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Days 1 and 2: Understanding the World Map
Understanding the locations of the continents and oceans is essential in a unit on the Age of Exploration because explorers traveled across these waters to reach new lands. Geography helps us follow their routes and understand the challenges they faced. This differentiated unit reinforces world geography through engaging online projects and games, offering solutions for students in grades 3–9. Younger students focus on identifying continents and oceans, while older students work with latitude, longitude, and nation identification. The unit also includes a great PowerPoint presentation! It's all in the above link! |
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Day 3: Obstacles in the Age of Exploration: Explorer Maps
This lesson guides students through the development of early maps and mapmaking, showing how explorers refined geographic knowledge over time. It includes structured discussion prompts, practical classroom activities, and an interactive online Explorer Map Maker to deepen understanding and provide an engaging, hands-on way to replicate the art of historical maps. Full lesson plan, script, articles, and links are provided. |
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Day 4: Obstacles in the Age of Exploration: Sea Monsters!
This lesson explores the wonder of the Age of Exploration by examining mythical sea monsters—such as the Kraken and the Sea Bishop—that once terrified sailors. It features engaging articles on how these legends spread, along with creative literacy and art activities that highlight some of the most fascinating aspects of the era. Differentiated articles, projects, a full lesson plan, a script, and online activities are all included. |
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Day 5: Obstacles in the Age of Exploration: Scurvy and Other Diseases
Students will enjoy this lesson as it explores the hardships of long ocean voyages during the Age of Exploration, including the dangers of scurvy and other diseases. It provides narratives along with both online and printable literacy and creative activities. A highlight of the lesson is the Gourmet Galleon, an online program where students create their own interactive ship “menu” featuring the “tastiest” meals served to sailors on extended sea journeys. |
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Day 6: Marco Polo and the Silk Road
This comprehensive lesson plan details the life of Marco Polo, his journey along the Silk Road, the products he saw in China, and his incredible impact on the Age of Exploration. It includes multiple articles and narratives, a Silk Road interactive map, and lots of differentiated literacy activities for students in grades 3-9. |
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Day 7 - Portuguese Exploration in the New World
This lesson introduces the Age of Exploration with a presentation and webpage highlighting the achievements of Portuguese explorers such as Prince Henry the Navigator, Bartolomeu Dias, and Vasco da Gama. It features engaging narratives, literacy and comprehension activities, interactive maps, online challenges, and more. |
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Day 8 and 9 Christoper Columbus
This section examines the life and times of Christopher Columbus, his role in the Age of Exploration, his influence on Spanish colonization, and his complex, often debated legacy. It also includes a variety of online and printable literacy activities, detailed lesson plan, critical thinking tasks, and a PowerPoint presentation that can serve as the centerpiece of the lesson. |
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Day 10 - 11 Spanish Exploration in the New World
This section explores the major Spanish explorers and their contributions to the Spanish Empire, including Columbus, Ponce de León, Magellan, Coronado, de Soto, Balboa, Pizarro, and Cortés. It features a detailed web exhibit with individual biographies, a PowerPoint presentation that can serve as the centerpiece of the lesson, a comprehensive lesson plan, and a wide range of literacy activities and thought-provoking writing prompts. |
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Day 12-13 The Search for the Northwest Passage
This lesson explores the many unsuccessful expeditions launched in pursuit of the Northwest Passage. It includes a detailed lesson plan, a differentiated article, a PowerPoint presentation, an interactive animated map of Cabot’s and Hudson’s journeys, a scavenger hunt activity, and differentiated reading comprehension materials. |
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Day 14 - English Exploration in the New World
This lesson details English exploration in the New World. It includes a detailed lesson plan, a differentiated article, a Power Point presentation, and options for individual explorer biographies, and multiple differentiated reading comprehension exercises. |
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Day 15-16: Sea Dogs and Pirates of the Caribbean
This engaging two-day lesson introduces students to the fascinating world of the British privateers—also known as the Sea Dogs. It includes a detailed lesson plan, a differentiated article, a PowerPoint presentation, and a variety of exciting activities. Students can create an online or printable Letter of Marque, explore an interactive Pirate Headquarters map and scavenger hunt, and play two math games—Place Value Pirates and Decimals of the Caribbean. The lesson also features numerous differentiated literacy and comprehension activities to support diverse learners. |
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French Exploration of the New World
This lesson introduces French explorations in the new world from Cartier to La Salle to the Voyageurs. It includes a detailed lesson plan, differentiated article, PowerPoint presentation, interactive map of La Salle's explorations of the Great Lakes and Mississippi River, and numerous literacy activities. |
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Day 18: The Histo-Geography of the Age of Exploration
The lesson in the unit presents the concluding geography of the Age of Exploration and features an interactive map of the Western Hemisphere showing the land claimed by Portugal, Spain, England, and France. Students can click on each empire to learn more and complete an interactive scavenger hunt. A detailed lesson plan is also included.
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Days 19-20: Putting it All Together: Culminating Activities
This section consists of a lesson plan with three possible culminating activities. These include an interactive explorers exhibit with digital scavenger hunts; Mt. Explorer, a creative explorers-themed version of Mt. Rushmore that students assemble; and Explorers Timeline: The Game, a challenging activity in which students must place key events from the Age of Exploration in the correct order on a digital timeline.
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