Name _______________________________
Explorerer ______________________________
Explorer Research Project
We have been learn about many explorers in class and now it’s your turn to
be an expert on one of them! You will create an explorer treasure chest that will
include a map, a timeline of your explorer’s life, artifacts that they could have
found, a journal entry from your explorer, and an elaborately decorated treasure
chest that shows you really know your explorer. You will need to be able to explain
and share your treasure chest and its contents with your class. The final project
will be due October 9th.
Explorer's Treasure Chest Requirements:
MAP
Your map that should include:
 labels on all countries visited
 legend
 compass rose
 arrows indicating directions of voyage
 dates of voyage
 colorful routes and images
TIMELINE
Your timeline should include:
 At least 8 important events (year of
birth/death, dates of voyage, date of
discoveries). Include a brief description of the
event.
 At least 4 pictures that illustrate the events in
your timeline.
JOURNAL ENTRY
Write at least one journal entry, putting yourself in the explorer's place and imagining what you would
say about your experiences on your voyage(s). You will use factual information for dates and locations.
Although your journal is fictional, important historical events gathered from your research should be
incorporated into your entries. You can also include sketches, photos and drawings that are relevant to
your voyage. Entries should be at least one page. Below are some ideas for journal entries.
- tell where you are goingdescribe how you are traveling
- describe the crew
- describe how you feel
- list reasons for your exploration
- tell about your hopes, dreams
and goals
- how things are going
- describe the food,
weather and the ship's
supplies
- sights
- discoveries
- hardships
- Did you find what you were
looking for?
ARTIFACTS
Explorers often drew pictures of what they had seen or brought back artifacts from the lands they
visited. This was their way of keeping detailed records and sharing information with people back home.
Artifacts are usually simple objects, such as a tool or ornament, showing human work and representing a
culture or a stage in the development of a culture. Examples of artifacts include: baskets, basket making
tools, beadwork, birch bark objects, shells, eggs, insects, cloth, clothing, pottery, silver, pewter, glass,
rocks and tools. You are responsible for contributing at least 3 artifacts to the "treasure chest" that
reflect what the explorer may have encountered on his journey. Your artifacts can be real objects,
copies or replicas of objects, hand-drawn pictures or pictures from magazines.
Along with each artifact there should be a summary that answers the following questions:
1. What is it? What is it made from?
2. What was it used for?
5. How has it changed over time? Do we use the same object today? If we no longer use the object,
what has taken its place?
TREASURE CHEST
Decide how you will create your Explorer Treasure Chest. Be creative! The sky's the limit on how to
create the items for your "treasure chest." You will not be graded on how much you spent on your
treasure chest to make it look nice. The grade comes from your thoughtfulness of artifacts and
information. This should not be an expensive project.
-Use everyday objects and art supplies to create replicas of artifacts, navigational tools and personal
belongings.
-The treasure chest itself should be at least big enough to hold all of the artifacts, timeline, map, and
journal entries.
Map
Timeline
Journal Entry
Artifacts
Treasure Chest
Overall: ______
4
Map has all required
elements with great
detail. Very clear
and neatly done.
Timeline has more
than 8 important
events with a brief
description. More
than 4 pictures. Very
neat.
More than one
detailed, well
written, and creative
journal entry. No
grammatical errors.
Typed or neatly
handwritten.
More than 3
meaningful artifacts
with detailed
summaries.
3
Map has all required
elements with some
detail. Clear and
neatly done.
Timeline has 8
important events
with a brief
description. 4
pictures. Neatly
done.
One detailed and
thoughtful journal
entry. Few
grammatical errors.
Typed or neatly
handwritten.
2
Some aspects of the
map are missing.
Needs more detail.
Lacking neatness.
Less than 8
important events
and 4 images.
Missing brief
descriptions.
Lacking neatness.
One brief journal
entry. Lacking detail
and neatness. Many
grammatical errors.
1
Map is missing many
or all required
elements. Unclear
and lacking neatness.
Timeline has very
few important
events and pictures.
Unclear and lacking
neatness.
3 meaningful
artifacts. Summaries
included.
Artifacts and
summaries are
missing.
Treasure chest is
creatively decorated
to strongly
represent explorer.
Treasure chest is
creatively decorated
to represent
explorer.
Less than 3
meaningful artifacts.
Summaries are
incomplete or
missing.
Treasure chest is
somewhat
decorated. Lacking
creativity.
Journal entry is
greatly lacking detail
or is missing. Lacking
neatness with many
grammatical errors.
Treasure chest is
missing or not
decorated.