1. Early North American Explorers
An Introduction for the Primary Grades

2. Introduction & Activities
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Explorer Timeline
Explorer Crossword
Explorer Word Search

3. Early Explorations in North America
Ericsson
Columbus
DeLeon
Vespucci
DeSoto
Hudson

4. Leif Erickson Christopher Columbus
Norse explorer born in Iceland in 980.
First European expedition to the mainland of North America.
Left Greenland in 1002 and is believed to have landed in what is now Newfoundland.
Born in Genoa, Italy in 1451.
Went in search of new sea route to Asia.
Discovered “The Americas” in 1492.
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5. Ponce DeLeon Amerigo Vespucci
Born in Florence, Italy in 1454.
First to identify the New World of North and South America as separate from Asia.
Named the “New World” America.
Born in Spain in 1407.
First recorded European expedition to what is now Florida.
Discovered the “Fountain of Youth” in Florida.
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6. Hernando DeSoto Henry Hudson
End
Hernando DeSoto Henry Hudson
Born in Spain in 1500.
Lead the first European expedition to reach the Mississippi River.
Landed in Florida and traveled to the Mississippi in search of gold.
Born in England in 1570.
Hired to find a new sea route to Asia.
Discovered the areas now known as Hudson Bay and the Hudson River.
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