Core Knowledge Foundation
European Exploration of North America Tell It Again!™ Read-Aloud Anthology
Third graders listen to read-alouds and participate in extension activities about European Explorers—Christopher Columbus, Juan Ponce de León, Hernando de Soto, Francisco Vasquez de Coronado, John Cabot, Henry Hudson, and Samuel de...
Core Knowledge Foundation
Maya, Aztec, and Inca Civilizations
A 10-lesson unit explores the Maya, Aztec, and Inca civilizations. Over the course of two weeks, scholars read nonfiction excerpts, discuss their findings, and complete activities. An assessment equipped with multiple choice and matching...
National Endowment for the Humanities
Mexican Culture and History through Its National Holidays
Young historians have an opportunity to study the complex history and culture of Mexico by learning about several holidays: The Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe (Dia de Nuestra Senora de Guadalupe), The Day of the Dead (El Dia de los...
Missouri Department of Elementary
Equine Science
Did you know that horses have two sets of teeth? There is much to learn about horses, of course, and those interested in equine science will learn much from a 10-lesson agricultural science course that covers not only equine dental and...
Curated OER
Spanish Conquistadors
A Conquistador is a Spanish name derived from the Reconquista, a period of reclaiming land from the Muslims. However, it became a call of conquest! Here are 17 slides that depict key conflicts between the Spanish and Native Mexican...
Curated OER
Spanish Colonials Encounter Quechan Culture
Students use primary sources from the de Anza expedition of the 1770's to research colonial encounters with the Quechan people from Yuma Crossing, Arizona.
Curated OER
Anza's Historical Journals
Students review the journal of Juan Bautista de Anza. They reflect on his first exploratory expedition into present-day California.
Curated OER
Spanish Explorers and Conquistadors
Prior to taking a test of the Spanish explorers and conquistadors, have students review with this informative PowerPoint. Fifth graders will feel more prepared after using this slideshow as a guide to their studying.
Curated OER
Conquistadors: Hernán Cortes
High schoolers discover the accomplishments of Hernan Cortes. In this Exploration Age lesson, students discuss the attributes of Cortes and his role as a conquistador. High schoolers then conduct further research to participate in a...
Curated OER
Conquistadors: Inca Rebellion
Students explore the Incan culture. For this Incan history lesson, students research the rebellions that occured upon the arrival of the Spanish conquistdors. Students write essays regarding the rebellions and whether or not they could...
Curated OER
Meso-America
Students will identify and locate Central and South America and their countries and features, as well as Meso-American civilizations. Students will compare civilizations and discuss voyages of relevant explorers.
Curated OER
It’s a Big, Big World
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...
Curated OER
Early Explorers
Fifth graders research European explorers. In this world history lesson, 5th graders will compare eight European explorers and identify important factual information about each. Students will be engaged through game-play and...
Curated OER
Conquistadors: Francisco Pizarro
Students examine the work of Spanish conquistadors. In this Inca lesson, students research factors that led to Pizzaro's conquest of the Inca and compose essays pertaining to their findings.
Curated OER
Land Ho! Early Exploration and Settlement of the Americas
Students complete a unit to learn about early American exploration. In this Americas exploration lesson, students complete eight lessons of activities to learn about Columbus's discovery of the new world and the early exploration of the...
Curated OER
World History: Legacy of the Conquistadors.
Students examine the influence of the Spanish conquistadors on ancient South American Cultures. In four separate lessons, they discover the relationships of Cortes and the Aztecs, Pizarro and the Incas, Orellana and the Amazons, and...
Curated OER
What's In a Name?
Learners research Cabeza de Vaca and other conquistadors. They review how names were given to Alvar Nunez Cabeza de Vaca's family and discuss the achievements, risks, experiences, and characteristics of de Vaca. They write an acrostic...
Curated OER
Step by Step
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...
Curated OER
Conquistador
Eighth graders, after a warm up involving a professional basketball player playing a game against fifteen fifth graders, describe what a conquistador is and how they were able to take over the ancient Indian empires found in the...
Curated OER
Explorers
Young scholars search interactive sites to discover the history of exploration. They inspect an explorers' timeline and read about them. They participate in a Viking quest game and a multimedia recreation of Marco Polo's explorations.
Curated OER
Mexico: A Look At Its Culture and Geography
Students canvass the Mexican geography, culture, dress, language, crafts, and traditions in this unit of eight lessons. The Mexican Independance Day is compared to our own and the contributions of the Mayan, Azetec, and Spanish are...