1. Explorers of the New World
WebQuest Activity
Grade 5 - Mrs. Morrow
(adapted from a webquest created by Jackie Walters)

2. Attention: Check out this interesting article. Can you help?

3. The Task Mrs. Morrow called the New York Port Authority and explained how you are learning about explorers and thought her class could help. The Port Authority has mailed all the trunks to Mrs. Morrow. It is now your job and the job of your classmates to return the trunk to the rightful owner.

4. Challenge:
Inside your treasure chest you will find three or four clues.
Use these clues to help you find the explorer that matches the clues provided.
List the clues on your evidence worksheet. Search the Internet, use your textbook, or any other reference source to uncover your mystery explorer.
(A list of web sources are included in this presentation.)

5. Fact Sheet : After you are sure you have identified your explorer, complete the Fact Sheet for Explorers of the New World.
Name of explorer
Date of explorer’s birth and death
Country the Explorer sailed for
Voyage dates
Where he was headed
Where he actually landed
Discoveries
Three interesting facts that you want the board to know
Explorers’ List

6. Passport and Luggage Tag
Outside must include the flag of the country where the explorer was born.
On the inside, include the name of the explorer and his birth date.
Include a drawing or picture of the explorer.
Include at least 3 important discoveries or facts.
Luggage Tag should include:
Name of the explorer.
Name of the ship he traveled on
(if you can find it.)
Country where voyage started or country that sponsored his expedition.
Be creative in designing your luggage tag.

7. Process/Evidence
Open your “trunk” and examine each of the items. Discuss the items with your partners.
Using your evidence worksheet, list the items in the trunk.
Use the list of explorers and visit the websites in the next slide. Eliminate explorers until you have found the one that you think is the owner of the trunk.
Make notes beside each piece of evidence on the worksheet that supports your decision. Give the name of the specific site or source that confirmed your guess.

8. Explorers Marco Polo Prince Henry Bartholomeu Dias
Christopher Columbus
Amerigo Vespucci
John Cabot
Vasco Da Gama
Vasco de Balboa
Juan Ponce de Leon
Ferdinand Magellan
Hernando Cortez
Giovanni da Verranzano
Hernando De Soto
Francisco Vazquez de Coronado
Sir Francis Drake
Samuel de Champlain
Henry Hudson
Zheng He
Esteban

9. General Websites:Click on these sites to help you figure out the mystery explorer.
Just scroll down until you see the explorer you want to find
Wikipedia offers a lot of information but it is sometimes complicated.
Explorers’ List

10. Congratulations
You have discovered the secret owner of your treasure chest. Now you can design your luggage tag, passport and write notes for your presentation. Make sure you hand in your fact sheet and evidence worksheet. For more information, check out the instruction sheet you received from Mrs. Morrow.