Explorer’s Journal Project
DUE DATE: Friday, November 13, 2015
You are journeying to new lands, and must provide evidence of your exploration to your family, King,
and/or Queen from your homeland. The evidence is an Explorer’s Journal in which you, from the
point of view of a chosen explorer, record your findings.
Your journal will include the following, and in this order:
1.
2.
A cover sheet with your Explorer name, crew name(s), & crew photo or illustration (10)
A public announcement to your homeland leader and citizens about the intention of your
voyage (approximate dates are suggested) (10)
3. A map tracing the voyage from the sponsoring country to whatever new world you are
exploring and back. Show your explorations on a detailed map. This will not be fictional, so
your opportunity to be accurate is great. (10)
4. Information about you, the Captain. Explain your early life, experience before the journey
to the place of discovery, and reasons for exploration. (WHAT DID YOU GET SENT TO LOOK
FOR? WHAT WAS YOUR INTENTION?) (10)
5. A simulated daily weather & navigation (longitude and latitude) log - two days minimum,
five days maximum -- - of weather conditions (these can be completely made-up, but if you
have historical evidence of dramatic weather that affected a trip, be sure to include that
information and it helps to engage the reader and make the weather dramatic if you have to
make it up!) (2-5)
6. A colorful illustration of a flag of the monarchy (to place on all claimed land, of course!);
again, this is historical fiction, so your opportunity to be historically accurate is great (10)
7. Specific information about the areas explored, including but not limited to at least one
sketch or sketches and explanation of flora and fauna in the area, minerals and
agriculture discovered, and inhabitants (people who live on the land) you may meet on
your journey. (10)
8. A formal persuasive/opinion letter to the monarch of your birth country sharing what you
have found and persuading him or her to support or abandon similar explorations in the
future. (10)
9. EXTRA: A diagram of your ship, with masts and sails. Show where the cargo is stowed,
label the cargo, and any other pertinent information. (up to 10)
10. EXTRA: A timeline of events (up to 10)
HOW TO
1. Gain knowledge about your explorer with shared study of books, Internet sources, and/or
even historical fiction movies
2. Collect information and make a plan about what is important to include and what is not; this
is a note-taking skill we have been working on in class
3. Delegate, illustrate, write and assemble your Explorer’s Journal
4. Present your Journal to the Queen (moi!) on the due date: Nov. 13, 2015; oral presentations
to follow, and will be based on random fair card selections; be prepared any day!
5. Oral presentation grades will be individualized and based on your group’s readiness (10),
(relevant) content delivery (10), and credibility (10). Max score 30 points; 4 min. max!
GROUPINGS
You may approach this project individually, in pairs, or in a trio (by permission). It is suggested that
you consider breaking down the journal part of the project into task parts, and create a schedule for
yourselves that is not too onerous. No extensions will be given, even if one partner is lame and not
doing his or her part; this is why you must be organized and communicative. Your oral presentation
will be based on your “role playing” and content delivery. Costumes and accents are welcome!
SUGGESTED TIMELINE FOR EXPLORER
PROJECT
Pick your
explorer; pick
your partner
or trio
Collect
information, gain
background
knowledge
10/06– 10/31
10/06
Be ready to
present your
findings (your
Explorer’s
journal)
11/13
Orally present (in
costume if you
choose) your
findings to your
fellow subjects
11/13– 11/20
Write & assemble
your Explorer’s
Journal; if in a
pair or trio, be
sure to fairly
“share the load”
10/31 – 11/10
Self-assessment &
Queen’s judgment
11/13-11/20
List of Possible Explorers from which to choose
1. Choose one; 2. Find out all you can about this explorer (books, articles, Internet –
but NO WIKIPEDIA!!!) and adhering to the checklist; 3. Create your Explorer’s
journal and oral presentation!
Marco Polo
John Cabot
Sebastian Cabot
Mary Henrietta Kingsley
Vasco de Gama
Ivan Fyodorov
Zebulon Pike
Thomas Cavendish
Nellie Bly
Juan Carrasco
Jeanne Bare
Giovanni Verranzano
George Vancouver
Gaspar de Portola
Juan Ponce de Leon
Joao Cabrillo
Jacques Marquette
Francis Drake
Ferdinand Magellan
Jacques Cartier
Gertrude Bell
Louis Hennepin
Amerigo Vespucci
Samuel de Champlain
Fernao Pinto
William Clark
Merriwether Lewis
Sebastian Vizcaino
Thomas Walker
Jospeh Nicollet
Francisco de Coronado
Vitus Bering
Hernan Cortes
Alexei Chirikov
Henry Hudson
Leif Ericson
Christopher Columbus
Louis Jolliet
Captain James Cook
Vasco Nunez de Balboa
You are journeying to new lands, and must provide evidence of your exploration to your family, King,
and/or Queen from your homeland. The evidence is an Explorer’s Journal in which you, from the
point of view of a chosen explorer, record your findings.
Your journal will include the following, and in this order:
1.
2.
A cover sheet with your Explorer name, crew name(s), & crew photo (10)
A public announcement to your homeland leader and citizens about the intention of your
voyage (approximate dates are suggested) (10)
3. A map tracing the voyage from the sponsoring country to whatever new world you are
exploring and back. Show your explorations on a detailed map. This will not be fictional, so
your opportunity to be accurate is great. (10)
4. Information about you, the Captain. Explain your early life, experience before the journey
to the place of discovery, and reasons for exploration. (WHAT DID YOU GET SENT TO LOOK
FOR? WHAT WAS YOUR INTENTION?) (10)
5. A daily weather & navigation (longitude and latitude) log - five days maximum --at least
three days worth minimum - of weather conditions (these can be completely made-up, but
if you have historical evidence of dramatic weather that affected a trip, be sure to include
that information and it helps to engage the reader and make the weather dramatic if you
have to make it up!) (3-5)
6. A colorful illustration of a flag of the monarchy (to place on all claimed land, of course!);
again, this is not fictional, so your opportunity to be historically accurate is great (10)
7. Specific information about the areas explored, including but not limited to at least one
sketch or sketches and explanation of flora and fauna in the area, minerals and
agriculture discovered, and inhabitants (people who live on the land) you may meet on
your journey. (10)
8. A formal persuasive letter to the monarch of your birth country sharing what you have
found and persuading him or her to support or abandon similar explorations in the future.
(10)
9. EXTRA: A diagram of your ship, with masts and sails. Show where the cargo is stowed,
label the cargo, and any other pertinent information. (up to 10)
10. EXTRA: A timeline of events (up to 10)
COMMENTS