Smithsonian Institution
Smithsonian Learning Lab: Students
This wide-ranging collection of resources includes games, informational slideshows and other online activities. Subjects include art, science, history, nature and culture.
Geographypods
Geographypods: Renaissance Day: Discovering the 'Lost World'
Gain knowledge of how exploration, mapping, and voyages of the Renaissance period shaped and changed our understanding of the modern world.
Curated OER
Google for Education: Children and Technology: Google Earth
A demo presentation using Google Earth to fly around the world, visiting notable visitor points around the globe.
TED Talks
Ted: Ted Ed: The Search for Other Earth Like Planets
Olivier Guyon examines the possibility of finding other planets within astronomical numbers, some potentially rife with life. [6:21]
TED Talks
Ted: Ted Ed: On Exploring the Oceans
Ocean explorer Robert Ballard takes us on a mindbending trip to hidden worlds underwater, where he and other researchers are finding unexpected life, resources, and even new mountains. He makes a case for serious exploration and mapping....
European Space Agency
European Space Agency: Aurora Exploration Programme: Exo Mars
This is an excellent account of the first mission to be looked at by the European Space Agency. They are trying to look at the biological aspects of Mars in order to prepare for future missions to the red planet. The resource is...
Other
Mars today.com: Home Page
MarsToday.com provides a collection of sites related to the planet Mars. Not your dad's "Whole Earth Catalog" since it's missing all of the advertising and humor. Latest news, basic planetary facts, and historic missions to Mars.
Other
Ships of Discovery: Columbus's Lost Ships
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....
Other
Alexander the Great, Synopsys
Follow Alexander the Great as he builds a tremendous empire, significantly changing and improving geography and history.
Other
The Source of the Nile
Describes David Livingstone's journey to discover the source of the Nile.
NASA
Nasa: Bibliography on Martian Exploration
This site from NASA provides a selected Annotated Bibliography on Martian Exploration presents classical Mars reading material from Percival Lowell and Alfred Russel Wallace from the turn of the last century, Werner von Braun and Willy...
University of Calgary
European Voyages of Exploration: Henry the Navigator
This site provides a well-written account of Prince Henry's adventurous personality that led him to become one of Portugal's most famous explorers. Discusses the economic benefits of Portugal's exploration and trade. Note: This tutorial...
University of Calgary
European Voyages of Exploration: Portugal
This site provides an in-depth historical detail on the rise of Portuguese trade and exploration. Special attention is given to the history of the Portuguese monarchy and the conditions that led to the nation's rise in power. Further...
Ibis Communications
Eyewitness to History: Peary at the North Pole, 1909
The resource investigates the quest for the North Pole in 1909. Students listen to Robert E. Peary discuss planting the American flag at the North Pole.
NASA
Nasa: Astronomy Picture of the Day: Lunar Dust and Duct Tape
Dust, a common and usually minor problem on Earth, presented a major challenge for the Apollo astronauts on the Moon. Here's an interesting solution created by the Apollo 17 crew.
NASA
Nasa: Astronomy Picture of the Day: Apollo 16: Exploring Plum Crater
This is a photograph of Charles M. Duke, Jr. collecting rock samples at the Descartes landing site. Duke stands by Plum Crater while the Lunar Roving Vehicle waits parked in the background. The Lunar Roving Vehicle allowed the astronauts...
Texas Public Broadcasting
Texas Pbs: Texas Our Texas: Age of Contact 1519 1689
Find out about the wave of exploration that began with Columbus' voyage in 1492, and reached the land that is now Texas a short time later.
Independence Hall Association
U.s. History: Letter From Columbus
Text from a letter of Christopher Columbus announcing that he had discovered a new land.
NASA
Nasa Space Science Data Archive: Lunar Exploration Timeline
Available in both HTML and Shockwave formats, this site is a visual timeline of US, Soviet, and Japanese Lunar exploration. Each point of the timeline links to text information about that spacecraft and mission.
Read Works
Read Works: The Age of Exploration
[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.
Read Works
Read Works: Columbus Was an Explorer
[Free Registration/Login Required] This short nonfiction book passage is about Christopher Columbus and his contributions to exploration. This book in the SummerReads series, intended to work against the summer reading slide, reinforces...
Annenberg Foundation
Annenberg Learner: Renaissance Explorers
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.
American Academy of Achievement
Academy of Achievement
The Academy of Achievement brings students face-to-face with the extraordinary leaders, thinkers, and pioneers who have shaped our world. Features include profiles of academy members (author Amy Tan at the time of this writing) and...
A&E Television
History.com: Bartolomeu Dias
A biography of explorer, Bartolomeu Dias, of Portugal. Dias is known for paving the way to Asia from Europe on the high seas in the fifteenth century.