Name ______________________________
North American Explorers: 5th Grade Social Studies
Choose an Explorer from this chart. Then use the websites on
www.silvagrade5.weebly.com to answer the questions about
your explorer.
Explorer
Country of
Origin
Date
Discovery
Lief Ericson and Norway
the Vikings
1001
Newfoundland
Christopher
Columbus
Spain
1492
San Salvador and
West Indies
John Cabot
England
1497
Greenland, Labrador
and Newfoundland
Amerigo
Vespucci
Spain
1497 to 1502 South America and
West Indies
Vasco de Balboa Spain
1513
Ferdinand
Magellan
Spain
1509 to 1522 First to sail around
the World
Juan Ponce de
Leon
Spain
1513
Hernando
Cortez
Spain
1519 to 1521 Mexico
Jacques Cartier France
1535
The Pacific Ocean
Florida
The St. Lawrence
River
Juan Rodriguez
Spain
Cabrillo
1542
California
Sir Francis
Drake
England
1577 to 1580
Explorations around
the World
Samuel de
Champlain
France
1603
The Great Lakes and
Quebec
Henry Hudson
The
1609
Netherlands
Hudson Bay
Use these links to answer the questions below:
1. Leif Erikson:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leif_Erikson
http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/primaryhistory/vikings/trade_and_expl
oration/
http://www.biography.com/people/leif-eriksson-9378184
2. Henry Hudson: http://www.biography.com/people/henry-hudson9346049
3. Christopher Columbus:
http://www.biography.com/people/christopher-columbus-9254209
4. Samuel de Champlain: http://www.biography.com/people/samuel-dechamplain-9243971#synopsis
5. John Cabot: http://www.biography.com/people/john-cabot-9234057
6. Amerigo Vespucci: http://www.biography.com/people/amerigovespucci-9517978
7. Jacques Cartier: http://www.biography.com/people/jacques-cartier9240128
8. Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo:
http://www.sandiegohistory.org/online_resources/cabrillo.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Juan_Rodr%C3%ADguez_Cabrillo
9. Juan Ponce de Leon: http://www.biography.com/people/juan-ponce-dele%C3%B3n-9444105
10. Vasco de Balboa: http://www.biography.com/people/vascon%C3%BA%C3%B1ez-de-balboa-9196350
11. Ferdinand Magellan: http://www.biography.com/people/ferdinandmagellan-9395202
12. Sir Francis Drake: http://www.biography.com/people/francis-drake9278809
13. Hernando Cortez: http://www.biography.com/people/hern%C3%A1ncort%C3%A9s-9258320
OTHER LINKS:
 All About Explorers: http://allaboutexplorers.com/ Only
click on the Exporers A-Z portion of this site.
 Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leif_Erikson
Type your explorers name into the “Search” box.
 History.com
http://www.history.com/topics/exploration/explorationof-north-america/videos#leif-erickson-vs-christophercolumbus Type the name of the explorer in the Search
tab. You may watch one video, but you must take notes
on it. Your time limit for watching a video is ten
minutes.
 Other research: ask Mrs. Silva to help you search for
additional information. Do not Google without permission.
Explorer Name:
____________________________________________
1. Introduction
2.. Years of exploration
___________________________________
3. From what country was he born (originate)?
________________________________
4. What country funded the Exploration? Who (title) sent the
explorer?____________________________
5.What was the GOAL of the Exploration?
_________________________________________________
____________________________________________
____________________________________________
____________________________________________
____________________________________________
____________________________________________
II.Exploration
A.Describe what was achieved:
1. What lands did he explore or find? Conquer?
_________________________________________________
_________________________________________________
2.Who were the natives living there first? Did he fight or
interact with the natives?
____1.____________________________________________
_________________________________________________
____2.___________________________________________
_________________________________________________
_________________________________________________
3. What were the consequences of the exploration? How did the
exploration affect the work and knowledge of the world?
_________________________________________________
_________________________________________________
_________________________________________________
_________________________________________________
9. Find a map of the explorer’s route or travels (Online) and copy
and paste onto your final paper.
III. Conclusion and Reflection
10.What did you learn about history from studying about your
explorer?__________________________________________
_________________________________________________
_________________________________________________
_________________________________________________
_______________________________
11. What did you find interesting about this explorer?
_________________________________________________
_________________________________________________
_________________________________________________
_________________________________________________
_________________________________________________
______________________________
12. Describe the ways this person has been honored. For example,
was anything named in honor of the explorer? Oceans, lakes,
buildings, streets, etc.
_________________________________________________
_________________________________________________
_________________________________________________
_________________________________________________
________________________
extra. Provide any additional information about your explorer.
_________________________________________________
_________________________________________________
_________________________________________________
_________________________________________________
________________________
RUBRIC FOR EXPLORERS RESEARCH
NOTE
TAKING
Powerpoint
4
The student
took his/her
time and
completely
filled out the
notes pages
provided.
He/she
elaborated
on sections,
adding more
than one
detail per
question. He
she added
interesting
facts as well.
The student
used his/her
notes to
create a
Powerpoint
with 12-14
slides. The
slides follow
the same
order as the
notes page.
The student
entered text
and graphics
to his/her
presentation.
3
The student
filled out all
sections, but
did not
elaborate
when it was
possible.
2
The notes
section was
missing two to
four answers.
1
The notes
section was
missing
more than
four
answers.
The student
completed a
Powerpoint
with the
correct
number of
slides, but
some of the
slides are
out of order
with the
presentation
or he/she
spent too
much time on
pictures and
not enough
on notes.
The student
created a
Powerpoint, but
did not get all of
his/her
information
entered into it.
He she has at
least 6 slides
done.
The student
completed
less than 6
slides.
Note cards
Citations/
Sources
used
The student
did not put
all of his/her
text on the
Powerpoint,
just main
ideas and
headings. He
she made at
least 12 note
cards to use
during the
Powerpoint
with
complete
sentences
written on
the
notecards.
The student
used at least
two
different
internet
resources (If
you want to
find a book
that could be
used in
addition to
the internetextra)
The student
started
making
notecards,
but is
missing one
or two, or all
notecards
are made but
some are not
written with
complete
sentences.
The student
made between 68 notecards
correctly or the
notecards are all
made, but do not
give
correct/complete
Information.
The student
made less
than 6, but
more than 2
notecards.
2 or less=0
points
The student
used two
sources, but
did not
entirely cite
them
correctly-or
he/she used
only one
source and
cited it
correctly.
The student
made an attempt
to cite his/her
sources, but is
missing too much
information.
The student
did not
make an
attempt to
cite his/her
sources =0
points