Ocean Explorer
Architects of the Coral Reef
Coral Reefs are the focus of a life science lesson plan. Upper graders look at how coral reefs are formed, how the animals and plants reproduce, and the variety of ways that humans benefit from coral reefs around the world. Groups of...
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Ocean Exploration: Shapes and Patterns Under the Sea
So many shapes in our vast oceans. Young explorers can discover new shapes in a variety of ways in this lesson. One way is having free exploration with a pattern shape kit handed out by the teacher. Another is by viewing a...
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How Does Your Garden Grow? Discovering How Weather Patterns Affect Natural Cycles
For the warm-up in this cool climate lesson, you will need to click on "Mapping" and then "US Mapping" once you arrive at NOAA's "US Climate at a Glance" page. Earth science explorers realize that 2012 was a warm winter for us. They read...
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I'll Trade a Ponce de Leon for a Columbus...
Third graders research the discovery of the Americas by various explorers. They create a multiedia presentation about an explorer of their choice including their motivations, obstacles, and successes. Their explorer information will be...
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Route Reconstruction
Students trace sailing route of Spanish and Portuguese exploration ships. They calculate and compare distances that different explorers traveled. Students calculate how long it would take to travel an explorer's route using different...
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Exploring New Frontiers
Students gather information about the contributions of various explorers. Using the internet, they discover the many viewpoints of those who conquered new frontiers. They examine and compare life 200 years ago to their life today.
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Charting the Discovery of the Americas
Students create chart using Microsoft Word depicting how trade led to the exploration of different regions of the world.
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Christopher Columbus Who?
Students recreate a "60-minutes" interview using cue cards and historical information on the Chinese explorer Zheng He. This lesson is an excellent introduction to World History during the 1400's.
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Of Maps and Worldviews
Students explore Ptolemy's world map as an expression of the Renaissance view of the world.
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Be a Food Explorer
Learners discover the origins of fruits and vegetables. In this nutrition lesson, students research how fruits and vegetables came to the United States via trade routes. Resources are provided.
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Where in the World
Students explore the global grid system. In this globe lesson, students identify latitude and longitude lines and how these can tell the coordinates of any place. They use the Internet to find the exact coordinates for their town.
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Where in the World is...?
Students work in groups to locate an appropriate planet where inhabitants of a fictional place can be relocated. They create a PowerPoint presentation to introduce their relocation site, as well as ecosystem information about the site....
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Christopher Columbus
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.
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Christopher Columbus
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...
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Exploration Resume Project
Seventh graders take on the role of a European explorer and create a resume, or personal data sheet, listing his achievements in reverse chronological order. They draw and label a map and list what the explorer did to add to Europe's...
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Explorers Stopped in Russia
Learners read an article about an explorer attempting to walk around the world. They complete vocabulary exercises and take a quiz. They identify several examples of homographs in English and complete a worksheet.
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Historical Research on Explorers of Canada
Eighth graders navigate an online Atlas of Canada to research an explorer. They examine the areas that were explored.
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Biography Crossword Puzzle
Second graders examine the Age of Exploration. They complete a crossword puzzle and review their answers. They discuss the explorers impact on the new world.
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Pocahontas: Ambassador to the New World
Students watch the video "Pocahontas: Ambassador to the New World," complete a vocabulary list and discuss the video using the provided questions.
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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...
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Ocean Currents
Students determine how water and wind affect ocean currents. In this science investigation lesson, students follow the provided steps to enable them to consider how explorers may have used ocean currents to their advantage.
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Columbus Postcard
Students examine Columbus's discoveries in the Americas. In this Christopher Columbus lesson, students determine the purpose of the explorer's voyages and then write postcards from his perspective to his parents describing his voyages.
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Get Your Facts Right!
Students explore the life and the contributions of Christopher Columbus. In this Exploration Age instructional activity, students participate in several activities regarding the explorer. Students use the Internet and print...
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Mount Everest History Lesson
Students explore Mount Everest. In this exploration lesson, students read "The Top of the World: Climbing Mount Everest," by Steve Jenkins. Students then respond to discussion questions and participate in a map skills activity.