Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Early European Explorers Map

For Teachers 5th
Fifth graders create an explorer's map. In this explorers lesson plan students use a map of the world as reference to draw their own map of Europe, North America, Central America, and the Caribbean Islands. The students use their maps to...
Worksheet
Curated OER

Discoverers and Explorers Wordsearch

For Students 5th - 9th
In this trade, exploration, and discovery word search instructional activity, students locate and circle 14 significant names and terms pertaining to the discovery of the New World. A word bank is provided.
Lesson Plan
NOAA

What Little Herc Saw

For Teachers 7th - 8th
See the underwater world through a different pair of eyes! Middle school marine biologists identify deep-sea organisms by examining images taken by an ROV from the Okeanos Explorer. After determining what creatures lie beneath the...
Worksheet
Curated OER

The World, Flat?

For Students 3rd - 4th
In this discovery of America worksheet, students name the three ships that sailed with Columbus to America. Students research why people believed the world was flat and write an essay.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Those Who Have Come Before Me

For Teachers 3rd - 5th Standards
Class members are transformed into explorers as they work in groups to locate hidden items and map their journey along the way. They then leave clues for other groups of students to follow, and ultimately discover how past explorations...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Pedro Menéndez de Avilés

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Partners examine the family tree of Pedro Menéndez de Avilés, a Spanish admiral and explorer who founded St. Augustine, Florida, and answer several questions about the text using a worksheet. After they've explored the family tree,...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Columbus' Perception of the New World

For Teachers 3rd - 12th
students investigate readings relating to the voyage of Columbus in 1492 and to make historical connections based on those readings. They form pairs to share insights and answer specific questions, and share information in a final class...
Lesson Plan
University of Chicago

Women and Family in the Islamic World

For Teachers 9th - 12th Standards
How does the Qur'an detail the role of women? What modern social issues are linked to Islamic law? Address these questions with your young historians through close analysis of primary and secondary source documents.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Early Navigational Tools And Nautical Developments of the Early European Explorers of Africa And America.

For Teachers 10th - 12th
Students identify navigational tools. They describe and label seven of the nautical advances that enabled European explorers to travel to Africa and America thereby initiating a new era of exploration.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Explorers Notebook Assignment

For Teachers 7th
Seventh graders select a European explorer and accompany him on his expedition. They are required to record any pertinent information that describes the explorer's journey. Each student also write a letter to the monarch evaluating the...
Organizer
Curated OER

Explorers

For Students 6th - 8th
In this Explorers study guide worksheet, learners respond to 3 questions regarding Prince Henry the Navigator, Vasco da Gama, Columbus, Magellan, Cortez, Pizarro, Drake, and Cartier. Answers are included.
Organizer
Common Core Sheets

Voyages of Columbus

For Students 4th - 8th Standards
Learn the life of Christopher Columbus with the help of a timeline. Young historians interpret Columbus' life story from birth to death, and answer questions to reinforce comprehension. 
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Voyages in a Bottle

For Teachers 4th - 12th
Students uncover the method for easily building a ship in a bottle. Then they fabricate a 3-D model of the ship(s) used on an exploratory sailing voyage and display it in a plastic bottle. Students also draw a map of the world their...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Back to the Age of Exploration

For Teachers 3rd - 6th
Students explore world history by researching explorers of North America. For this famous explorers lesson, students research one specific explorer of their choice and identify his successes and failures by utilizing the Internet....
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Early Explorers

For Teachers 5th
Fifth graders explain the reasons why Europeans decided to explore and colonize the world. For this European explorers lesson, 5th graders complete a wall matrix about the explorers and write a summary about the explorer of their choice.
Worksheet
Curated OER

Explorers

For Students 4th - 5th
In this explorers worksheet, learners read a detailed text about the Age of Exploration from 1450 to 1700. Students then answer 7 matching or multiple choice questions.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Christopher Columbus

For Teachers 2nd - 3rd
Youngsters who are just beginning to learn about the age of exploration do a study of Christopher Columbus. They each select four pictures from the voyage of 1492 and write a caption below each one stating what is happening. The class...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Early Explorers

For Teachers 3rd - 6th
Students answer short answer questions and participate in a role play where they are explorers being interviewed. In this early explorers lesson plan, students discuss why it is beneficial to be the first one in a place.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Early Explorers

For Teachers 5th
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...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Christopher Columbus

For Teachers 1st - 3rd
Young scholars read about the good and bad aspects of Christopher Columbus in Jean Fritz's book, "Where do you think you're going, Christopher Columbus?" They conduct and analyze a survey about common myths and create a pop-up book.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Exploration--Widening Our Horizons

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Students examine the difficulties of exploration and some of the motivations for exploration. They investigate various types of explorers and identify the difficulties faced by the New World explorers. Students create a journal of...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Exploration and Encounters

For Teachers 4th
Fourth graders research explorers of the New World.  In this American history lesson, 4th graders conduct internet & textbook research about various New World explorers.  Students compare and contrast the sources used for...
Worksheet
Curated OER

Old World Meets New

For Students 6th - 8th
For this of world history word search worksheet, students locate 20 places, names, and terms pertinent to the settlement of the Americas which are hidden within the word puzzle. A word bank is included.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Tools of the Explorers

For Teachers 5th
Fifth graders examine the history of the European exploration of the New World. They research and create replicas of many of the tools used by the explorers including a compass, quadrant, hourglass, log and map.