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
Exploring the Hudson in 1609
While this lesson focuses on a study of the Hudson River, it could be used as a template for a discussion of map skills, converting measurements, and plotting a route. The lesson includes vocabulary and other resources to make it a...
Curated OER
European Exploration, Trade and Colonization
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.
Curated OER
Hawaii: State History
In this Hawaii state history activity, 4th graders read three pages of state history then complete 10 true and false questions.
Curated OER
Stories That Go with the Territory
Learners investigate various expeditions throughout history to new and/or uncharted territories. They work in groups to develop and 'produce' television news magazine segments about some of these historic expeditions.
Curated OER
European Exploration
Sixth graders analyze key European explorers and focus on where and why they explored. They research who sponsored the explorers as well as the accomplishments of the explorers. They discuss the lasting effects of the expeditions in...
Curated OER
Buried in Ice: The Mystery of a Lost Arctic Expedition
Students read a novel about a lost arctic expedition by Sir John Franklin. In groups, they discuss the author's quest to determine what happened to Franklin and his crew. Using the internet, they compare and contrast the expeditions by...
Curated OER
Water: to the Last Drop
Students research how water played an important role in US history. In this social studies lesson, students make a mock newscast from one of the events they researched. They present their newscast to the class.
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,...
University of Houston
University of Houston: Engines of Our Ingenuity: No. 1240: Northwest Passage
An article on the history of the search for the Northwest Passage. The discussion focuses on the reality that there is no Passage - only a history of brave people suffering incredible hardships to learn that the region was impassable...
Mariners' Museum and Park
Mariners' Museum: The Ages of Exploration: Age of Discovery
This Age of Discovery page presents naval artifacts and explorers of the 15th century to the early 17th century. It looks at European explorers who journeyed to North and South America, the search for the Northwest Passage, and...
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.
Curated OER
Cbc.ca: The Search for the Northwest Passage : Frobisher's First Voyage
Martin Froblisher of England dreamt of finding the passage that would lead to China's riches! His early life as a pirate and rogue is profiled as is his first voyage to the New Lands. His first view of the Inuit led him to believe he had...
Curated OER
Cbc.ca: The Search for the Northwest Passage :Frobisher's Second Voyage
Forbisher's second expedition set out to find gold rather than a route to China. Why the change in goals? He claimed the Arctic territory for England and returned with ships loaded with ore. Had he given up the dream of the Passage?
Royal Canadian Geographical Society
An Ill Fated Journey
A fascinating look at the Franklin Expedition of the Northwest Passage.
Walled Lake Consolidated Schools
Loon Lake Elementary School: Sir Martin Frobisher
A biography of Sir Martin Frobisher (1535-1594), one of the first English navigators to search for a Northwest Passage to India and eastern Asia. He became known as one of the greatest seamen during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I. He...
Curated OER
Northwest Passage
This photo provides a look back in time at the search for a navigable route for the Northwest Passage.
University of Houston
University of Houston: Engines of Our Ingenuity: No. 932: Martin Frobisher
An audio commentary and transcript discussing the life of British explorer, Martin Frobisher. Focuses on Frobisher's search for gold and how this search led him to the discovery of the Northwest Passage through the Arctic.
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.
Princeton University
Princeton University Library: Exhibition: Of Maps and Men: Samuel Hearne
Entry about eighteenth-century explorer Samuel Hearne, from a larger exhibition about the search for a passage to the Orient through Canada. Hearne is credited with surveying the Coppermine River and with being the first European to view...
Walled Lake Consolidated Schools
Loon Lake Elementary School: Henry Hudson
A biography of Henry Hudson (1565-1611), an English explorer and sea captain. He made four voyages in an attempt to discover a northern route between Europe and Asia. Hudson never found such a passage, but he sailed farther north than...
Ducksters
Ducksters: Explorers for Kids: Henry Hudson
The biography and life of explorer Henry Hudson can be found on this website. Read about how he explored North America searching for the Northwest Passage.
Other
The Franklin Trail
The Franklin Trail is the web site for a group of archaeologists and adventurers who made numerous trips to the Arctic to investigate what happened to the Franklin Expedition. Historical information about the Franklin Expedition can be...
Curated OER
Most Recent Plan of the North Pole and Surroundings, by Frederick De Wit, 1715
This map provides a look back in time at the search for a navigable route for the Northwest Passage.