European
Exploration
Introduction
The Task
The Process
Resources
Conclusion
Evaluation
Web page Template


 
 
Introduction

Although the Vikings traveled to North America more than 900 years ago, it was Christopher Columbus' good luck in 1492 that whipped Europe into a frenzy.  Queen Isabella and King Ferdinand, the Spanish Monarchs whom funded Columbus' exploration, were the first to realize the potential wealth of the New World. Spain became the richest and most powerful nation in the world. 

"How long will it last? ........No one knows. More importantly, will other European Countries allow Spain to reign supreme???
That remains to be seen........"
move to the task

-Pirate Edward Corrigan
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The Task

Pirate Corrigan is a ruthless man who preys on explorers. He has assigned your motley group to spy on the European Explorers whom are heading to North America. Pirate Corrigan requests that all groups create a death warrant (via a web page) for only the most exceptional explorer. Based on the scoring rubric, Pirate Corrigan will handsomely reward any group that successfully completes the assignment.  However, anyone caught to be a coward... 
(failing to complete the task)
......will walk the plank!!!!! 

"Those explorers braved rough seas and unreliable navigation methods...many survived the natural elements. European monarchs made fortunes from the explorers. Should the monarchs be the only ones who reap vast fortunes??
Let it be me......"
move to process

-Pirate Edward Corrigan
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Process
  • Within your group, break into pairs.
  • Select one of the two investigation roles below and begin your assignment.
  • After your group has completed the process,  ya'll will complete make a web page template.
Researchers
Biographers
Researchers
  • Identify which country funded the exploration.
  • Describe, in 3 well developed sentences, which region of the new world each explorer discovered. (you need to include exact and relative location)
  • In 4 well developed sentences, explain how each country/explorer related with Native Americans
  • In 3 well developed sentences, Identify the number of voyages that each explorer made. What were the range of years for each voyage?
  • Capture a map of the explorer's voyage(s).
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Biographers
  • Determine the years that each explorer lived.
  • Describe, in 4 well developed sentences, significant events in the life of each explorer. (you must identify what contributions he made to his country)
  • In 5 well developed sentences, analyze, the impact each explorer had on his country.
    • Explain how the economic and military power of each country change? 
    • Describe how the country benefit from the voyage? 
    • Elaborate on the new wealth brought to the country.
  • Capture a picture of each explorer
    • move to bottom of section

"I love a good challenge...it tests your character and separates the Lake Puppies from the Sea Dogs...
And I'm top dog....."
move to resources

-Pirate Edward Corrigan

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Resources

A list of possible explorers to eliminate are below. As a group, select 4 explorers from the list and spy on their lives.


Cortez
Balboa
Cabot
Columbus
de Soto
Cartier
 
Hudson
  
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Henry Hudson
This is a great map site of Henry Hudson's voyages.
Henry Hudson: brief biography of this explorer who unsuccessfully searched for a western passage to the East Indies.
Henry Hudson - describes his four ocean voyages
Henry Hudson: Explorer of the Hudson River
This page contains important facts about Henry Hudson

resource list
Hernando de Cortez

Hernando de Cortez - Visit this site for a good biography of Hernando de Cortez
Hernando de Cortez and the Conquest of the Aztec Empire - This is a brief biography 
Hernando de Cortez - This is a very detailed description Cortéz' expedition to Mexico beginning in 1519 and ending with his conquest of the Aztecs in 1521
Hernando Cortez Timeline - short timeline of the major dates and events in his life.

resource list
Christopher Columbus

This is an introductory site for Christopher Columbus
Middle Ages: Christopher Columbus - brief info on his life 
Christopher Columbus and the Spanish Empire - features a biography of Columbus, 
This site about Christopher Columbus details the effects of exploration on the New World and its inhabitants.
This is a valuable page with simple facts and good pictures.

resource list
John Cabot

Very little information exists today concerning Giovanni (or Zuan) Caboto, now called John Cabot. 
John Cabot - This is a very detailed 
This is a valuable page containing important facts and a map of John Cabot's voyage.
John Cabot: This project includes information about his life and voyages.
John Cabot and his son were great explorers. DO NOT MISTAKE HIS SON'S ACCOMPLISHMENTS FOR HIS!!
John Cabot: Photograph

 resource list
Vasco Nunez de Balboa

This location about Balboa is comprehensive.
Nunez de Balboa is the First European to see the Pacific Ocean from the Americas Balboa reaching the Pacific (drawing)
Vasco Nunez Balboa: this site lists important facts about Balboa's accomplishments.

resource list
Jacques Cartier

This site serves as a brief overview of Jacques Cartier's accomplishments.
This page contains important facts and pictures. It also includes a map.
Jacques Cartier: A comprehensive article on his life and times.
In 1534, Jacques Cartier began a series of explorations.
Jacques Cartier: A Lie and A Claiming of Possession

resource list
Hernando de Soto

This site contains key accomplishments and a map of Hernando de Soto's exploration.
Hernando de Soto State Archaeological Site
Hernando de Soto was a Spanish Conquistador who came to North America in search of gold and other riches. 
Hernando de Soto led 600 explorers and settlers to Florida in 1539

resource list

 
Conclusion

 With the defeat of the French in 1763, Great Britain claimed almost total control of the Atlantic Coast line. The American colonies proved to be very profitable for Great Britain, as well as troublesome. 

"As I foresaw, whom ever controlled the New World would dominate the European continent. Will Great Britain continue to control the North American continent or will the American Colonists grow tired to bowing down to the King of England? 

You Tell Me..."


 
- Pirate Edward Corrigan
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Evaluation


4
  • Interprets the information gathered for the death warrant in accurate and highly insightful ways. Provides a highly creative and unique synthesis of the information.
  • Insightfully determines the types of information that will benefit the class and effectively seeks out that information.
  • Analyzes information in detail, accurately and insightfully determining whether it is credible and relevant ot a specific task.
  • Uses the important information gathering techniques and information resources necessary to complete death warrant. Identifies little-known information resources or employees unique information gathering techniques.
  • No grammar or spelling mistakes. Only uses complete sentences.
  • Includes all of the required information and completes the assignment on time.
3
  • Accurately interprets information gathered for the death warrant and concisely synthesizes it.
  • Accurately assesses a task to identify areas requiring additional information for clarification or support and seeks out the needed information.
  • Accurately determines whether information is credible and relevant to a specific task.
  • Uses the important information gathering techniques and information resources necessary to complete the task.
  • No grammar or spelling mistakes. Mostly uses complete sentences, but some incomplete sentences.
  • Includes most of the required information and completes the assignment on time. 
2
  • Makes significant errors in interpreting the gathered for the death warrant or synthesizes the information imprecisely or awkwardly.
  • Does not accurately assess the information needs of the death warrant or fails to seek out needed information.
  • Makes some significant errors in determining whether information is credible and relevant to a specific task.
  • Fails to use some significant information gathering techniques and information resources necessary to complete the task.
  • Several grammar and spelling mistakes. Uses incomplete sentences.
  • Includes some of the required information and completes the assignment on time.
1
  • Grossly misinterprets the information gathered for the death warrant or fails to synthesize it.
  • Makes little or no attempt to assess whether a task would benefit from additional information.
  • Makes little or no attempt to determine whether information is credible and relevant to a specific task or totally misjudges the relevance and credibility of information.
  • Fails to use the most important information gathering techniques or the major information resources necessary to complete the death warrant.
  • Almost no correct grammar or spelling usage. No complete sentences.
  • Includes none of the required information and not completed on time.

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  Updated 06/30/04