Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Explorers (Early European)

For Teachers 4th - 5th
Learners research and explore the past and its historical roots involving the economic motivations of early European explorers. They assess connections between the current technological advances in transportation and that of the early...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Explorers & Early America: Columbus' Journey to Find a Western Sea Route to Asia

For Teachers 3rd
Third graders study Columbus and the route he took when he was exploring. In this social science, 3rd graders examine maps, analyze them, compare them to each other, and understand where Columbus wanted to go versus where he actually...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

My First Biography: Christopher Columbus Storia Teaching Guide | Scholastic.com

For Teachers K - 1st Standards
Sail with Christopher Columbus on a biographical reading adventure. Young explorers learn about the life of Sir Columbus as they hone their comprehension skills through guiding questions, shared reading, and fluency practice. Included in...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Early Explorers of America

For Teachers 5th
Fifth graders examine a time line of early American explorers from England, Spain, and France. They trace exploration routes on maps and write reports about early explorers. Students view a laser disc presentation, Land of Opportunity...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Captain John Smith's Shallop

For Teachers 4th - 5th Standards
Young explorers, all aboard the shallop to discover how early European explorers would navigate the American coastline to find resources, map terrain, and trade with Native American tribes.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

It’s a Big, Big World

For Teachers 5th - 6th
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...
Unit Plan
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt

Voyagers: English Language Development Lessons (Theme 5)

For Teachers 3rd
This packet, the second in the series of support materials for the Houghton Mifflin Harcourt thematic units on voyagers, contains support and enrichment activities for ELD/ESL learners.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

What They Left Behind: Early Multi-National Influences in the United States

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Students research the impact of European voyages of discovery and colonial influence on different aspects of American culture. They access a number of online sources and reference maps to trace the influences of England, France, Holland,...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Spanish Influence on United States Currency: The Origins of the "Dollar"

For Teachers 6th
Sixth graders research the Spanish influence on early colonial America and the process of establishing the present U.S. currency. They read and discuss an informational handout in small groups, and take a short quiz. Students then...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Early European Explorers

For Teachers 5th
Fifth graders complete a variety of activities surrounding European exploration of the New World. They research one explorer and write and present an essay or script in which they portray that explorer as he makes his final report to his...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Magellan

For Teachers 4th - 5th
Students identify the route of Magellan's voyage. In this map skills instructional activity, students use a globe to identify various coordinates where Magellan traveled.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Early History of Haiti

For Teachers 7th
Seventh graders make list of places Columbus explored on his first journey to Americas, locate island of Hispaniola on map, examine groups of people who have inhabited island, complete blank map and key of Hispaniola, and research early...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

European Explorer's Photo Journal

For Teachers 6th - 11th
Students study early European explorers. They choose one to research and complete a photo journal of his explorations, which includes maps, articles, etc.
Lesson Plan
Global Oneness Project

Architectural Wonders

For Teachers 9th - 12th Standards
Angkor Wat, a UNESCO World Heritage Site located in Cambodia, is the focus of a lesson that asks class members to consider factors that could result in the destruction of these archeological treasures. Pupils listen to a...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Historical Research on Explorers of Canada

For Teachers 8th
Eighth graders study an online atlas of Canada to research an early explorer.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Major American Water Routes

For Teachers 6th
Sixth graders locate and identify the major bodies of water and waterways in the United States. Through a simulation activity, they describe how early explorers would have described their surroundings. Working in groups, they create...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Columbus wants to find a shorter route to Asia

For Teachers 8th
Eighth graders identify the reasons why Columbus wanted to find a shorter route to Asia. They make a timeline of the sequence of events surrounding his explorations. Students draw a map of the routes taken by early explorers around...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

An Adventure to the New World

For Teachers 5th
Fifth graders role play the position of an explorer traveling to the new world. They research the explorers journey and create their own explorer's notebook. They complete different activities and then present their evidence to the class.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Canadian History

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Students conduct research on the history of early Canada. They create timelines of important dates, write biographies of Canadian explorers, consider the importance of geography and religion in Canada's settlement and examine both...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Exploring with Cartography

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Students are introduced to the topic of cartography. Using the internet, they research the paths and goals of early explorers. They create a PowerPoint presentation of the information they collected. They also develop a...
Unit Plan
Curated OER

European Exploration, Trade and Colonization

For Teachers 7th - 12th
Students complete many activities including mapping, reading books, and Internet research to learn about European exploration. In this European lesson plan, students study geographical mapping, trade, and colonization.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Trailblazers- Now and Then

For Teachers 5th - 6th
Students examine and study the routes of trailblazers. In this American history lesson, students find a route on a map and compare that to the route of trailblazers. Students will then compare that map with a topographical map to...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Drake's West Indian Voyage 1588-1589

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students investigate several maps detailing Sir Francis Drake's voyages.  In this geography lesson plan, students practice reading maps and locating the precise locations of where Sir Francis Drake visited.  Students create an...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Great Explorers

For Teachers 5th - 6th
Students research an explorer and present a multimedia presentation on the explorer. In this United States explorers lesson, students watch a video about Lewis and Clark. Students use Google Earth to study their journey and keep a KWL...