Roy Rosenzweig Center for History and New Media
European Explorers
To compare how the Spanish, French, and English approached the exploration of North America, class groups examine primary source documents and become experts on one of four explorers: Francisco Coronado, Robert LaSalle, Samuel de...
Curated OER
The Tudors: Who, What, When and Why
It may sound like the making of a daytime soap opera, but it isn't. It is a timeline that describes the many wives, struggles, kings, queens, and explorers that made up the Tudor Dynasty. You can click on the timeline to progress through...
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...
Curated OER
Explorers
Students research famous explorers. For this exploration age lesson, students research the accomplishments of John Cabot, James Cook, Francis Drake, Martin Frobisher, and Henry Hudson. Students use their research...
Curated OER
Early Explorer Time-Line
Fourth graders study exploration of the New World. In this Exploration Age lesson, 4th graders research early explorers and create time lines that include picture, captions, and the routes of the explorers studied.
Curated OER
European Explorers Word Search Puzzle
In this word search worksheet, students locate 15 words related to European explorers.  Words include harbor, Spain, interests, and John Cabot.
Curated OER
The Exploration Age
Students discover information about the early explorers. In this Exploration Age lesson, students watch "The Great Age of Exploration'" and respond to the provided questions about the video.
Curated OER
Discoverers and Explorers Crossword
In this world history worksheet, students answer 10 clues to fill a crossword puzzle with words associated with world explorers and discoverers. They work across and down with names of explorers and the places they explored.
Curated OER
Early Explorers
Fifth graders research European explorers.  In this world history activity, 5th graders will compare eight European explorers and identify important factual information about each.  Students will be engaged through game-play...
Curated OER
European Explorers of North and South America
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...
Curated OER
The Search for the Northwest Passage
Third graders listen to lectures and research the motivations and history of the Spanish, French and English explorers searching for the Northwest Passage to India. They trace routes on maps and consider how these explorers helped shaped...
Curated OER
Hernando De Soto's Trip Through South Carolina
Fourth graders become familiar with the explorations of Hernando DeSoto. In this DeSoto lesson, 4th graders recognize the routes and territories of DeSoto's explorations. Students use primary and secondary sources and research to answer...
Yale University
Avalon Project: Letters Patents of King Henry Vii Granted Unto John Cabot
A copy of Henry VII's letter granting John Cabot permission to explore the New World and claim what he finds for England. Difficult to read, but an important primary source document.
British Library
British Library: The Search for the Northwest Passage
Detailed third grade lessons help students understand what skills and knowledge were required in order to become an explorer. Includes specific lessons on John Cabot, Jacques Cartier, and Henry Hudson.
Other
Canadiana: Cabot Discoverer of North America
The full text chapter of the book "JOHN CABOT, THE DISCOVERER OF NORTH AMERICA AND HIS SON SEBASTIAN," published in 1896. A page by page reproduction.
Siteseen
Siteseen: Land of the Brave: John Cabot Facts
Overview and biographical facts on the life of John Cabot, the second European to find North America (after Christopher Columbus).
SMART Technologies
Smart: Exploring Explorers
This is a lesson activity which is written to engage visual and kinesthetic learners in their study on explorers: Leif Eriksson, Christopher Columbus, Erik the Red, Vasco Da Gama, John Cabot, Marco Polo, and Ferdinand Magellan.
Enchanted Learning
Enchanted Learning: Explorers of Canada
This site from Enchanted Learning has a listing and information on the major explorers of Canada. Many of these men came to Canada from France over different times. Pictures are provided along with links to additional information.
British Library
British Library: The Search for a Northwest Passage
Historical overviews and associated images that document the search, by European explorers, for the elusive Northwest Passage through the North American continent to the Pacific. Discusses, among others, the explorations of Cabot,...
Walled Lake Consolidated Schools
Loon Lake Elementary School: John Cabot
A biography of John Cabot (1450-1499), an explorer who made the first English voyage to North America. His voyage in 1497 gave England a claim to the mainland of North America and led to the founding of the English colonies in America....
British Library
British Library:northwest Passage: Early Approaches, a Historical Account
Read about the early attempts to find a way through the Northwest Passage. Included are portraits and early maps of the explorers.
University of Groningen
American History: Essays: Europe's North South Conflicts Reach the Americas
An essay detailing early English and French exploration and settlement in the New World to challenge Spanish control.
Curated OER
Cbc: Adventurers and Mystics: Europe and the New World
From the CBC television series about Canadian history comes this summary of the English and French search for a Northwest Passage. Find out how these explorations laid the basis for their claims in the New World.
Independence Hall Association
U.s. History: Britain in the New World
Read about the early English explorers and find out why other countries did much more early exploration than the British. The defeat of the Spanish Armada turned the tide. Discover why the English now could explore and plant colonies.