Explorers
A WebQuest for 5th Grade Social Studies
 by Mrs.Leehman


Introduction:

    Explorers have always been adventurous people. Their motivations vary from the desire for wealth and fame to a quest for knowledge. Some expeditions are more successful and others more dangerous, but all are interesting!
    The United States Postal Service wants to create a new stamp depicting  the most famous explorer of all time. This is a very daunting task and they have asked for our class to help with the researching process. You will work in teams to create a product which will be presented to the USPS Aurora area representative. Find out as much as you can about why he (or she) is so important to history.
          Have fun and good luck!
 

The Task:

Choose an explorer and research their life and voyages/explorations in more detail. Your team may use the web sites listed below as well as the LMC, public library and other resources.
Find a map of the voyage, a picture of your explorer, and any other interesting pictures that will look good on your display.
Create a presentation that includes an 8" by 11" drawing of your stamp, your rationale for choosing this explorer to honor in persuasive essay form, your map, pictures, and anything else you want to display about your findings. You will be presenting your choice and reasons orally to the USPS representative as well as the class, so remember to write out a speech using notecards.
 

The Process:

First, you and your team need to choose an explorer.  Don't spend too much time doing this because we have already investigated and ranked many.  When your team agrees on the same person and then get started with your in depth researching.

Next, you need to research and find out as much as you can about the explorer you are working on.  Use the web sites in the web site section below as well as the books and magazines we obtained from the LMC.  You can use the sites that relate directly to your explorer or any other sites that look interesting.  Use good note-taking skills to keep your notes organized.  Try to find out as much information as you can about the following topics. Remember to use specific examples and to keep track of where you found your information for your bibliography:

          What was your explorer like?


          What was the voyage like?


 Find a map of the voyage.  Many of the web sites listed below have maps.  Look in the books we have in the classroom, including your social studies textbook.  Print out the map if you've found it on the the websites.  If you find the map in a book, mark it for me and I will make a copy.  If your team prefers to draw you own that is fine. You may want to color the map to make it look more interesting for your display, or use yarn to mark the route(s) on a large map.

Find or create a picture of your explorer for your display.  Many of these are on the web sites listed below.  If you can't find a picture of your explorer, look in the many books available.

Use your research notes to help you write the persuasive essay. Use good essay form. Remember to include lots of details and examples. The essay should clearly show why you choose to honor this explorer on a postage stamp.

Creatively design a stamp that depicts the explorer and or the voyage/exploration/trip. Careful, colorful and detailed work is necessary.

Create a display of all the information you have collected.  Write out your essay on final draft paper and paste it on the poster/display.  Put your map, your picture of the explorer, and anything else you want to have during the presentation on the team's display as well. Don't forget to include the stamp idea you have created.

Make sure you have completed everything on the checklist:
 

Resources:

Explorer Hall of Fame
Discoverers Web-Alphabetized
Explorers of the Millennium
 
 


Lewis & Clark 1
Lewis and Clark 2
19th Century Explorers- Lewis & Clark

Christopher Columbus 1
Christopher Columbus 2
Columbus's Journal
 
 

Sir Francis Drake 1
Sir Francis Drake 2
Sir Francis Drake 3
 
 

Ferdinand Magellan 1
Ferdinand Magellan 2
Ferdinand Magellan 3
Magellan's Journal
 
 

Leif Erickson
Leif Erickson 2
Vasco Da Gama



If you have extra time you might want to go back and look at some other sites about explorers to learn more.  You
can also check out general information about explorers at the following websites:
          The Mariner's Museum
          4th and 5th grade explorer resources
          Webquest about Henry Hudson
         Deaths due to exploration
        Yahooligans School Bell Social Studies Exploration of Explorers
       Yahooligans Around the World History of Exploration

Evaluation:

Four Points
 


          Three points


          Two points


          One point

Conclusion:

When  this WebQuest is complete you will have a better understanding of:

Link to Teacher Page