Explorers Web Quest

Explorers WebQuest

Introduction

Pull up your anchor and set sail on an adventure! During the Age of Exploration many men set out on the open sea to find fame, wealth, new lands, and just for the adventure of it all. Some were successful, some not, and some lost their lives. Which explorers do you think did the most good and/or the most harm?

Task

Your class has been asked to create explorer resource booklets for the Learning Center. Your group is to choose the three explorers from the list we studied that you feel did the most good and/or the most harm. You will find information about these explorers from printed materials and from the internet during computer lab time. The information will be used to create one booklet for each group.

Guidelines/Process

First, meet with your group of four people and decide 4-6 possible explorers that might be included in your booklet.
Assign each group member 1-2 explorers to research. You are looking for facts, pictures of the explorer, maps of voyages or expeditions, timelines of lives etc. Use the special note taking graphic organizer sheets which will be available to you. This part will take your group several research time periods in the Learning Center and in the computer lab. Click here for sample questions to help in your research.
Meet with your group again, share your notes, and then make your final three selections of the explorers you feel did the most good or the most harm. Make rough drafts of the three explorer pages plus a cover design page. Check the chart of a sample page hung in the classroom to be certain your group included all the necessary information which we discussed.
Now is final copy time.....Assign the final cover page for one person to complete and one explorer page to each of the other three members of your group.
When all the pages are complete, meet one final time with your group to assemble your booklet. Remember to have each person sign their name on the cover in the bottom right hand corner.

Explorers List

            Vikings
            Marco Polo
            Bartholomeu Dias
            Vasco da Gama
            Christopher Columbus
            Amerigo Vespucci
            John Cabot
            Vasco Nunez de Balboa
            Ferdinand Magellan
            Hernando Cortes
            Francisco Pizarro
            Ponce de Leon
            Alvar Numez Cabeza de Vaca
            Francisco Vasquez de Coronado
            Hernando de Soto
            Jacques Cartier
            Samuel de Champlain
            Henry Hudson

Resources

Books will be available in the classroom and in the Learning Center for note taking research.

You will be given a sheet of research questions to help guide you in taking notes. These questions will also be put up for you on a transparency both in the Learning Center and the classroom.

Click on the following web sites during computer lab to find more information for note taking.

Discovers Web

This web site opens up a wealth of information because you are able to link to many other web sites about exploration.

Mariners' Museum

This is another general source for opening up other links for explorer information.

The Age of Discovery

Click on this site for many connecting resource links about explorers.

Kid's Click

On this site you are able to scroll down through an alphabetical list of exploration topics chosen especially for kids. You are also able to type in an explorer's name for a search.

Evaluation

Each time your group meets you need to have each person fill out a "Group Progress" report sheet to record and evaluate what your group and each person in your group accomplished. Click here to connect to the Group Progress Sheet.

Your final group resource booklet will be graded using the requirements grading sheet which we brainstormed together.

Conclusion

    This activity has expanded the learning of:
            * knowledge of explorers
            * note taking skills
            * research skills both in a library setting and on the internet
            * communication skills
            * problem solving strategies and critical thinking skills
            * technology skills

Last Dated 7-31-01

Written by LeAnn Kanas, Grade 5 Teacher, Oakhill Elementary School, Streamwood, IL, District U-46.

This WebQuest was designed as part of the requirements for the Aurora University/Kane County (IL) Regional Office of Education course "Infusing Learning with Technology using WebQuests: OEDS581-5023 , July 30 - Aug. 1, 2001 under the guidance of instructor Richard Levine.