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Interactive
Mr. Nussbaum

Ponce de Leon

For Students 4th - 6th Standards
An informational text about Ponce de Leon tests scholars' reading comprehension skills. Learners read the text and then answer 10 questions. Question types include multiple-choice and fill-in-the-blank.
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Interactive
DocsTeach

Statues of Christopher Columbus

For Teachers 4th - 6th
Scholars compare statues of Columbus and discuss how each memorial captures his personality. Academics also complete a worksheet and discuss how some people have called to remove statues honoring Columbus. 
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Lesson Plan
California State University

Life in the Missions of California

For Teachers 4th - 5th
Academics explore the topic of life in California Missions for Native Americas. Class members complete a research activity, respond to writing prompts, and engage in hands-on-activities to learn who lived in the missions and what life...
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Worksheet
University of Florida

Sailing to St. Augustine

For Students 6th - 8th Standards
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...
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Worksheet
Read Works

Columbus Reports on His First Voyage, 1493

For Students 11th - 12th Standards
What did Christopher Columbus have to say about his exploration of the Caribbean? Young historians have a chance to examine Columbus' own words about his voyage to Cuba and Santo Domingo. After reading Columbus' report, pupils respond to...
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Lesson Plan
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Channel Islands Film

Once Upon a Time (Sa Hi Pa Ca): Lesson Plan 3

For Teachers 9th - 12th Standards
What was the most significant tool used by the Chumash? How did the environment make the tool possible? What group behaviors allowed the Chumash be be successful for thousands of years? After watching West of the West's documentary Once...
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Lesson Plan
Channel Islands Film

Who Owns the Bones

For Students 4th - 6th Standards
A study of the history of the Channel Islands, located off the coast of southern California, continues as class members conduct a mock trial to determine which group of stakeholders should have the right to claim the remains of Juan...
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Lesson Plan
Channel Islands Film

First Contact: Lesson Plan 4 - Grades 5-6

For Students 5th - 6th Standards
After watching Treasure in the Sea, a documentary about Channel Islands National Park and the video First Contact, about the voyage of Juan Rodríguez Cabrillo to the Channel islands, groups research and then compare the experiences of...
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Workbook
Student Handouts

Christopher Columbus Workbook

For Students 2nd - 4th Standards
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,...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

U.S. History: de Soto's Alternate Route

For Teachers 8th
Eighth graders examine various maps associated with Hernando de Soto's expedition. By comparing their textbook maps with newer maps, they answer a battery of focus questions. Using Microsoft Word, 8th graders answer the questions...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Columbian Exchange

For Teachers 10th
Tenth graders examine the consequences of Spanish exploration of the New World on animals, humans, and plants. They read and discuss an informational handout, define key vocabulary terms, and complete a Venn Diagram with Old World and...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Columbian Exchange

For Teachers 11th
Eleventh graders examine the significant consequences of Spanish exploration and settlement of the New World on animals, humans, and plants. They read and discuss an informational handout, define key vocabulary terms, and complete a...
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Worksheet
Curated OER

From Contact to Conquest

For Students 8th - 12th
In this Age of Exploration instructional activity, students respond to 17 short answer questions that require them to identify people and events associated with the Exploration Age.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Step by Step

For Teachers 4th - 8th
Students create step books to illustrate important events. They discuss how to do things "step by step" and prepare pages to illustrate steps. They select a conquistador and create a step book to illustrate his biographical...
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Primary
Curated OER

History Matters: "All Over the Land Nothing Else Was Spoken Of"

For Students 9th - 10th
History Matters provides this fascinating account from Spanish conqquistador, Cabeza de Vaca, about his encounters with the varous Native Americans in the Southwest who came to him for medical attention.
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Lesson Plan
Library of Congress

Loc: Teaching With Primary Sources: Hispanic Exploration in America [Pdf]

For Teachers 9th - 10th
This is a great lesson plan from the Library of Congress that shows how to use primary sources in the examination of the Spanish Conquistadors in America. The lesson offers many possible activities for students to use with the primary...
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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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Website
PBS

Pbs the West: Alvar Nunez Cabeza De Vaca

For Students 9th - 10th
A biography of this Spanish explorer who was born in 1490. Click on "route" for a map of his travels, and click on "account" for a translation of his published account of his experiences.
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Website
PBS

Pbs the West: Cities of Gold

For Students 9th - 10th
This PBS site recounts the efforts of Spanish explorers to find the fabled gold of the New World.
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eBook
Other

Eldritch Press: Cabeza De Vaca's Adventures in the Unknown Interior of America

For Students 9th - 10th
Read this fascinating account by Alvar Nunez Cabeza de Vaca, one of four survivors who traversed Florida and the Southwest for eight years, from 1529-1537.Read the preface which gives a background to this narrative before delving into...
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Unit Plan
Annenberg Foundation

Annenberg Learner: American Passages: Exploring Borderlands:christopher Columbus

For Students 9th - 10th
This passage features explorer Christopher Columbus as an author documenting his travels and experiences through letters and such. Click on "Christopher Columbus Activities" for related artifacts and activities.
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eBook
OpenStax

Open Stax: Portuguese Exploration and Spanish Conquest

For Students 11th - 12th
From a chapter on "Early Globalization: The Atlantic World, 1492-1650," this section describes the importance of Portuguese exploration of the Atlantic and Spanish exploration of the Americas.
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Website
Mariners' Museum and Park

Mariners' Museum: Juan Ponce De Leon

For Students 9th - 10th
Discover details of Ponce de Leon's expeditions in search of land for Spain in the new world. Follow the Spanish explorer's trips to present day Puerto Rico, St. Augustine, and Dry Tortugas, see a map of his journey, images featuring...
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Website
Mariners' Museum and Park

Mariners' Museum: Francisco Pizarro

For Students 5th - 8th
A not-so-nice, yet successful Spanish explorer, Francisco Pizarro is featured in a biography for conquering Peru and working his way up the Pacific coast to discover land in Central America. Check out his route and details of his...