Process

The Process

Step One: Background Information on the Exploration to the Americas

Before starting your WebQuest, download the PowerPoint presentation below to gain some background information on the history of exploration. After viewing the PowerPoint presentation print out this graphic organizer (pdf)and map (pdf) to help guide you.

Step Two: Exploring Discoveries

To start your exploration, each group member will choose to gather information about one of the four explorers: Christopher Columbus, Juan Ponce de Léon, Jacques Cartier, and Christopher Newport. After deciding which explorer you will be, you will gather information on your particular explorer using the provided websites below. As you read through the information, please keep in mind the following questions:

What country sponsored (paid for) the explorer’s voyage?

What were their reasons for exploring?

What did they find?

What were their accomplishments?

As you answer the questions make sure you write down all the information you found on the graphic organizer under your specific explorers column.

Using the following websites, individually research the links related to your assigned explorer:

Jacques Cartier

Jacques Cartier: New Land for the French King
http://www.collectionscanada.ca/explorers/kids/h3-1320-e.html
http://www.collectionscanada.ca/obj/h3/f1/nlc000848-v6.jpg (MAP)

Jacques Cartier (1491-1557)
http://www.plpsd.mb.ca/amhs/history/cartier.html

Enchanted Learning- Zoom Explorers- Jacques Cartier
(SCROLL down to find this explorer)
http://www.enchantedlearning.com/explorers/canada.shtml

Christopher Columbus

CHRISTOPHER COLUMBUS (1451-1506)
http://library.thinkquest.org/4034/columbus.html

Age of Exploration: Christopher Columbus
http://www.mariner.org/educationalad/ageofex/columbus.php

Christopher Columbus: Explorer
http://www.enchantedlearning.com/explorers/page/c/columbus.shtml

Christopher Newport

Virtual American Biographies: Christopher Newport
http://www.famousamericans.net/christophernewport/

Enchanted Learning- Zoom Explorers- Christopher Newport
(SCROLL down to find this explorer)
http://www.enchantedlearning.com/explorers/indexn.shtml

Christopher Newport- 1560-1617
http://www.fcps.k12.va.us/KingsParkES/technology/bios/newport.htm

Juan Ponce de Léon

Ponce de Leon
http://library.thinkquest.org/J002678F/ponce_de_leon.htm

Juan Ponce de Leon
http://www2.worldbook.com/wc/popup?path=features/explorers&page=html/newworld_spanish_leon.html&direct=yes

Juan Ponce de Leon
http://204.234.22.1/SDGI/Dodge.dragonweb/Dodge.pages/archive/explorers/stelk.explorers.pgs/Juan_Ponce_de_Leon.explore.html

Step Three: Teaching Your Group

Now that you have filled out your explorer’s portion of the graphic organizer, come together as group to share your information. Each group member must interpret the information they gathered on his/her explorer. You will present what you learned to group members so that the rest of the graphic organizer can be completed. You will also trace each explorer's route on the map you already printed out. After completing these tasks, decide on which explorer’s route and accomplishments were most interesting.

Step Four: “Message in a Bottle”

Once your group has agreed on the most exciting explorer. Your group will begin work on your “message in a bottle’. For this task, you will be divided up into specific roles in order to create a message to be sent home to the explorer’s sponsor country. The message should describie the journey and the new land. Your group should focus on distinguishing between relevant and irrelevant information so that only the most important information is sent back home. To complete the task, the group will be divided up into following roles:

Two scribes that will write the letter describing the explorer’s voyage across the Atlantic Ocean. They will also depict the land discovered. Describe any findings and accomplishments throughout the journey.
A photographer who will draw pictures on the message that show what the surrounding land is like. They can draw plants, animals, the explorer’s ship, etc.
A mapmaker (topographer) will construct a final map showing the traveled route. Make sure that the starting point and final destination is labeled on the map.

After each member has completed his/her role in creating the “message in a bottle”. ALL group members must proofread the message before throwing your “message in a bottle” out to sea.