MRS. COOK

7th Grade, World History and Geography — EXPLORERS PROJECT

SPAIN:

Columbus
http://sunsite.unc.edu/expo/1492.exhibit/c-Columbus/columbus.html

http://www.win.tue.nl/cs/fm/engels/discovery/columbus.html
Coronado
http://www.lsjunction.com/people/coronado.htm

http://www.pbs.org/weta/thewest/people/a_c/coronado.htm
DeSoto
http://library.thinkquest.org/J002678F/de_soto.htm
Magellan
http://www.marinersmuseum.org/education/ferdinand-magellan-and-first-circumnavigation-world
Italy: Vespucci
http://library.thinkquest.org/J002678F/vespucci.htm
Portugal: Da Gama
http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/06374a.htm
Cabral
http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/03128a.htm
England: Cabot
http://www.win.tue.nl/~engels/discovery/sebastian.html

• Primary Source: Drake

http://www.marinersmuseum.org/education/francis-drake
France: Joliet & Marquette
http://www.win.tue.nl/~engels/discovery/jolmar.html
Champlain
http://lcweb.loc.gov/exhibits/treasures/trr009.html
Holland: Hudson
http://www.mariner.org/educationalad/ageofex/hudson.php

Click on the following links to find articles about the explorers in the GALE Databases. (Check with your teacher or Mr. Barnett for the password).

Columbus – 1 Columbus – 2

Coronado – 1 Coronado – 2

de Soto – 1 de Soto – 2

Magellan – 1 Magellan – 2

Vespucci – 1 Vespucci -2

Da Gama -1 Da Gama -2

Cabral -1 Cabral -2  Cabral -3

Cabot -1 Cabot -2

Drake -1 Drake – 2  Drake-3

Joliet & Marquette Joliet -2 Marquette – 2  Marquette  – 3

Champlain -1     Champlain -2

Hudson -1         Hudson -2

Other Resources: Most of the following titles are available through the book clubs and in paperback. Check your library for others.

• Around the World in 100 Years by Jean Fritz
• Scholastic Atlas of Exploration by Dinah Starkey
• Explorers Who Got Lost by Diane Sansevere Dreher
• The Usborne Book of Explorers by Everette and Reid
• The World in 1492 by Fritz, Paterson, McKissack, Mahy, Highwater
• Portraits of Outstanding Explorers by Doris Hunter Metcalf CD-Rom Encyclopedias Encarta, and World Book have extensive biographies of explorers

Instructions from the King and Queen
You, as an agent for the King and Queen, are hereby authorized to make a journey to the New World on behalf of our kingdom. All of our rivals are competing for land, trade and wealth. Whoever wins will be the strongest kingdom in Europe. It is imperative that you succeed.
Your mission is to claim all land for the monarchy, locate a new trading route across the ocean, look for the Northwest Passage, and bring back gold, silver, metals, spices, new plants, and any items deemed valuable. You will be provided with a ship, crew, and all the necessary provisions for an extensive journey to the New World. Certain precise requirements must be met if you expect to be rewarded for your achievements. In order to fulfill your contract, you will make an Explorer’s Notebook consisting of the attached items. Good luck on your journey and Godspeed.
— The Monarchy

THE TASK

You must complete the journey and return with evidence of your findings in the new land. Create an “Explorer’s Notebook” for your journey.

It MUST include:

• 1. Cover with name (one inch letters) and picture of you, the explorer and the crew roster.
• 2. A public announcement alerting people to the voyage.
• 3. A map tracing the voyage from the sponsoring country to the New World and back. Show your explorations on a detailed map.
• 4. Information about you, the captain. Explain your experience, early life, and why you are exploring. (What are you looking for?)
• 5. Flag of Monarchy to plant on all land claimed.
• 6. Specific information about the area(s) explored. This should include items such as plants, land, animals, minerals, agriculture, and people you met on your journey. Include sketches and bring back samples of anything you can.
• 7. A letter to the monarch (King or Queen) sharing what you found and persuading him or her to either continue or abandon similar explorations in the future.

EXPLORER’S NOTEBOOK MUST INCLUDE THE FOLLOWING:

• * Title Page (name of explorer, years of life), By: Group Members Names
• * Early life facts OF YOUR EXPLORER, Announcement of exploration,
• * Home country OF YOUR EXPLORER and facts about YOUR EXPLORER getting money for the expedition
• * Land/region explored BY YOUR EXPLORER (map with routes, using a legend, colors, and labels)
• * Reasons YOUR EXPLORER explored. (What was he looking for?)
• *Outcomes of the Exploration YOUR EXPLORER WENT ON (What did he find?)
• *Bibliography (Where did you get your information?)

Three sources: Only one can be from the open Internet (Online Databases are encouraged)
Must use MLA style of reference (see handout)

THE PROCESS

There are 4 main parts to this project:

• Step 1: Gaining background knowledge
• Step 2: Collecting information
• Step 3: Writing and assembling the Explorer’s Notebook
• Step 4: Presenting your findings and evidence to the King and Queen

Step 1: Gaining Background Knowledge (Do as Whole class)

Before collecting information on your explorer, investigate primary source documents on navigation styles and sailing ships of the late 1400’s. You will read actual diaries and letters from Explorers written in the 1500’s. After reading these, adopt their style and write your journals and letters in the same fashion. As a whole class, discuss the style of writing in these primary materials, recording notable phrases on chart paper and noting types of ships and navigation terms.

Step 2: Collecting Information

Each group will choose a different explorer about whom to research and create an Explorer’s Notebook. Each group (3 IN A GROUP) will assign each member of the team a role. The roles will be:
1. Explorer:

• Task 4 – early life
• Task 7 – letter

2. Navigator / Scientist

• Task 3 – map
• Task 6 – samples and drawings

4. Ambassador

• Task 1 – cover
• Task 2 – announcement
• Task 5 – flag

Step 3: Writing and Assembling the Explorer Notebook

After you have gathered all the information you need, meet with your group and share what you have learned. Listen to what the other group members have learned too. Write your part of the Notebook and work with the others so that each page in the notebook has the same style. Proof read, edit, and produce a final Explorer’s Notebook.

Step 4: Presenting Your Findings to the King and Queen

Now is the time you have been waiting for. Prepare to make your presentation to the King and Queen. Bring your findings and evidence. Each person must present his/her own part. Perhaps you will be rewarded for your achievement and be knighted!

Click here for the PDF version EXPLORERS_PROJECT_MRS_COOK