THE AGE OF EXPLORATION
FOR TEACHERS AND STUDENTS
Access these sites through your computer’s Internet connection. Open the underlined address (URL). Information can be printed or downloaded to your computer. Be sure to follow links to other sites and find your way back with the "Back" button. Also, we indicate where we found broken links in webquests. You will need to supply your own links.
All of the sites listed were active as of October 5, 2005. The evaluation is by the AVA Center staff according to the amount of information given, the general appearance of the site and its potential use in the classroom.
WEBSITES LESSON PLANS & CLASSROOM ACTIVITIES WEBQUESTS
1492: AN ONGOING
VOYAGE
http://www.ibiblio.org/expo/1492.exhibit/Intro.html
An
online Library of Congress exhibit with six sections: What Came to Be
Called "America"; The Mediterranean World; Christopher Columbus: Man and
Myth; Inventing America; Europe Claims America; and Epilogue.
Excellent
AMERICAN JOURNEYS: EYEWITNESS ACCOUNTS OF EARLY AMERICAN
EXPLORATION
NEW!
http://www.americanjourneys.org/
"American Journeys contains more than 18,000 pages of
eyewitness accounts of North American exploration, from the sagas of
Vikings in Canada in AD1000 to the diaries of mountain men in the Rockies
800 years later.
Read the words of explorers, Indians, missionaries,
traders and settlers as they lived through the founding moments of
American history. View, search, print, or download more than 150 rare
books, original manuscripts, and classic travel narratives from the
library and archives of the Wisconsin Historical Society.
To get
started, simply select an activity on the toolbar above."
Outstanding. Excellent
THE AMERICAN MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY – CONGO EXPEDITION
– MAY 1909 TO NOVEMBER 1915
http://diglib1.amnh.org/
A
detailed multimedia account of the Congo Expedition from 1909 to 1915 in
Africa. Includes photographs, field notebooks, the indigenous people of
the region, maps and much more. Excellent
THE CONQUISTADORS – START THE ADVENTURE
http://www.pbs.org/opb/conquistadors/home.htm
An
Online Learning Adventure on the Conquistadors for 6-12 grades. Sections:
Timeline of Conquest (choose Events Timeline or Disease Timeline),
Michael’s Journal (journal of producer of series who followed the trail of
the Conquistadors), What Do You Think? (message forum-can read but not
post), and Teacher’s Guide. Excellent
DISCOVERERS WEB
START HERE!
http://www.win.tue.nl/cs/fm/engels/discovery/index.html
Links
to a massive amount of information on explorers from the Ancient World to
the 20th century and from North America to Antarctica to the
Pacific islands. Includes maps, illustrations, photos, and more.
Note that not all sites are in English. (I found no dead links from a
sample of 20) Some of the links are to student papers.
Excellent
DISCOVERING LEWIS AND CLARK
http://www.lewis-clark.org/
Focuses
on Persistent Issues, Core Values and Changing Visions. An enormous site
with 1,400 pages including a 19-part synopsis of the expedition by
historian Harry Fritz including selections from the journals, photographs,
maps, animated graphics, moving pictures and sound files. Outstanding.
Excellent
DISCOVERY AND EXPLORATION
NEW!
http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/gmdhtml/dsxphome.html
An
American Memory collection of maps and illustrations documenting the
discovery and exploration of the continents and their interiors from the
15th to the 19th centuries. See the List or use the
Gallery View for thumbnails of the maps. Good
EDUCATION WORLD – THE GREAT EXPLORERS!
http://www.education-world.com/a_special/millenium_02.shtml
Education
World’s look at the Great Explorers of the Millennium. Sections: Lessons
of the Explorers, Exploring the World-Virtually, A New Twist on Explorers,
and Great Sites for Teaching About Explorers. Excellent - See also the
Lesson Plans section
EMPIRE OF THE BAY
http://www.pbs.org/empireofthebay/
Companion
web site for the PBS program Empire of the Bay about the bold
explorers of the Hudson Bay Company who "tamed a wilderness" as they set
up merchant routes. Includes:Empire of the
Bay Transcript; Maps – Paths of the Explorers;
Forum – Ask the Experts; Profiles- Who Were the Pathfinders?; Quiz – Test
Your Knowledge; and a Timeline. Excellent
EXPLORERS – 42EXPLORE
NEW URL!
http://www.42explore2.com/explorers.htm
A
gateway site on explorers with links to web sites on explorers,
activities, web quests and sites by kids for kids. Excellent
EXPLORERS
http://edtech.kennesaw.edu/web/explorer.html
A
gateway site with links to explorers and expeditions, lesson plans,
activities, and more. Excellent
EXPLORERS OF THE MILLENNIUM
NEW!
http://library.thinkquest.org/4034/
A
student-created site for upper elementary and junior high students on
explorers. Sections: Hall of Fame, Timeline, Nominations, Explorer Quiz,
and Explorer Links. Excellent
FILL UP THE CANVAS: RIVERS OF WORDS –
EXPLORING WITH LEWIS & CLARK
NEW!
http://memory.loc.gov/learn/features/lewisandclark/index.html
An
outstanding site on the Lewis & Clark Expedition with Flash. Click on
each step of the journey to view original documents, illustrations, etc.
Excellent
GOD, GLORY AND GOLD - THE ROOTS OF EXPLORATION
NEW!
http://library.thinkquest.org/J002760/
A
site for elementary students by students on why men explored the world.
Sections: Pirates, Shipwrecks, Explorers, Myths, Navigation, Trade,
Poetry, and Games. Excellent
HENRY HUDSON – 17TH CENTURY
EXPLORER
http://www.ianchadwick.com/hudson/
A
detailed collection of information on English explorer and mariner Henry
Hudson. Sections: Early Years, First Voyage 1607, Second Voyage 1608,
Third Voyage 1609, Fourth Voyage 1610, Aftermath, Family Tree, Short
Story, and links. Excellent
HISTORY MYSTERY – EXPLORATION GAMES
NEW!
http://teacher.scholastic.com/histmyst/index.asp
Three
games for students, two on explorers and one on the Vikings.
Excellent
THE JAMESTOWN ONLINE ADVENTURE
NEW!
http://www.historyglobe.com/jamestown/
"In 1606, some 105 adventurers set off from England to try and
establish the first permanent English colony in the New World. They
settled in what is now the state of Virginia and called their colony first
James Fort, and then James Towne, in honor of James I, the King of
England. The early years of the colony were nearly a total disaster.
Almost half of the settlers died due to poor choices in settlement
location, management of resources, and quarrels with the indigenous
Powhatan Indians.
You are the Captain of the Jamestown Colony: Can you
do any better than the real colonists? You will have a copy of the London
Company's Instructions to help guide you. Also, you can ask your fellow
colonists and the Native Americans for advice. Be careful, though, because
some advice is better than others!" A fun
online game for elementary and middle school students.
Excellent
KIDS ONLINE RESOURCES
http://www.kidsolr.com/history/page2.html
Extensive
list of links on explorers. Sections: Explorers, Vikings, The English and
Conquistadors. Excellent
LEWIS & CLARK – 42EXPLORE
NEW!
http://www.42explore2.com/lewisclark.htm
Basic
information for students on the Lewis & Clark expedition with links,
games, webquests and more. Excellent
LEWIS & CLARK – THE JOURNEY OF THE CORPS
OF DISCOVERY
NEW!
http://www.pbs.org/lewisandclark/
A
PBS companion site to the Ken Burns film on Lewis & Clark. Sections:
Inside the Corps, Native Americans, The Archive, Into the Unknown,
Interactive Trail Map, Classroom Resources, Living History and more. The
Classroom Resources section includes Lesson Plans.
Excellent
LEWIS & CLARK
MEGASITE
NEW!
http://www.nationalgeographic.com/lewisandclark/
A
portal site on the Lewis & Clark Expedition from the National
Geographic. Includes an Interactive Journey Log, Expedition Records and
More, a movie clip, Photo Gallery and much more. Excellent
SECRETS OF THE ICE: AN ANTARCTIC
EXPEDITION
NEW!
http://www.secretsoftheice.org/
"Between 1999 - 2002, scientists from 19 countries have been
traversing Antarctica, collecting ice cores and gathering data that will
describe climate and environmental change over the past 200 years. They
have traveled by Tucker Sno-Cats, snowmobiles and Caterpillar tractors,
living in tents and small trailers and dealing first hand with some of the
most extreme weather conditions on the planet. More expeditions are
planned for the next three years." Sections:
Explore Antarctica, Ice Core Research, Scientific Expedition, Expedition
Headquarters, and Learning Resources. Excellent
SPANISH EXPLORATION AND CONQUEST OF NATIVE AMERICA
http://www.vaca.com/index.html
Details
the exploration and conquest of Native America by De Soto, DeVaca, and
Coronado by following the trails their explorations took. Includes a PDF
format book detailing the conquest of Native America. Includes maps,
illustrations, and more. Excellent
THE TRAVELS OF IBN BATTUTA – A VIRTUAL TOUR WITH THE
14TH CENTURY TRAVELER
http://www.sfusd.edu/schwww/sch618/Ibn_Battuta/Ibn_Battuta_Rihla.html
An
account of the travels of the little-known 14th century
explorer Ibn Battuta. Includes photos, illustrations, and maps. Each
section includes links to additional information. Outstanding.
Excellent
VIKING EXPLORATION AND SETTLEMENT
http://www.cdli.ca/CITE/vikingexplor.htm
Long
before Columbus, Viking explorers landed and established settlements in
Greenland and Vinland (North America). Sections: Timeline of Viking Events
in Greenland, Viking Expansion, Leifur Eiriksson’s Heritage of Discovery,
Did 14th Century Scandinavians Visit Midwestern North America?,
Viking Explorers, Icelanders Discover Greenland and Iceland, and Map
Showing Viking Exploration Routes in Europe. Excellent
VIRTUAL MUSEUM OF NEW FRANCE – THE EXPLORERS
NEW URL!
http://www.civilization.ca/vmnf/explor/explcd_e.html
A
virtual museum of New France in Canada, the French colony in the
16th and 17th centuries. Includes links to French
explorers of the "new" world. A New France ABC includes photos of objects
used by the colonists in daily life, their use and the context in which
they were used. Also includes a Photographic Exploration of Canada with
Malak which includes a large number of photos of the areas the French
colonized. Follow the quick links for a lot more information.
Excellent
VOYAGE OF DOOM
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/lasalle/
Companion
site to the Nova program " Voyage of Doom" which chronicles the discovery
and excavation of French explorer Robert Cavalier Sieur de La Salle’s
ship, the Belle, which sank off the coast of Texas in 1688. The ship was
discovered at the bottom of the bay and excavated. Sections: Stories in
the Timber, Explore the Shipwreck, Who Owns Lost Ships?, Buoyancy
Brainteasers and Teacher’s Guide, Resources, Transcript and more.
Excellent
VOYAGE OF EXPLORATION – DISCOVERING NEW HORIZONS – A
THINKQUEST SITE
NEW URL!
http://library.thinkquest.org/C001692/
A
Thinkquest site on exploration. Sections: Home World, Great Explorers
(with a quiz for each), Expeditions (with quizzes), Navigation (how they
did it), New Horizons (the future), Why Explore? (why they did it) and
Teacher World (score tracking and activities). Excellent
ZOOM EXPLORERS
http://www.enchantedlearning.com/explorers/
Web
site for elementary students on explorers. Search alphabetically, by
region, or by century. Gives a brief description of the explorer and his
expedition. Includes maps showing some of their routes and illustrations
where portraits are available. Excellent
CAPTAIN COOK – VOYAGES OF DISCOVERY
http://www.hunterian.gla.ac.uk/museum/cook/cook.html
Three
interactive maps show Cook’s voyages of discovery. Click on the darkened
areas to see artifacts Cook collected from that region. Very
Good
CHRISTOPHER’S CROSSING – GAME
NEW!
http://edweb.sdsu.edu/courses/edtec670/Cardboard/Board/C/Columbus.html
A
game for upper elementary students on Columbus. "Third, fourth, and
fifth grade students will be able to use Christopher's Crossing. The
teacher will supply the initial instruction about Christopher Columbus.
Through role-play and readings from their social studies book, students
will learn about Columbus. They will discover his interest in a short,
easy way to the Indies, his struggle to get funding, his first voyage
across the Atlantic in search of gold, and his reactions to the Indians.
The game will reinforce their newly acquired knowledge in a realistic
setting. Students can play the game as often as they wish. The structure
allows for unlimited play possibilities." Very Good
ENDEAVOUR
http://www.barkendeavour.com.au/
James
Cook’s bark Endeavor has been re-created and sails out of Australia. It is
a three-masted collier bark and has been re-created with great attention
to authenticity. It has already carried out a voyage around the world. The
site has details of the voyages, photos, captain and crew reports, and
much more. Very Good
EUROPEAN EXPLORERS ELEMENTARY THEME PAGE
http://www.cdli.ca/CITE/explorer.htm
Information
on European explorers arranged by country. Includes links to European
explorers in the "New World" and in New France. Very Good
THE EXPLORATION AGE
NEW!
http://www.geocities.com/rdl_wcw_wwf_fan/TOE.html
A
site for students on the Age of Exploration. Includes pictures, essays,
general information, biographies and more. Very Good
EXPLORERS CROSSWORD PUZZLE NEW!
http://www.nytimes.com/learning/teachers/xwords/19990901.html
A crossword puzzle from the New York Times for middle school/junior high students on explorers. Very Good
EXPLORERS THEME
PAGE
http://www.cln.org/themes/explorers.html
A
gateway site with links to curricular resources for information on
explorers and instructional resources for lesson plans. Very
Good
FAMOUS EXPLORERS AND RESOURCES ABOUT
COLUMBUS
NEW!
http://www.suelebeau.com/explorers.htm
A
page of links suitable for students about explorers and Columbus. Very
Good
THE FATE OF FRANKLIN – (SIR JOHN FRANKLIN’S
ARCTIC EXPEDITION)
NEW!
http://www.ric.edu/rpotter/SJFranklin.html
Information
on the explorations of Sir John Franklin, the searches for the lost ships
and more. A very extensive site. "The
disappearance of Sir John Franklin and his crew in what is now the
Canadian Arctic set off one of the greatest rescue operations in the
history of exploration. Franklin's 2 ships had sailed from England on 19
May 1845 and were last sighted in late July heading for Lancaster Sound. A
3-way search was organized in 1848, with Sir James Clark Ross proceeding
through Lancaster Sound, Captain Henry Kellet via Bering Strait, and John
Rae and Sir John Richardson trekking overland from the Mackenzie
River."
http://tceplus.com/index.cfm?PgNm=TCE&ArticleId=A0003031 Sections: Franklin
in the Public Eye 1818-1859, The Arctic in Popular Culture, The Frozen
Zone, Searching for Franklin (modern searches 1997-2004), Sir John
Franklin Links and the Arctic Book Review. Very Good
FORBIDDEN TERRITORY: STANLEY AND LIVINGSTONE
http://www.nationalgeographic.com/features/97/lantern/
A
magic lantern show on the explorations of Stanley and Livingstone in
Central Africa. Very Good
GO WEST ACROSS AMERICA WITH LEWIS &
CLARK – ONLINE
GAME
NEW!
http://www.nationalgeographic.com/features/97/west/
A
fun online game in which students travel with the expedition and help them
with decision-making. Very Good
THE HALL OF SCIENCE AND
EXPLORATION
http://www.achievement.org/autodoc/halls/sci
Interviews
with 20th century scientists and explorers. Explorers include:
Robert D. Ballard, Sylvia Earle, Sir Edmund Hillary and Donna Shirley.
Very Good
MATTHEW A. HENSON MEMORIAL WEB
SITE
http://www.matthewhenson.com/
Information
on this African-American who co-discovered the North Pole with Peary in
1909. Includes: Peary’s Diary Published on the Internet, Henson Literature
(free literature to be downloaded on and by Henson), a Henson exhibit, a
student presentation, a Lowell Thomas 1939 interview with Henson, audio
recording of Peary. (Note: This site addresses the controversy in which
some claimed that Henson did not co-discover the North Pole. Some strong
opinions are expressed.) Very Good
OPERATION PHIPS – ARCHEOLOGICAL RESCUE
http://www.mcc.gouv.qc.ca/pamu/champs/archeo/epaphips/wreck01.htm
An
account of the excavation of the Anse aux Bouleaux, a ship from the fleet
of Sir William Phips, which was sunk 1690 in the estuary of the St.
Lawrence River. This was part of the fleet that was sent to attack Quebec
in the war between France and Britain at the end of the 17th
century. Includes photos of the excavation, artifacts and history. Very
Good
RACE TO THE END OF THE EARTH
NEW!
http://www.nationalgeographic.com/ngkids/0002/race_to_end/index.html
A
National Geographic Kids feature on the race between Amundsen and Scott to
reach the South Pole. Appropriate for grades 4-6. Very Good
REFERENCE RESOURCES: FAMOUS EXPLORERS
NEW!
http://www.kidinfo.com/American_History/Explorers.html
A
huge site with links to a large number of websites on famous explorers.
Very Good
VIRTUAL EXPLORATION SOCIETY
NEW!
http://www.unmuseum.mus.pa.us/ves.htm
Eleven
brief essays on explorers and their explorations. Includes: Louis Bleriot,
Amelia Earhart, Roy Chapman Andrews, Matthew Henson and more. Appropriate
for upper elementary students and up. Very Good
YOU WOULDN’T WANT TO BE A POLAR EXPLORER –
WEB BOOK
NEW!
http://www.salariya.com/web_books/explorer/index.html
"An Expedition You Wouldn’t Want to Go On - Get ready...as a
brave young sailor looking for adventure, you are about to join Ernest
Shackleton’s expedition to icy Antarctica as a polar explorer. I T' S F R
E E Z I N G ! To use this Web Book place your cursor over the images to
see the comments as you explore the Antarctic. Click on Next and Previous
to navigate through the sections, or use the list of contents on the left.
Based on the book You Wouldn't Want to Be a Polar Explorer!"
A fun illustrated book about Shackleton’s
expedition to Antarctica. Aimed at elementary/middle school students. Run
your cursor over the illustrations for comments. Follow the chapters
through the list at left. Very Good
ZOOM INTO
MAPS
NEW!
http://memory.loc.gov/learn/features/maps/exploration.html
Early
maps of the western hemisphere. Very Good
THE AGE OF DISCOVERY – 1340-1600
http://www.lib.utexas.edu/maps/historical/shepherd/explorer_map_shepherd.jpg
A
detailed map showing the voyages of English, French, Dutch, Spanish and
Portuguese explorers. Slow to load but worth a look. Good
ANTARCTIC EXPLORERS
NEW!
http://www.south-pole.com/homepage.html
Click
on the History tab and then Explorers for a list of Antarctic explorers
and information on their explorations in Antarctica. Good
AUSTRALIAN EXPLORERS
http://www.davidreilly.com/australian_explorers/
Information
for elementary students on Australian explorers. Until the 18th
century Australia was almost completely unknown to the Europeans and these
explorers opened the continent to European settlement. Good
CHRISTOPHER COLUMBUS: A CULINARY
HISTORY
http://www.castellobanfi.com/features/story_3.html
An
article from Castello Banfi vineyard about the provisions about Columbus’
voyages and foods they found in the "new" world. Good
CHRISTOPHER COLUMBUS CROSSWORD
PUZZLE
NEW!
http://www.aves.ednet.ns.ca/gr/columbus.htm
A
brief crossword puzzle suitable for upper elementary students.
Good
CHRISTOPHER COLUMBUS LINKS
NEW!
http://www2.lhric.org/pocantico/columbus.htm
Links
to sites on Columbus for students. Good
THE COLUMBUS NAVIGATION HOMEPAGE
NEW!
http://www1.minn.net/~keithp/index.htm
Explores
the navigation methods used by Columbus, plus a history of his voyages, a
timeline, and more. Geared toward upper elementary, middle school
students. Better than it looks at first. Good
COLUMBUS REPORTS ON DISCOVERIES OF ISLAND OF INDIA –
LIBRARY OF CONGRESS EXHIBIT
NEW!
http://www.loc.gov/exhibits/treasures/trt038.html
An
exhibit of the report of Columbus of his "discovery" of India in 1493.
View a copy of the document and its English translation.
Good
COOK’S FIRST VOYAGE –
1768-1771
NEW!
http://www.muffley.net/pacific/cook/cook1.htm
An
examination of the reasons for Cook’s voyage and the places he visited.
Good
CYBERHUNT – AHOY
COLUMBUS!
NEW!
http://teacher.scholastic.com/products/columbus.htm
Seven
questions with links to find the answers. For elementary students.
Good
THE DEATH OF MAGELLAN 1521
http://www.ibiscom.com/magellan.htm
A
brief account of the death of the explorer and mariner Ferdinand Magellan
in a battle with natives on an island in the Philippines. An eyewitness
account was written by a passenger. Good
THE EUROPEAN VOYAGES OF EXPLORATION 1415-1650
NEW URL!
http://www.thenagain.info/WebChron//WestEurope/Voyages.Chron.html
A
timeline of European voyages of exploration with links to short articles
on some of the expeditions. Good
EXPLORATION – HOT TOPIC
LIST
NEW!
http://cte.jhu.edu/techacademy/web/2000/slezak/exhotlist.html
A
topic list with links to sites on explorers. Sections: English Explorers,
French Explorers, Portuguese Explorers, Spanish Explorers, Dutch
Explorers, Viking Explorers and Additional Resources. Good
EXPLORER POEMS BY STUDENTS
http://www.kathimitchell.com/explpoe.htm
Simple
poems by elementary students on various explorers. Use as a basis for
students’ own poems. Good
EXPLORERS
NEW!
http://library.thinkquest.org/J002428F/
A
website on explorers for primary students. Includes: Magellan, Cortez,
Columbus, Ericson and Drake. Note: The Drake link doesn’t work.
Good
EXPLORERS HOTLIST
NEW!
http://www.clairbournlibrary.org/Explorers%20Hotlist.htm#deSoto
A
page of links to sites on explorers. Good
EXPLORERS OF THE WORLD
http://www.bham.wednet.edu/bio/explore.htm
A
web site for students on the kind of people who choose a life of
exploration. Covers explorers of Land, Sea, Water, and Art.
Good
EXPLORING THE CAROLINAS – LIBRARY OF CONGRESS
EXHIBIT
NEW!
http://www.loc.gov/exhibits/treasures/trm069.html
"John White, one of the company sent by Sir Walter Raleigh to
establish an English colony on Roanoke Island in 1585, went at least twice
to the Carolina coast in the 1580s. There he produced a series of drawings
of the everyday life of the Native American populations. Theodor de Bry
engraved these scenes from White's renderings. White also compiled this
map of the North Carolina coast from Cape Lookout to the mouth of the
Chesapeake Bay, based on the British explorations of 1585-86, which was
subsequently engraved by de Bry and published in 1590."
Good
FLORIDA OF THE CONQUISTADOR
NEW!
http://www.floridahistory.org/floridians/conquis.htm
A
brief history of the Florida explorations of Juan Ponce de Leon, Panfilo
de Narvaez, Hernando de Soto, and Tristan de Luna. Good
FRAY JUNIPERO SERRA
http://www.padreserra.org/serra.htm
Chronicles
the life of Father Junipero Serra, a Spanish Franciscan friar who explored
what was to become California and established missions there.
Good
HALL OF EXPLORERS
NEW!
http://www.columbia.k12.mo.us/tmp/burger/folktale/index.html
A
site appropriate for upper elementary students on explorers. Includes a
list of links to brief articles about the explorer. Good
LATITUDE- THE ART AND SCIENCE OF 15TH CENTURY
NAVIGATION
http://www.ruf.rice.edu/~feegi/
Shows
the tremendous importance of the Portuguese advances in navigation that
allowed explorers to determine their position with greater accuracy.
Good
MARCO POLO AND HIS TRAVELS
NEW!
http://www.silk-road.com/artl/marcopolo.shtml
A
brief account of the journey of Marco Polo in the 13th and
14th centuries. Good
MARCO POLO – ON THE TARTARS – MEDIEVAL
SOURCEBOOK
NEW!
http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/source/mpolo44-46.html
"Of the origin of the kingdom of the Tartars--of the quarter
from whence they came--and of their former subjection to Un-khan, a prince
of the north, called also Prester John." Good
MARCO POLO – THE GLORIES OF KINGSAY
(HANGCHOW) – MEDIEVAL SOURCEBOOK
NEW!
http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/source/polo-kinsay.html
"Marco Polo returned to Venice, his hometown, in 1295 after an
absence of twenty-five years in the East. He claimed to have spent
seventeen years in the service of Kublai Khan, ruler of the Mongols and of
the largest empire in the world. He had many stories to tell. These
stories were eventually written down by Rustichiello of Pisa, who heard
them while sharing a Genoese prison with Polo, sometimes after 1298. Here
is the account in the book of Hangchow, called "Kinsay". Although Kublai
Khan's capital was in the north, at the city later called Beijing,
Hagnchow had served as the capital of the Southern Song dynasty until 1279
and was a major cultural and political center." Good
MARCO POLO THEME
PAGE
NEW!
http://www.cdli.ca/CITE/expolo.htm
Links
for elementary students on Marco Polo. Note: We found a couple of broken
links on this page. Good
MONTEREY BAY AREA
HISTORY
NEW URL!
http://www.mchsmuseum.com/historymenu.html
The
first section of this site gives a history of the early exploration of the
California coast in the Monterey area. Good
PASSAGES: A TREASURE TROVE OF NORTH AMERICAN
EXPLORATION
NEW URL!
http://www.collectionscanada.ca/2/8/index-e.html
Information
from the National Library of Canada on exploration in North America.
Includes an Introduction, Alphabetical List or Chronological Outline.
(Note: Start with Introduction, go back to Home page and then follow
either the Alphabetical List or Chronological Outline.) Good
THE PORTUGUESE ROLE IN EXPLORING AND MAPPING THE NEW
WORLD
NEW!
http://www.loc.gov/rr/hispanic/portam/role.html
Examines
the primary role of Portugal in the exploration of the Americas.
Good
SAMUEL DE CHAMPLAIN’S 1607 MAP
http://lcweb.loc.gov/exhibits/treasures/trr009.html
Considered
an American Treasure, this is the original map hand-drawn on vellum for
presentation to the king of France. It is one of the few maps of the
period that was drawn up by de Champlain himself showing his own
explorations and calculations. It covers the New England and Canadian
coasts. An enlargement increases it to full-screen size.
Good
SHIPS OF DISCOVERY
http://www.shipsofdiscovery.org/
Information
on how excavation of shipwrecks is contributing to our understanding of
the early explorers. Sections: Columbus’ Lost Ships, Artifact
Conservation, Shipwreck Excavations Ancient Techniques, Experimental
Archeology, Ancient Documents, and Artifact Replicas. Click on Ships at
the bottom to show a map of New World Shipwrecks. Good
SOUTH-POLE.COM
http://www.south-pole.com/homepage.html
"Welcome to the home page of South-Pole.com. This site is
dedicated to the heroic explorers of our polar regions and the surrounding
islands. The tales of these brave souls were often related in expedition
mail sent home to anxious loved ones and beneficiaries." Focusing on the mail sent home from
Antarctic expeditions, the site uses excerpts from the explorers. Click on
the names of the explorers for in-depth articles about each one.
Good
TAKING ON THE WORLD! EUROPEAN
EXPLORERS
NEW!
http://library.thinkquest.org/6174/
Information
for elementary students by students on 8 explorers including Columbus,
Magellan, Hudson. Includes an Activities section with a puzzle and a quiz
and a Resources section with references. Good
WOMEN EXPLORERS
NEW!
http://www.distinguishedwomen.com/subject/explore.html
Links
to information on women explorers. Good
LESSON PLANS & CLASSROOM ACTIVITIES
THE AGE OF EXPLORATION ONLINE CURRICULUM GUIDE – THE
MARINER’S MUSEUM
NEW URL!
http://www.mariner.org/educationalad/ageofex/index.php
An
online curriculum guide to the Age of Exploration from the Ancient World
to the 19th century. Each chapter discusses the major
explorations. There are timelines, vocabulary and biographies of the great
explorers. The activities section for Teachers and Students is extensive.
Outstanding. Excellent
COLUMBUS’ VOYAGE TO THE NEW WORLD -
CLASSROOM ACTIVITY
NEW!
http://www.pecentral.org/lessonideas/ViewLesson.asp?ID=1125
A
classroom activity for grades 3-5 on Columbus’ voyages.
Excellent
DISCOVERY CHANNELS: INVESTIGATING THE
LEGACIES OF EXPLORATION AND COLONIZATION – LESSON
PLAN NEW!
http://www.nytimes.com/learning/teachers/lessons/20001009monday.html?searchpv=learning_lessons
A
lesson plan for grades 6-12 on the legacy of the Age of Exploration.
"In this lesson, students explore the issues surrounding the
celebration of Columbus Day and investigate the impact and legacy of
exploration and colonization through group research. Students synthesize
the information they have gathered and create a first person narrative
about exploration and colonization." Excellent
THE DISCOVERY OF AMERICA: A PLAY ABOUT EARLY
EXPLORERS – CLASSROOM
ACTIVITY
NEW!
http://teachers.net/lessons/posts/972.html
A
play script for elementary students on early explorers.
Excellent
EDUCATION WORLD – THE GREAT EXPLORERS! - LESSON PLANS
http://www.education-world.com/a_special/millenium_02.shtml
Education
World’s look at the Great Explorers of the Millennium. Sections: Lessons
of the Explorers, Exploring the World-Virtually, A New Twist on Explorers,
and Great Sites for Teaching About Explorers. Excellent - See also the
Websites section
EXPLORE THE EXPLORERS ONLINE – LESSON PLANNING ARTICLE
NEW!
http://www.education-world.com/a_lesson/lesson081.shtml
A
lesson planning article with suggestions for lesson plans on explorers.
Excellent
EXPLORERS – ACTIVITIES AND QUIZZES
http://www.mce.k12tn.net/explorers/explorers_start.htm
Lists
explorers or groups of explorers with a brief essay on each. Each has
several activities and a quiz. Includes a multiple choice quiz on all the
explorers plus Hangman and Challenge games. Excellent
EXPLORER’S EXPERIENCE – LESSON
PLAN
NEW!
http://www.artsedge.kennedy-center.org/content/2365/
A
lesson plan for grade 5. "Students will discuss the concept of
exploration. They will research a world explorer and prepare maps of the
routes traveled. Students will create a papier-mache map to represent the
explorer’s journey." Excellent
LEWIS AND CLARK: FACING CHALLENGES, REAL AND
IMAGINED – LESSON
PLAN
NEW!
http://www.nationalgeographic.com/xpeditions/lessons/06/g35/challenges.html
A
lesson plan for grades 3-5 on the obstacles the expedition would have
faced. "Before the Lewis and Clark Expedition, Europeans knew little
about what lay west of the Mississippi River. The mental maps of
expedition members could not prepare them for what lay ahead; nonetheless,
they met and overcame numerous challenges in the diverse habitats they
encountered. In this lesson, students will consider how they perceive
geographic features and obstacles, and how expedition members might have
done so. If possible, begin the lesson before your students see the
large-format film Lewis and Clark: Great Journey West or explore the Lewis
and Clark Web site, and finish it afterward."
Excellent
MARCO POLO TAKES A TRIP – LESSON PLAN
NEW!
http://edsitement.neh.gov/view_lesson_plan.asp?id=451
A
lesson plan for grades. "In this lesson, students will learn about
the remarkable travels of Marco Polo. They will consult maps to locate
Venice and follow the routes Marco took to Beijing and back. They will
learn about the challenges of traveling along the Silk Road, discover some
interesting facts about China under Mongol rule, and find out how Marco
came to produce his famous book. Then they will work in groups to create a
large mural/timeline of the life and adventures of this famous
traveler." Excellent
ON THE ROAD WITH MARCO POLO – CURRICULUM
UNIT
NEW!
http://edsitement.neh.gov/view_lesson_plan.asp?id=488
A
7-lesson curriculum unit focusing on Marco Polo and his travels for grades
3-5. "In this curriculum unit, students will become Marco Polo
adventurers, following his route to and from China in order to learn about
the geography, local products, culture, and fascinating sites of those
regions. Students will record their "journey" by creating journal entries,
postcards, posters, and maps related to the sites they explore. The
EDSITEment Marco Polo Journey Map, with its guiding questions, may be used
either as a culminating exercise or a method of reviewing previous lessons
and introducing new ones." Excellent
ON THIS DAY WITH LEWIS AND CLARK – LESSON
UNIT
NEW!
http://edsitement.neh.gov/view_lesson_plan.asp?id=297
A
unit of 5 lessons examining the explorations of Lewis and Clark for grades
3-5. "During much of their journey, Meriwether
Lewis and William Clark had no idea what they would encounter next. And,
in a sense, that is how everyone lives every day. Even when we think we
know what's around the corner, life can throw surprises at us. The story
of Lewis and Clark is the universal story of human beings dealing with the
unexpected. It's also great entertainment with a compelling cast of
characters—an adventure, a road trip, a buddy story. It's about teamwork
and failure and success. It brims with history and science.
Looking at
historic maps of the West, students can begin to appreciate the immensity
and mystery of the mission Lewis and Clark accepted. As "experts"
investigating specific subjects assigned to Lewis by President Jefferson,
students will conduct careful research. Reading brief diary entries of the
men of the Corps will spark the interest of students as they relive the
discoveries of the original participants." Excellent
OTHER WORLDS: THE VOYAGE OF COLUMBUS –
LESSON PLAN
NEW!
http://edsitement.neh.gov/view_lesson_plan.asp?id=322
A
lesson plan for grades 9-12 on Columbus. "Debate over the legacy of
Christopher Columbus has opened new perspectives on the Renaissance world
that gave impetus to his first voyage, and has raised awareness of the
cultures he and those who followed him encountered in the world across the
sea. Through the Internet, students can observe the events of 1492 from
this dual vantage-point, exploring the two worlds that made contact when
Columbus stepped ashore." Excellent
STORIES THAT GO WITH THE TERRITORY:
UNCOVERING THE TALES OF FAMOUS EXPLORERS AND THEIR EXPEDITIONS – LESSON
PLAN
NEW!
http://www.nytimes.com/learning/teachers/lessons/20010828tuesday.html?searchpv=learning_lessons
A
lesson plan for grades 9-12 on explorers. "In this lesson, students
investigate various expeditions throughout history to new and/or uncharted
territories. Students then work in groups to develop and 'produce'
television news magazine segments about some of these historic
expeditions." Excellent
THE TRAVELS OF IBN BATTUTA – LESSON PLAN
http://www.nationalgeographic.com/xpeditions/lessons/10/g35/tgbattuta.html
A
lesson plan for grades 3-5 on Islamic explorer Ibn Battuta. "In this
lesson, students will work in groups to research the different areas that
the 14th century Islamic traveler Ibn Battuta visited. They will review
some of the basics of Islam, and create posters illustrating what they
have learned about Ibn Battuta. [Note: It would be ideal if students could
have studied some of the basics of the Islamic religion before doing this
lesson.]" Excellent
USGS RESOURCES FOR TEACHING ABOUT LEWIS
& CLARK
NEW!
http://rockyweb.cr.usgs.gov/outreach/lewisclark/lc_usgseducation.html
"The USGS publishes nearly 100,000 different maps, aerial
photographs, books, booklets, posters, CDs, digital data, and satellite
imagery, many of which are useful for teaching about Lewis and Clark,
Native Americans, and the cultural and physical geography of the United
States, past and present. These resources can be used in an
inquiry-based setting in a variety of courses and projects at the
elementary, secondary, and university levels. In addition, the USGS
hosts Internet-based resources that can be used for teaching about Lewis
and Clark.
Descriptions of some of these items and how to use them in
education are at left." Excellent
WANTED: EXPLORERS - CLASS PROJECT
NEW!
http://www.fcps.k12.va.us/KingsParkES/technology/t4t/explorers/
A
webquest for 2nd grade students. "Introduction: Are you
looking for adventure?? Do you enjoy exploring the unknown and learning
new things? The North American Geographic Society has an opportunity for
you. We are recruiting interested parties to explore uncharted territories
and interact with the natives. Adventurers will experience wondrous
opportunities: ● going on explorations ● bartering for goods ● making maps
and learning about new people and lands" This project uses the
"THE CASE OF THE MISSING TRUNKS – WEBQUEST" as an integral part of
the project. See the Webquests section. Excellent
WEB DE ANZA ONLINE LEARNING COMMUNITY –
LESSON PLANS
NEW!
http://anza.uoregon.edu/teacher.html
"A
web site created to be a collegial, teacher centered, resource focusing on
meeting teacher needs in applying Web de Anza , a web based study
environment designed to promote historical inquiry about Juan Bautista de
Anza and his two 18th century expeditions from northern Mexico to Northern
California" Take time to explore this site which
contains several linked lesson plans. Excellent
WHAT WAS COLUMBUS THINKING? – LESSON
PLAN
NEW!
http://edsitement.neh.gov/view_lesson_plan.asp?id=257
A
lesson plan for grades 3-5 on Columbus. "Most students recognize the
name Christopher Columbus. They may be aware that his voyages ushered in
the first period of sustained contact between Europeans and the Americas
and its people. They may not know, however, why Columbus traveled to the
New World or what happened to the native people he encountered.
In this
lesson, students read excerpts from Columbus's letters and journals, as
well as recent considerations of his achievements. Students reflect on the
motivations behind Columbus's explorations, his reactions to what he found
and the consequences, intended and unintended, of his endeavor."
Excellent
WHICH WAY DID THEY GO? – LESSON PLAN
NEW!
http://www.nationalgeographic.com/xpeditions/lessons/17/g68/whichway.html
A
lesson plan for grades 6-8 on explorers. "Throughout history, explorers have searched for the quickest,
easiest, and most lucrative routes between two locations. In what is now
the U.S. state of Arizona, Spanish explorers
sought the "Seven Cities of Cibola," American explorers sought the best
stagecoach and railroad routes, and Mormons sought new locations for
settlement in the White Mountains. This lesson will delve into how Arizona
topography has influenced exploration.
[Note: A similar lesson
detailing the exploration of your own state or country would be a useful
complement in a history class and introduce a new way for your students to
see the region. Research and good topographic maps of the location are
necessary for maximum effect.]" Excellent
A CLOSER LOOK AT COLUMBUS – LESSON
PLAN
NEW!
http://www.peacecorps.gov/wws/guides/honduras/honcolumbus.html
A
lesson plan for grades 10-12 on Columbus. Very Good
COMING TO THE AMERICAS – LESSON PLAN
http://www.hunterian.gla.ac.uk/museum/cook/cook.html
A
project for 6th grade students in which student take on the
role of early explorers as they search for a route to Asia. Students must
create a map of their voyage, a drawing of their ship and quotations from
the explorer. Very Good
CONQUISTADORS: FRANCISCO PIZARRO –LESSON
PLAN
NEW!
http://school.discovery.com/lessonplans/programs/pizarro/
A
lesson plan on Pizarro for grades 9-12. "Students will ● determine the reasons for
Francisco Pizarro's success in vanquishing the Incas; and ●write a paper
explaining their conclusions." Very
Good
CONQUISTADORS: HERNÁN CORTÉS – LESSON
PLAN
NEW!
http://school.discovery.com/lessonplans/programs/cortes/
A
lesson plan for grades 9-12 on Cortés. Very Good
CONTACT: EUROPE AND AMERICA MEET – 1492-1673
– LESSON PLANS UNIT
NEW!
http://www.eduref.org/cgi-bin/printlessons.cgi/Virtual/Lessons/crossroads/sec3/k2/unit2/unit2_k2_head.html
A
unit of lesson plans for grades K-2 on the explorations of Columbus and
the effect they had both on the Europeans and the Native American
population. Very Good
CULTURE CLASH: NEW WORLD MEETS OLD – LESSON PLAN
NEW!
http://school.discovery.com/lessonplans/programs/cultureclash/
A
lesson plan for grades 6-8 on Columbus. "Students will
OCTOBER THEME –
EXPLORERS
NEW!
http://www.eduplace.com/monthlytheme/october/explorers.html
A
collection of activities and links on explorers suitable for elementary
students on up. Very Good
EUROPEAN EXPLORER POEM – LESSON
PLAN
NEW!
http://www.lessonplanspage.com/SSArtLAEuropeanExplorerPoem4.htm
A
lesson plan for 4th grade students in which students describe a
European explorer in a poem. Good
ADVENTURE INTO THE UNKNOWN: A WEBQUEST ON THE LEWIS
AND CLARK
EXPEDITION
NEW!
http://oncampus.richmond.edu/academics/education/projects/webquests/lewisclark/
A
webquest for 5th grade students in which teams of students
"join" the Lewis and Clark Expedition taking on the roles of Indian
affairs expert, botanist, zoologist, and topographer. Excellent
BACK TO THE AGE OF EXPLORATION –
WEBQUEST
NEW!
http://www.bcps.org/offices/lis/models/Explorers/index.html
A
webquest on the Age of Exploration. "The Maryland Science Center has
just announced a new exhibit to open next year! They will have a virtual
time machine where people can choose an event and then go back to that
time for a visit. Your class has been asked to suggest an event from the
Age of Exploration for the time machine dial. There were many explorers
and conquerors during that time period. Your decision won't be an easy
one!" Excellent
BE BRAVE! EXPLORE THE UNKNOWN WORLD! (SAFE RETURN NOT
GUARANTEED) – WEBQUEST NEW!
http://www.kady.education.ucsb.edu/netshare/ucsbpt3/afield/teacher_projects/KimC_explorers/index3.html
A
webquest on European explorers for 5th grade students.
"The desire to explore the unknown has been a
driving force in human history since the dawn of time. Early
adventurers were motivated to: find their fortune, become a famous
name in history, claim new lands for their country, spread their religion,
bring back spices and jewels or find a faster and cheaper route to foreign
countries. The captain of the ship (explorer) needed money and
manpower along with support from a rich benefactor. Most voyages
were made in the name of the royal ruler of the country. The crewmen
who signed on to these long and dangerous voyages were not always
experienced seamen, but large numbers of them were needed to help man the
sails and allow for losses from death and illness (it was a very dangerous
adventure!)
The captain (explorer) himself was not always an
experienced seaman. Desire for wealth and fame were often his only
motivations for undertaking such dangerous voyages. The ships were
often old, but the captain took what he was given and began his voyage
into the unknown looking for a specific land or route, surprises were
many.
The explorers are still looking for adventuresome
volunteers to sail into the unknown. Will you be brave enough to
join them? They will be setting sail soon. Hurry and pack your
few belongings. Don't forget to bring all the paper you can and a
writing utensil in order to record the amazing new sights you'll
see. You should be prepared to take notes on what you do; after all,
the reputation of your captain depends upon you. By making a
PowerPoint presentation and a newspaper of your journeys, you will be
revealing the secrets of the unknown to the rest of the civilized
world." Note: We found a couple of broken
links on this site. Excellent
A CHRISTOPHER COLUMBUS WEBQUEST
NEW!
http://www.coe.ilstu.edu/jabraun/students/holt/
A
webquest for 5th and 6th graders in which students
form a jury in a trial to determine whether Christopher Columbus was a
"fraudulent historical figure". Sections: FAQ-Questions You’ve Always
Wanted to Know About Christopher Columbus; An Overview of the Christopher
Columbus Court Hearing; Your Task, as the Jury; What Have You Learned?;
and Resources. Excellent
EARLY OCEAN EXPLORERS – WEBQUEST
NEW!
http://projects.edtech.sandi.net/encanto/earlyexplorers/
A
webquest on early explorers for 5th grade students.
"Have you ever watched the sun set over the
ocean? Doesn't it look like it gets swallowed by the seas? You know that
the earth is round, but imagine yourself living in the mid 1400's. The
early explorers didn't know if there was something beyond the horizon.
Many people of the time thought the earth was flat, and that you would
fall off the edge if you went too far. These individuals' desire for
adventure on the high seas was stronger than their fear.
The local
historical society would like to create a mural in the city's central
library commemorating the early explorers. Your group has been asked to
submit a proposal for this memorial." Excellent
EUROPEAN EXPLORERS OF EARLY CANADA – WEBQUEST
NEW!
http://www.mhcbe.ab.ca/st_francis/gr5/WebQuests/Explorers/Explorers.htm
A
webquest for 5th grade students on the early European explorers
of Canada. "The Explorers Hall of Fame is devoted to honouring the
great Early European Explorers who came to Canada while they were looking
for a water route to Asia. There is a Multimedia Technology Wing being
added to the Explorers Hall of Fame. Your teacher has volunteered your
class to provide the information on the early explorers in a Multimedia
Format. This information will be used at the Explorers Hall of Fame."
Excellent
EXPLORATION
WEBQUEST
NEW!
http://www.asij.ac.jp/elementary/links/webquests/explorer/G5_expl_intro.htm
A
webquest on exploration for 5th grade students. "Her
Majesty Queen Isabella of Castile and Aragon and His Majesty Ferdinand II
of Castile and Aragon request your assistance for the glory of
Spain. You have been selected from a long list of prominent subjects of
the Kingdom of Spain to assist the court in the exploration and discovery
of new lands. The kingdom of Spain is in need of a daring and courageous
crew to sail into the un-chartered waters of our oceans and search for new
lands, in the hope of finding exotic riches, spices, and lands to be
claimed and settled for their Majesties King Ferdinand and Queen
Isabella of Spain. Should you succeed in your quest you will be given the
governorship of the new land and a generous percentage of the riches
generated from the your discoveries." Excellent
EXPLORATIONS OF THE NEW WORLD – A WEBQUEST
NEW!
http://curry.edschool.virginia.edu/go/edis771/fall99webquests/student/srebeccaandrews/home.html
A
webquest on explorers for elementary students focusing on Columbus, Ponce
de Leon or Champlain or Cabot. "Have you ever wondered what it would
be like to set sail on a ship bound for an unknown land? Well, now is your
chance to be part of history. Our class is going to journey back in
space and time to join the famous explorers of the New World. You can
choose to hop on board the famous voyages of Christopher Columbus, Juan
Ponce de Leon, Samuel de Champlain or John Cabot. Each of you will become
a crew member or stowaway aboard one of their ships. Are you ready
to set sail?" Excellent
EXPLORER WEBQUEST
NEW!
http://coe.west.asu.edu/students/eringstrom/explorer/
A
webquest on explorers for 5th grade students. "Every
student will research on one of four prominent explorers Christopher
Columbus, Hernando DeSoto, Hernan Cortes, John Cabot for background
information on what it takes to be an explorer. Students will create an
inspiration web for their chosen explorer. Part two of the task, the
student will collaborate with their group to create a persuasive
PowerPoint presentation to council (the class) as to why their group
should be chosen to be the first to explore the new island. The
presentation must include traits of a successful explorer gathered from
their previous research. The council (class) will decide if the group will
be rewarded the task of exploring and claiming the new island utilizing a
rubric. As an extension students can also create explorer trading cards
using the digital camera. Finally, after the students have presented and
shared their persuasive PowerPoint they will write a short story about
their travels to the new island." Excellent
EXPLORERS – A FIFTH GRADE
WEBQUEST
NEW!
http://ele.n-polk.k12.ia.us/WebQuest/eplorers/explorers_index.html
A
webquest on explorers for 5th grade students. "The King
seeks to hire an experienced sailor, to help find new lands filled with
valuable resources. He is willing to pay this person top dollar. Many men
have applied for the position. It is your job, as part of the search
committee, to determine which applicant is best suited for the position.
You must then make a presentation to the search committee and the King
detailing your reasoning for this selection. Good luck!"
Excellent
EXPLORING EXPLORERS –
WEBQUEST
NEW!
http://projects.edtech.sandi.net/grant/explorers/
A
webquest on explorers for grades 5-8. "Explorers
have always been adventurous people. Their motivations vary from the
desire for wealth and fame to a quest for knowledge. Some expeditions are
more successful and others more dangerous, but all are interesting!
Historians even question some explorer's real contribution to the future.
We have discovered a need information in a convenient location on
explorers of the past and their contributions to the future.
Your class
has been invited to create a quick reference guide, Exploring Explorers,
to be an addition to the school library to help fill this need."
Excellent
4TH GRADE EXPLORER
WEBQUEST
NEW!
http://herrickses.org/searingtown/explorers/home.htm
A
webquest on explorers for 4th grade students. "You are to
become an explorer for our EXPLORER WAX MUSEUM. You will need to research
your assigned explorer, write a script, and dress up as your explorer for
our Wax Museum Exhibit!" Sections: Explorers of the New World,
Explorers of the Arts, Explorers of Ideas, Explorers of the Sky and
Explorers of the Wilderness. Excellent
NEW WORLD EXPLORERS
WEBQUEST
NEW!
http://www.schools.manatee.k12.fl.us/webdisk/landers/WebPages/explorers/explorers.html
A
webquest for upper elementary students/middle school students on
explorers. "You will choose an explorer to research. Next, you will
need to create an Inspiration diagram to help you plan your research. This
diagram will also be used for note-taking and to record useful website
addresses for your explorer. You will compile all the information you have
been able to gather on your explorer and create a Keynote presentation for
the class." Note: We found a couple of broken links on this site.
Excellent
SIGNIFICANT EXPLORERS AND CIVILIZATIONS OF THE AMERICAS
–
WEBQUEST
NEW!
http://www.burke.k12.nc.us/instructionaltech/webquests/explorers/
A
webquest on explorers for 5th grade students.
"Beginning with the Vikings in the 8th century,
the Americas have been explored by many people. During the 1500's and
1600's European countries began exploring across the Atlantic Ocean.
Christopher Columbus was one of the first explorers to attempt this great
feat. His accomplishments sparked the interest of exploration in many
other countries.
Explorers have had various reasons for risking their
lives when setting out across the world. Marco Polo was searching for new
trade routes, David Livingston traveled across Africa as a missionary,
while others were motivated by the need to chart and map new areas.
In
this webquest, you will find out what drove the exploration for these
significant explorers and how did the motives for explorations differ from
country to country?" Excellent
TREASURES
FROM THE PAST: AN EXPLORATION
WEBQUEST
NEW!
http://coe.west.asu.edu/students/dschoettlin/webquest2/explorers.htm
A
webquest for 5th grade students on explorers.
"In this WebQuest, you and your group will take
on the role of archeologists who have found the missing treasure chest of
a famous explorer. You want to share your fascinating discovery with the
rest of the world, but first you must convince the board members of your
local museum that the treasure chest is authentic (real). With your group,
you will investigate a famous explorer then use your imagination to create
the treasure chest that your archaeological group found.
Your Captain's
Chest will contain the following
items:
· A map of your explorer's voyage
· Explorer's Journal
· Artifacts
· Navigational Tools
· A timeline of the major events that occurred during the explorer's voyage(s).
After completing your treasure chest, you will present it to the board members at the museum (the class) for analysis. They will determine whether or not the chest and its contents are authentic and deserve world wide recognition." Note: We found a few broken links among the large number of links on this site. Excellent
WE WANT YOU TO SAIL THE OCEAN BLUE – WEBQUEST
NEW!
http://192.107.108.56/portfolios/m/malave_j/explorers_web/
A
webquest on exploration for 5th grade students. "IMAGINE THIS:
It is the year 1590, and you are living in
Europe. You take a walk one day through the town square when you notice
newly built large wooden ships along the harbor. You are curious about
these grand vessels, so you walk closer to the dock. You stop and read a
posted sign that says...
Ship Crew Wanted for Voyage to the New
World
Captain Malave has received a charter from Your Majesty the King to set
sail west across the vast blue ocean in search for unclaimed land in the New
World. The Captain requests a strong, reliable crew to join her in this
expedition." Excellent
AN ADVENTURE TO
THE NEW WORLD – WEBQUEST
NEW!
http://score.rims.k12.ca.us/activity/newworld/
A
webquest on explorers for junior high students. "Instructions from the King and Queen
You, as an agent for the King and Queen, are hereby authorized to make a journey to the New World on behalf of our kingdom. All of our rivals are competing for land, trade and wealth. Whoever wins will be the strongest kingdom in Europe. It is imperative that you succeed.
Your mission is to claim all land for the monarchy, locate a new trading route across the ocean, look for the Northwest Passage, and bring back gold, silver, metals, spices, new plants, and any items deemed valuable. You will be provided with a ship, crew, and all the necessary provisions for an extensive journey to the New World. Certain precise requirements must be met if you expect to be rewarded for your achievements. In order to fulfill your contract you will make an Explorer's Notebook consisting of the attached items. Good luck on your journey and Godspeed. The Monarchy" Note: We found some broken links on this site. Very Good
ARE YOU READY TO EXPLORE THE WORLD? – EXPLORER WEBQUEST
http://auden.webster.edu/~hillso/explorer.htm
A
webquest for upper elementary students on explorers. "Exploration is a
very important part of our history. Without the explorers we would not have
found the "New World" or many other places. Christopher Columbus is a very
important explorer for America and we honor him by having Columbus Day. We know
that Christopher Columbus sailed in 1492 with the Pinta, Santa Maria, and Nina.
He sailed to find India, but found America. Now, you are the Governor of
Missouri with the job of deciding which explorer we should honor by having a day
named after him. Who will it be? How will we will celebrate him? Why are we
celebrating him?" Very Good
EXPLORERS –
WEBQUEST
NEW!
http://curry.edschool.virginia.edu/go/edis771/fall98webquests/student/skristinsmith/introex.htm
A
webquest for elementary students on explorers. "YOU have been selected to
help design the newest line of trading cards. Your job is to create
the first ever Explorer Trading Cards. These cards will look similar to
Baseball cards, but instead of having batting averages, the cards will have
facts about the explorers major discoveries. Using the information
that is provided below and the other additional sources, you will select the
information that will be printed on the cards for everyone to see. These
cards will be sold nationwide beginning next year, so we need your help
soon. Good luck! We look forward to seeing your final products!"
Note: A lot of the links on this site are broken. Very Good
EXPLORERS
WEBQUEST
NEW!
http://projects.edtech.sandi.net/pershing/explorers/
A
webquest for 7th grade students on explorers. "You will make a Pop Up book. Your Pop Up book will consist of several
pages:
· Explorer page number 1- Choose an explorer of the New World. Describe his background.
· Explorer page number 2- Describe your explorer's accomplishment.
· Indian page (indigent population)- Describe an indigent population that came into contact with your explorer.
· Your choice- Describe the effect or consequence of your explorer's accomplishment (on local population, environment, human rights, life in Europe, religion, etc.---choose one)." Very Good
THE CASE OF THE
MISSING TRUNKS –
WEBQUEST
NEW!
http://www.fcps.k12.va.us/KingsParkES/technology/webquests/explorers/
A
webquest for middle school students on explorers. "Task: Your parents have called the New York Port Authority and
given them the name of your teacher. They have mailed her the trunks. Each group
will be given a trunk. Your group's job is to open the trunk and look inside.
Using the items in the trunk and the websites below, your challenge is to figure
out which famous explorer owned the trunk. However, in order to return the trunk
to the rightful owner, the Port Authority would like you to explain why it
belongs to that person. To do that, you will have to give a talk about your
explorer explaining:
· Name of explorer
· Date of the explorer's birth and death
· Country the explorer sailed for
· Voyage dates
· Country of intended destination and where they actually landed if it was different
· Discoveries
· Interesting facts that you want the Port Authority to know
You will use the items in the trunk to illustrate the points of your talk. For instance, if you find a newspaper from the year 1492, written in Spanish, you might assume that the trunk belongs to Christopher Columbus. To the Port Authority you might say that Christopher Columbus sailed for Queen Isabella of Spain in 1492, thus we believe this trunk belongs to him. The Port Authority also needs a luggage tag and a passport for each trunk to be returned." Note: We found some broken links on this site. Good
CHRISTOPHER COLUMBUS WEBQUEST
NEW!
http://www.people.virginia.edu/~jv2x/wq.html
A
webquest on Columbus for middle school students. "The Historical
Correctness Society (HCS) has noticed an unprecedented amount of errors in a
history book's recount of Christopher Columbus's journey. As a result, they have
requested that you compose a revised history of Christopher Columbus's voyage to
the Americas.
The HCS wants you to type up a two page essay, double-spaced,
that either expands on a factual point or exposes a fallacy within the history
text.
Once this task has been completed the HCS requests that you either
compose or respond to a letter to the publisher that emphasizes the importance
of including factual accounts in history books." Very small print makes
this hard to read but the process is very good. Good
EXPLORATION – ATTRACTING EXPLORERS –
WEBQUEST
NEW!
http://web1.umkc.edu/mceeeconandhist/students/webquest/exploration/attract_expl.htm
A
webquest comparing space exploration to historical explorations.
" With the International Space Station, Alpha,
now a reality, Earthlings are closer than ever to colonizing space. Space is as
much an unknown frontier to us as unmapped parts of the Earth were to early
explorers. What similarities do we share with those early
explorers?
TASK
You see the entrepreneurial possibilities of colonizing
space. However, you are a firm believer that we must learn from the
past. Therefore, you will make a cost-benefit chart of becoming an
explorer during the 1400 and 1680s and another one for you today."
Good
EXPLORERS WEBQUEST
NEW!
http://www.jjn.gsacrd.ab.ca/studentpub/projects/webquest/NEWEXP~1.HTM
A
webquest for 5th grade students on explorers. "The grade 5 students at
J.J. Nearing School have been selected to design a new line of trading
cards. Your job is to create the first ever Explorer Trading Cards.
These cards will look similar to hockey cards and other trading cards you have
seen, but they will have facts about the major discoveries of Canadian
Explorers. Using the information that is provided below, material
that you have learned in class and additional sources, you will select the
information that will be printed on the cards. Good luck! We
look forward to seeing your final products!" Note: We found a couple of
broken links on this site. Good
EXPLORERS WEBQUEST
NEW!
http://www.pps.k12.va.us/schools/caes/room413/ExplorerWQ.html
A
webquest for upper elementary/middle school students on explorers.
"Good day young reporters. The Grand Council is going
to celebrate its first Explorers Day Festival. We need information about four
explorers who sailed the seas and discovered things about the "New World."
Task: Your group will research 4 early explorers. You will describe
their accomplishments by: ● Stating what country the explorer was working
for. ● Identifying his reason for exploring. ● Listing 3 items of information
that he found. ●Describing the successes or accomplishments of the
explorer." Note: We found a couple of broken links
on this site. Good
NAVIGATING NEW
WORLDS – EXPLORERS ON THE WEB – WEBQUEST
NEW!
http://cte.jhu.edu/techacademy/web/2000/slezak/explorerindex.html
A
webquest on explorers for upper elementary/middle school students.
"You will work with a partner to search the internet
and identify what drove the exploration of an explorer of your choice. During
your search you will be looking for certain aspects of his exploration. Once you
have obtained these aspects, you will be able to complete the
following:
· Create a PowerPoint Presentation on your explorer.
· Compose a paragraph describing your explorer's role in exploration." Good
A VOYAGE BACK TO 1492 – WEBQUEST
NEW!
http://www.manteno.k12.il.us/webquest/elementary/General/VoyageBack/A%20Voyage%20Back%20To%201491.htm
A
webquest on Columbus for grades 3-5. "Your task will be to gather
information on Christopher Columbus and his adventures. Your team will use this
information when you journey back in time, to help Columbus with his first
voyage. In addition to learning about Columbus, your team will help him convince
Queen Isabella I to support the voyage. In completing your time travel, your
team will tell the class why you think there is a holiday, in honor of
Christopher Columbus and his explorations." Note: Most of the links are
broken on this site. Good
DISCLAIMER: WE ARE UNABLE TO CHECK EVERY LINK WITHIN EVERY SITE.
You are welcome to post our website list on your website. You must post the entire list as written and credit and link back to the Cumberland County AVA Center http://www.cumbavac.org/
Prepared by the Cumberland County AVA Center staff. Please call #856-451-0817 or email: cumbavac@snip.net with questions or suggestions for future web site lists. The site list is also posted on our website http://www.cumbavac.org/as well as the sites below:
October 2005
