Explorers I
These websites are about explorers. Here students can read about the Spanish conquistadors, Vikings, Marco Polo, and others. There are timelines, maps, games, and virtual journeys. Included are additional eThemes resources with further information on explorers of North America and the Vikings.
Grades
- 3,
- 4
Links
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PBS: Conquistadors
Explore this interactive site for timelines, biographies of the Conquistadors, and in-depth information about their contact with the inhabitants of the New World. Included is a teachers' guide.
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ThinkQuest: Explorers Timeline
Click on the name of an explorer to see a picture of the explorer, read biographical information, and find additional resources. Many explorers have Quick Quiz questions that you can try.
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PBS: Conquest
How did such a small band of Spanish Conquistadors defeat an empire as powerful as the Inca? Find out on this page from the companion website to "Guns, Germs, and Steel." NOTE: The reading level may be too advanced for younger students, but there is valuable background information for teachers.
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PBS: Inca: The Lost Empire
This site provides lots of information and pictures on the Inca people and their civilization at the time of the Spanish conquest. Read about their tragic first contact with Europeans. NOTE: This site includes sponsored ads.
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BBC: The Story of the Conquistadors
This is an in-depth article about the Spanish conquest of the New World. The Reading level is too advanced for younger students, but there is valuable background information for teachers.
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Enchanted Learning: Conquistadors
Click on these links to find out about Francisco Pizarro, Pedro Menendez de Aviles, Vasco Nunez de Balboa, or Francisco Vasquez de Coronado. There is information about and maps of their explorations.
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ThinkQuest: Spanish Explorers
Click on the name of a Spanish explorer to learn more about him and see a map. Includes a timeline.
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ThinkQuest: European Exploration of the New World
This student-created site explains the reasons for exploration. There are biographies on Portuguese, Spanish, English, and French explorers, including Coronado, DeSoto, Leon, Magellan, Drake, Cabot, and LaSalle. Includes a timeline and games.
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BBC Education: The Vikings
This site has useful facts, illustrations, a timeline, and printable pages about vikings. Click on "Activities" for some fun games. Also includes resources for teachers. NOTE: The "Talk" link leads to message boards.
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BBC History: Vikings
Explore this site to find out all about the Vikings. Check the links under "Interactive Content" to explore an interactive timeline, explore a virtual Viking farmhouse, go on a virtual raid, or explore the British Museum's collection of Viking artifacts.
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NOVA Online: Vikings
Explore this site to learn about the travels of the Vikings, the construction of Viking ships, take a virtual tour of a viking village, or see your name written in runes. NOTE: This site includes sponsored ads.
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Vikings: The North Atlantic Saga
Click on "Viking Voyage" to take an virtual voyage of North Atlantic. There interactive maps, animations, video clips, and more. Requires Flash, Quicktime 4, and Cult3D. There are links at the bottom if you need to download these plug-ins.
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BBC: Viking Quest Game
This interactive game has students make many choices to guide the Vikings on a raid. Wait for the game to load, then use the arrow button to begin. NOTE: The "Talk" link leads to message boards.
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The French Come to the New World
This page shows a map of French exploration in North America, along with pictures and brief information about early French explorers.
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Enchanted Learning: Marco Polo
This page has biographical information about Marco Polo and a map showing his route through Asia.
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National Geographic: Marco Polo
Students can read about Marco Polo's journey and retrace his route in this activity.
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Exploration Through the Ages
Explore this interactive site to retrace the steps of great explorers from ancient times to the 20th century. Learn about life at sea, the history of maps, navigational tools, and more. Be sure to try the interactive voyages map and timeline.
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PBS: Roald Amundsen
Learn more about a more contemporary explorer Roald Amundsen, who discovered Antarctica.
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ThinkQuest: Jacques Cartier
Read about Jacques Cartier, a French explorer who discovered the St. Lawrence River.
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ThinkQuest: Hernando Cortez
Learn more about Spanish explorer Hernando Cortez in this ThinkQuest site.
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eThemes Resource: Famous People: Explorers of North America
Learn about the European explorers of North America and view maps of the routes they took. There are biographies for many famous explorers, including John Cabot, Marco Polo, Francisco Vazquez de Coronado, Ponce de Leon, Juan Bautista de Anza, and more. Includes links to eThemes Resources on French explorers, Columbus Day, Lewis and Clark, and vikings.
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eThemes Resource: Explorers II
These sites are about the explorers: Juan Ponce de Leon, Pedro Menendez de Aviles, Jacques Cartier, Samuel de Champlain, John Smith, and Christopher Newport. Includes information on the cities of Quebec, St. Augustine, and Jamestown. There are informational websites, an audio podcast, worksheets, interactive maps, an interactive site about the journeys of John Smith which includes games, student created websites, a teacher’s guide, and more. Includes links to the eThemes Resources: Explorers I and Famous People: Pocahontas.
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eThemes Resource: French Explorers and Settlers Around the Mississippi
These sites have biographies of French explorers and traders, plus information about French settlements in Missouri and other states along the Mississippi. Includes locations of the first French settlements and descriptions of some arts and crafts. Includes an interactive story and a video about the history of Ste. Genevieve, Missouri.
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eThemes Resource: Vikingshttps://www.emints.org/em/tool/ethemes/
These sites are about Vikings and their history, voyages, and ships. Take an interactive tour of a Viking village, participate in an online Viking voyage, and learn how to write your name using Viking symbols. Includes lesson plans and activity ideas. There is a link to an eThemes Resource on barbarian invasions.
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eThemes Resource: Lewis and Clark Expedition: Louisiana Purchase and Exploring the West
Learn about Corps of Discovery led by Lewis and Clark and their journey that began in Missouri. View the Louisiana Purchase and other documents from that time period. Includes two eMINTS WebQuests on Lewis and Clark as well as a video from the Finding Missouri: Our History and Heritage series.
Education Standards
- UT
- AR
- AL
- MO
- NV
