Description

Early Explorers Unit – VA SOL USI.3

This Early Explorers Unit is a hands-on unit that combines history and language arts skills! Everything you need for teaching about Spanish, French, English, Portugues, and Dutch exploration is included in these unit plans. Save time planning and your students will love completing the hands-on activities found in this unit.

For a closer look at the activities in this unit, see the product images at the top of the page!

What topics are covered in this Early Explorers Unit?

This Early Explorers Unit includes 6 detailed lesson plans. All lessons are hands-on and incorporate literacy skills. Students will investigate–

• Spanish exploration (Christopher Columbus, Juan Ponce de Leon, Hernando Cortes, Francisco Coronado)
• French exploration (Jacques Cartier, Samuel de Champlain, Robert La Salle)
• English exploration (John Cabot)
• Portuguese exploration (Bartholomeu Dias, Vasco da Gama, Pedro Cabral)
• Dutch exploration (Henry Hudson)
• cultural and economic interactions between Indigenous people and Europeans that led to cooperation and conflict
• the effects of exploration on Africa

Students will compare and contrast the motivations for, obstacles to, and accomplishments of the European explorers.

What types of resources are included in the unit?

A variety of no-prep activities are included in these unit plans.

• worksheets
• passages with comprehension questions
• hands-on activities
• centers
• map activities
• quiz
• test
• word wall cards
• timeline cards
• timeline of suggested activities: Provides a timeline for using the activities included within this unit and provides links to websites featuring videos about concepts being taught.
• answer keys included throughout

Students will become fully immersed in learning about early exploration as they create maps, complete hands-on activities, and research past events!

Are digital resources included?

All of the passages and comprehension questions, most worksheets, the quiz, and the test within this Early Explorers Unit are also included in an interactive Google Slides format and can be shared with students using your Google Drive.

Video tutorials are included to help you share interactive Google Slides with your students.

What standards are covered?

This Early Explorers Unit is specifically aligned with the 2023 Virginia U.S. History SOL USI.3, although it closely matches most U.S. History standards related to the Age of Exploration.

What are other teachers saying about this unit?

• “This was a great resource for my fifth graders. I have a wide variety of learning abilities, and this worked well with all of my students.” (Christy B.)
• “Thanks for helping make history fun and engaging! I loved this resource as a supplement to my 5th-grade Social Studies unit on Early Explorers. I love the camera activity!” (Emily W.)
• “We love, love, love this resource. My kids can’t wait for Social Studies. Everyday excitement for what we learn.” (Sonya R.)

Don’t Miss Out!

You don’t need to spend hours creating your Early Explorers Unit! These lessons require minimal prep work and are easy to implement whether teaching in-person or virtually. Students will also enjoy learning about the European explorers as they complete hands-on activities and read passages.

 

You may also be interested in:

• Early Explorers Escape Room
• Early Explorers Task Cards
• U.S. History Unit Bundle
• U.S. History Escape Room Bundle
• U.S. History Task Cards Bundle

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Other Information:

©Meghan Vestal, Vestal’s 21st Century Classroom LLC. All rights reserved. This product is to be used by the original downloader only. Copying for teachers, classroom, department, school, or school system is prohibited. This product may not be distributed or displayed digitally for public view. Teachers may NOT upload the product to school/district servers, or to any website, or share digital or print copies. Failure to comply is a copyright infringement and a violation of the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA). All sales are final.

For even more information about how I teach early explorers, check out my “7 Early Explorers Activities” blog post!