timeline of the sequence of events surrounding his explorations. Students draw a map of the routes taken by early explorers around...
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'European Exploration, Conquest, and Trade
Fifth graders examine the motives, progress and results of the European exploration and conquest of Asia, Africa and the West Indies from the 15th to the 17th centuries. They use maps to trace spice routes and research the role of spices...
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European Explorers in France, England, Portugal, and Spain
Young scholars, in groups, research either France, Spain, Portugal, or England. They create a poster describing various aspects of their country and how their country participated in the exploration of America. They present their...
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European Explorers
Seventh graders research European Explorers lives. They create a Word Document, or slide show based on their research.
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de Soto's Expedition: An Alternate Route
Eighth graders interpret historical evidence presented in primary and secondary resources. In this Exploration Age lesson, 8th graders compare historical maps with new maps focusing on the route of Hernado de Soto.
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Why Europeans Explored
In this motivations behind exploration study guide worksheet, learners read a brief overview pertaining to the time period in world history and then respond to a reflection question.
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European Exploration
Sixth graders analyze key European explorers and focus on where and why they explored. They research who sponsored the explorers as well as the accomplishments of the explorers. They discuss the lasting effects of the expeditions in...
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Early European Explorers Map
Fifth graders create an explorer's map. In this explorers lesson students use a map of the world as reference to draw their own map of Europe, North America, Central America, and the Caribbean Islands. The students use their maps to show...
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Early Travel Routes
Students explore explorers in the Pacific Northwest by examining primary source documents. After the research is finished students write a journal as if they were one of the explorers. Visual aids are needed as well.
National Endowment for the Humanities
Lesson 1: On the Road with Marco Polo: A Boy in 13th Century Venice
Learners investigate Marco Polo's life as a young boy in 13th century Venice. They analyze maps, explore various websites, complete a chart and answer discussion questions, and create a travel brochure about visiting 13th century Venice.
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The Great Explorers
Students examine the importance of culture and economy changes that occurred due to the great explorations. In this explorations instructional activity, students create a list of major explorers. Students focus on one main exploration...
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Early Explorers
Fifth graders explain the reasons why Europeans decided to explore and colonize the world. In this European explorers lesson, 5th graders complete a wall matrix about the explorers and write a summary about the explorer of their choice.
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Triangular Trade Route
Eighth graders explore The Middle Passage and the Triangular Trade Route. They read their text to explore the treatment of African slaves and their route to America. After observing maps and pictures of slave ships, 8th graders share...
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Exploring Explorers
Ninth graders illustrate the routes taken by different explorers on a world map. They explain the need for the different exploration voyages. Students explore the web for information that may contain different points of view or...
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Exploration of North America
Fifth graders examine some famous explorers who have helped to discover our country. They discuss explorers from three countries today. They are: Spain, Portugal, and England.
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It’s a Big, Big World
Students examine the role of the explorers. In this explorers and conquistadors, students create word puzzles (Wordles) regarding the time period in history. Students conduct research regarding a particular explorer and create foldables...
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Early Explorers
Fifth graders research European explorers. In this world history lesson, 5th graders will compare eight European explorers and identify important factual information about each. Students will be engaged through game-play and...
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Treaties
Second graders explore Canadian history by investigating the First Nations. In this Aboriginal treaty lesson plan, 2nd graders identify the specific agreements made between European settlers and Aboriginals which caused the formation of...
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Trade Route By Sea To Asia
Eighth graders study a map and identify the countries of Spain, Portugal, India, China and Thailand. After a class discussion, 8th graders explain the advantages of trading over land and by sea and they explore the men who journeyed to...
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Columbian Contexts
Students explore geo-political and economic contexts for the European Renaissance journeys of exploration, including those of Columbus, create cartographic symbols, and add those symbols to a print-out of Ptolemy's map.
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On the Road with Marco Polo
Students follow Marco Polo's route to and from China. They explore the geography, local products, culture, and fascinating sites of those regions. They record their findings.