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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Historical Research on Explorers of Canada

For Teachers 8th
Eighth graders study an online atlas of Canada to research an early explorer.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Charting the Discovery of the Americas

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Students create chart using Microsoft Word depicting how trade led to the exploration of different regions of the world.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

'European Exploration, Conquest, and Trade

For Teachers 5th
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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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Tools of the Explorers

For Teachers 5th
Fifth graders examine the history of the European exploration of the New World. They research and create replicas of many of the tools used by the explorers including a compass, quadrant, hourglass, log and map.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Age of Exploration

For Teachers 5th - 6th
Students work individually or in a group researching a box compass using historical information on the uses of the compass as well as the scientific theories of the compass. They create a box compass and a water compass which are...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Early North Carolina Exploration (warm-up activity)

For Teachers 8th
Eighth graders focus on the European perspective of exploration and findings along the North Carolina coast.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Discovery Channels

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Students read a New York Times article in order to explore issues about the celebration of Columbus Day. They, working in groups, research the legacy of exploration and colonization. They use the research to create a first person narrative.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Centennial: But Mom, I Have Nothing To Wear

For Teachers 4th
Fourth graders examine the contributions of Native American Indians, explorers, and Utah's pioneers. They discuss ways in which clothing can communicate and help identify time periods, thoughts, and values.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Explorers

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Students reinforce their knowledge of 11 explorers by matching 4 facts about each explorer. After playing the game several times, they should match the explorer to at least 3 facts about him.
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Website
Library of Congress

Loc: Mediterranean World on the Eve of Conquest

For Students 9th - 10th
The Library of Congress provides an essay on the reasons for exploration during the 15th century.
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Handout
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt

Harcourt: Biographies

For Students 9th - 10th
A fantastic resource where you can find biographies of historical figures. You can search by the person's name or by topics, such as Presidents, United States Leaders, Scientists, Inventors, Humanitarians, Explorers and Pioneers,...
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Handout
University of Groningen

American History: Outlines: The First Europeans

For Students 9th - 10th
The first Europeans to arrive in North America -- at least the first for whom there is solid evidence -- were Norse, traveling west from Greenland, where Erik the Red had founded a settlement around the year 985. In 1001 his son Leif is...
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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.
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Interactive
Children's Museum

Children's Museum of Indianapolis: Cosmic Quest: Astronomers

For Students 4th - 8th
Explore the achievements of notable astronomers beginning with ancient times through modern space explorers.
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Website
PBS

New Perspectives on the West: Francisco Vasquez De Coronado

For Students 9th - 10th
Brief biography of Francisco Vasquez de Coronado. Discusses his exploration into the current U.S. in search of gold. Includes a link to a translation of his chronicle of the journeys.
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Lesson Plan
University of Texas at Austin

University of Texas: Explorers, Traders and Immigrants [Pdf]

For Teachers 5th - 8th
This unit examines eight global commodities from their points of origin and the social, cultural, political, and economic changes they have wrought along their way. Each case study encompasses four "stops" along the commodity journey:...
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Handout
Bartleby

Bartleby.com: Cambridge Hist of Eng & Am Lit: Travellers and Explorers,1583 1763

For Students 9th - 10th Standards
Description of American colonist narratives written for relatives and friends left behind in England. Click on the link at the end of each page to access the entire chapter.
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Website
University of Calgary

European Voyages of Exploration: 15th & 16th Centuries

For Students 9th - 10th
This award-winning website from the University of Calgary's History Department is both impressive and extensive. It focuses on Portuguese and Spanish expeditions of the 15th and 16th centuries (the sitemap provides a good outline of...
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Handout
Enchanted Learning

Enchanted Learning: Explorers

For Students 9th - 10th
Do you know who Afonso de Albuquerque was? Do you know where Robert de LaSalle was from or where Jacques Cartier sailed? Enchanted Learning's A-to-Z list of explorers lets you browse through a large collection of biographical notes on...
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Website
Other

Voyages: Scientific Circumnavigations: Dampier

For Students 9th - 10th
Read about the unlikely journals and observations of William Dampier, an English pirate who sailed the Pacific, making landfall in the Philippines, East Indies, and Australia. See his maps, descriptions of the Pacific, and observations...
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Website
Mariners' Museum and Park

Mariners' Museum: The Ages of Exploration: Ancient

For Students 4th - 8th
This Ancient Exploration page presents marine technological innovations, types of ships, and information about Alexander the Great. It covers the period of time from 5000 BCE to 476 CE. Each item links to a page of additional information...
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Handout
Gabriel Dumont Institute

Metis Cultural Museum: Cumberland House

For Students 9th - 10th
Links to a Adobe Reader PDF document that outlines the history associated with Cumberland House in Saskatchewan, with a slight focus on Metis peoples. Extremely detailed, the thirty pages include excellent maps and charts easily...
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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...
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Handout
Utah Education Network

Uen: Utah History Encyclopedia

For Students 9th - 10th
This is a resource about the state of Utah. Includes images and articles on everything from geology to famous people in the state.