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Interactive
Mariners' Museum and Park

Mariners' Museum: Exploration Through the Ages

For Students 9th - 10th
A history of the world from the perspective of those who sailed the seas in great waves of exploration, from ancient times through the nineteenth century. Learn about the explorers, their ships, the tools they navigated by, and their...
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Website
British Library

British Library: The Search for the Northwest Passage

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Detailed third grade lessons help students understand what skills and knowledge were required in order to become an explorer. Includes specific lessons on John Cabot, Jacques Cartier, and Henry Hudson.
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Website
Library of Congress

Loc: America's Story: Amazing Americans

For Students Pre-K - 1st
Checklist of inventors, politicians, performers, activists and ordinary people who made America. Meet Harry Houdini, Langston Hughes, Buffalo Bill Cody and dozens of other famous and interesting American adventurers, presidents,...
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Website
Library of Congress

Loc: America's Story: Amazing Americans

For Students 3rd - 8th
Checklist of inventors, politicians, performers, activists, and ordinary people who made America. Meet Harry Houdini, Langston Hughes, Buffalo Bill Cody and dozens of other famous and interesting American adventurers, presidents,...
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Graphic
National Geographic

National Geographic: Geostories: Voyages Across the Ocean

For Students 9th - 10th
Use this GeoStory in formal or informal instruction to provide information about the voyages of numerous historical navigators and explorers. This GeoStory helps students understand the importance of ocean exploration in contributing to...
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Activity
Cengage Learning

Literature of Discovery and Exploration

For Students 9th - 10th
Teaching approach that examines the writings of European New World explorers from the late 1400s through the 1600s. Includes Christopher Columbus, Alvar Nunez Cabeza de Vaca, Rene Goulaine de Laudonniere, Pedro Menendez de Aviles, Fray...
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Primary
Internet History Sourcebooks Project

Fordham University: Modern History Sourcebook: Vasco Da Gama

For Students 9th - 10th
This site from Fordham University provides a look into the thoughts of Portuguese explorer Vasco da Gama by examining his journal entries during his voyage to India.
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Unit Plan
Scholastic

Scholastic History Mystery: Explorers: The Vikings

For Teachers 3rd - 8th
Students try to guess the mystery subject Carlotta Facts, the History Mystery Museum's professor, is studying. They read the clues, do some online and offline research, and then attempt to identify the game's mystery people, the Vikings.
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Article
University of Houston

University of Houston: Engines of Our Ingenuity: No. 1240: Northwest Passage

For Students 9th - 10th
An article on the history of the search for the Northwest Passage. The discussion focuses on the reality that there is no Passage - only a history of brave people suffering incredible hardships to learn that the region was impassable...
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Website
InterKnowledge Corp.

Geographia.com: History of Brazil

For Students 9th - 10th
This site from Geographia.com covers the history of Brazil from the arrival of the Portuguese to the present. Specific explorers are mentioned and information is given on independence from colonization.
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Primary
Other

America's Historic Lakes: Samuel De Champlain

For Students 9th - 10th
This page includes an excerpt from the journal of Samuel de Champlain and his exploration of Lake Champlain in 1609.
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Website
Other

Ships of Discovery: Columbus's Lost Ships

For Students 5th - 8th
We all know about the Nina, Pinta, and the Santa Maria, but what about the rest of Columbus' ships? He was a busy man after the initial discovery. This site is by a group of archaeologists who try to find historic underwater wrecks....
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Website
University of Calgary

University of Calgary: Ming Dynasty's Maritime History

For Students 9th - 10th
This site provides a discussion from the University of Calgary of the extensive maritime voyages taken during the Ming dynasty. A map is included.
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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.
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Handout
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt

Harcourt: Biographies

For Students 9th - 10th Standards
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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Website
Mariners' Museum and Park

Mariners' Museum: The Explorers

For Students K - 1st
Museum website on explorers of the world. Students and teachers can link to information on any of the explorers to find out about their adventure and how they may have changed the world.
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Activity
Read Works

Read Works: Vikings & European Explorers Vasco Da Gama

For Teachers 4th
[Free Registration/Login Required] An informational text about explorer Vasco da Gama. A question sheet is available to help students build skills in reading comprehension.
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Activity
Read Works

Read Works: Vikings and European Explorers Amerigo Vespucci

For Teachers 4th
[Free Registration/Login Required] An informational text about explorer Amerigo Vespucci. A question sheet is available to help students build skills in reading comprehension.
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Activity
Read Works

Read Works: Vikings & European Explorers Christopher Columbus

For Teachers 4th
[Free Registration/Login Required] An informational text about explorer Christopher Columbus. A question sheet is available to help students build skills in reading comprehension.
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Activity
Read Works

Read Works: The Age of Exploration

For Students 8th
[Free Registration/Login Required] An informational text about the Age of Exploration which begin with Portugal and Spain in the 15th century. A question sheet is available to help students build skills in reading comprehension.
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Handout
Other

Encyclopedia Virginia: Christopher Newport

For Students 9th - 10th
Biographical information about English explorer, Christopher Newport, who commanded the first fleet sent by the Virginia Company to America, and who helped the colonists found Jamestown colony. A timeline outlines his active sailing career.
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Activity
Read Works

Read Works: Vikings and European Explorers Viking Religion

For Teachers 4th
[Free Registration/Login Required] An informational text about Vikings and the god's they worship. A question sheet is available to help students build skills in reading comprehension.
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Activity
Annenberg Foundation

Annenberg Learner: Renaissance Explorers

For Students 9th - 10th
Overview of the motives behind the exploration of the "new world" during the Renaissance. Discusses the trading that took place between the "new world" and Europe and various riches offered in Mexico and Latin America.
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Graphic
A&E Television

History.com: Infographics: Age of Exploration

For Students 9th - 10th
Discover what life was like for a sailor during the Age of Exploration.