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Worksheet
Curated OER

Project Organizer: Follow an Explorer

For Students 5th - 7th
This is both a great idea and a great way to help your class organize a themed project. They use these worksheets to assist them in writing a creative historical narrative about the life and travels of an explorer. They'll compare and...
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Lesson Plan
National Endowment for the Humanities

On This Day With Lewis and Clark

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Walk in the footsteps of Lewis and Clark as they discover the wonders, beauty, and dangers of the American frontier. After gaining background knowledge about Thomas Jefferson and the Louisiana Purchase, young explorers use primary...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

But Where Is It On This Modern Map? A problem-solving, mind-boggling experience!

For Teachers 4th
Trace Columbus' voyages by locating them on 21st Century maps.  Using a navigators lesson, 4th graders will examine the Age of Exploration and trace Columbus's routes accurately on laminated world maps using different maps. Note: You...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Explorers in Kansas

For Teachers 4th
Fourth graders read cards about the explorers: Coronado, Lewis, and Clark, Pike, and Long. In this influential expeditions lesson, 4th graders describe and observe explorers who came to Kansas. Students locate main reasons and details as...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Assessing and Making Maps

For Teachers 4th - 7th
Students evaluate maps using the TODALSIGs basic map analysis system, explained on the worksheet. They create a map of Alaska using TODALSIGs. Students brainstorm the elements of maps.
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Lesson Plan
National Endowment for the Humanities

Lesson 3: On the Road with Marco Polo: From Hormuz to Kashgar

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Young explorers examine the route that Marco Polo and his father traveled to reach China. They examine online maps of the Silk Road and harsh terrain of Afghanistan to determine challenges that may have been encountered during travel.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Early European Explorers

For Teachers 5th
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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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

European Explorers

For Teachers 7th
Seventh graders research European Explorers lives. They create a Word Document, or slide show based on their research.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Early Explorers Web Quest

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Pupils use the Canadian atlas online to research early explorers and settlers in Canada. They also complete a Web Quest to gather information from maps. They make generalizations about the early settlement patterns as well.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Explorers (Early European)

For Teachers 4th - 5th
Young scholars research and explore the past and its historical roots involving the economic motivations of early European explorers. They assess connections between the current technological advances in transportation and that of the...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

What Do Maps Show?

For Teachers 4th - 6th
Students discover the uses for various types of maps. In this geography skills lesson, students discuss the type of maps that exist and what their individual features are. Students then practice using different types of maps.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Introduction to Maps

For Teachers 2nd - 5th
Learners develop their map skills. In this geography lesson, students participate in an activity that requires them to survey their social studies book in order to find different types of maps and purposes for their uses.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Introduction to Maps

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Young scholars investigate a variety of maps to explain what each one is used for.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

de Soto's Expedition: An Alternate Route

For Teachers 8th
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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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

It’s a Big, Big World

For Teachers 5th - 6th
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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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Distinguished Discoveries: Florida quarter reverse

For Teachers 4th - 5th
Florida's state quarter has an image of a space shuttle and a Spanish Galleon on its reverse side. Pupils will examine the state quarter and think about how the Spanish explorers and Space explorers are the same and different. The class...
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Lesson Plan
National Geographic

The Monsoon

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Few things are as fascinating as the challenge of climbing Mount Everest. This lesson investigates how monsoon weather impacts climbers. To begin, you are instructed to show various video clips. The only one directly provided, however,...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Mapping the West

For Teachers 4th - 6th
Students determine how Americans' perception of the geographical features of the West changed following the Lewis and Clark expedition. They analyze historical maps of the West.
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Unit Plan
Curated OER

European Exploration, Trade and Colonization

For Teachers 7th - 12th
Students complete many activities including mapping, reading books, and Internet research to learn about European exploration. In this European lesson plan, students study geographical mapping, trade, and colonization.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

A Differentiated Way through Think Dots

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Learners examine reasons that led people to explore, identify "West" as defined following Revolutionary War, explain importance of finding natural resources, develop time line of dates and events leading up to Lewis and Clark Expedition,...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Of Maps and Worldviews

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Students explore Ptolemy's world map as an expression of the Renaissance view of the world.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

European Explorers of North and South America

For Teachers 6th
Sixth graders explore the connection between the geography of America and the migration of the Native Americans to the American continents to the future conquering of the continents by the Europeans. They discuss the causes and effects...
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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

What is an Explorer

For Teachers K - 1st
Students become explorers. They examine a picture of an explorer and create props to explore within the classroom. Students are studying the Louisiana Purchase of 1803. They explore how to read a map and create a map of the classroom...