Access these sites through your computer’s Internet connection. Open the underlined address (URL). Information can be printed or downloaded to your computer. Be sure to follow links to other sites and find your way back with the "Back" button. Also, we indicate where we found broken links in webquests. You will need to supply your own links.

All of the sites listed were active as of October 5, 2005. The evaluation is by the AVA Center staff according to the amount of information given, the general appearance of the site and its potential use in the classroom.

                           WEBSITES       LESSON PLANS & CLASSROOM ACTIVITIES       WEBQUESTS

1492: AN ONGOING VOYAGE
http://www.ibiblio.org/expo/1492.exhibit/Intro.html
An online Library of Congress exhibit with six sections: What Came to Be Called "America"; The Mediterranean World; Christopher Columbus: Man and Myth; Inventing America; Europe Claims America; and Epilogue. Excellent

AMERICAN JOURNEYS: EYEWITNESS ACCOUNTS OF EARLY AMERICAN EXPLORATION                 NEW!
http://www.americanjourneys.org/
"American Journeys contains more than 18,000 pages of eyewitness accounts of North American exploration, from the sagas of Vikings in Canada in AD1000 to the diaries of mountain men in the Rockies 800 years later.
Read the words of explorers, Indians, missionaries, traders and settlers as they lived through the founding moments of American history. View, search, print, or download more than 150 rare books, original manuscripts, and classic travel narratives from the library and archives of the Wisconsin Historical Society.
To get started, simply select an activity on the toolbar above." Outstanding. Excellent

THE AMERICAN MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY – CONGO EXPEDITION – MAY 1909 TO NOVEMBER 1915
http://diglib1.amnh.org/
A detailed multimedia account of the Congo Expedition from 1909 to 1915 in Africa. Includes photographs, field notebooks, the indigenous people of the region, maps and much more. Excellent

THE CONQUISTADORS – START THE ADVENTURE
http://www.pbs.org/opb/conquistadors/home.htm
An Online Learning Adventure on the Conquistadors for 6-12 grades. Sections: Timeline of Conquest (choose Events Timeline or Disease Timeline), Michael’s Journal (journal of producer of series who followed the trail of the Conquistadors), What Do You Think? (message forum-can read but not post), and Teacher’s Guide. Excellent

DISCOVERERS WEB                         START HERE!
http://www.win.tue.nl/cs/fm/engels/discovery/index.html
Links to a massive amount of information on explorers from the Ancient World to the 20^th century and from North America to Antarctica to the Pacific islands. Includes maps, illustrations, photos, and more. Note that not all sites are in English. (I found no dead links from a sample of 20) Some of the links are to student papers. Excellent

DISCOVERING LEWIS AND CLARK
http://www.lewis-clark.org/
Focuses on Persistent Issues, Core Values and Changing Visions. An enormous site with 1,400 pages including a 19-part synopsis of the expedition by historian Harry Fritz including selections from the journals, photographs, maps, animated graphics, moving pictures and sound files. Outstanding. Excellent

DISCOVERY AND EXPLORATION                     NEW!
http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/gmdhtml/dsxphome.html
An American Memory collection of maps and illustrations documenting the discovery and exploration of the continents and their interiors from the 15^th to the 19^th centuries. See the List or use the Gallery View for thumbnails of the maps. Good

EDUCATION WORLD – THE GREAT EXPLORERS!
http://www.education-world.com/a_special/millenium_02.shtml
Education World’s look at the Great Explorers of the Millennium. Sections: Lessons of the Explorers, Exploring the World-Virtually, A New Twist on Explorers, and Great Sites for Teaching About Explorers. Excellent - See also the Lesson Plans section

EMPIRE OF THE BAY
http://www.pbs.org/empireofthebay/
Companion web site for the PBS program Empire of the Bay about the bold explorers of the Hudson Bay Company who "tamed a wilderness" as they set up merchant routes. Includes:Empire of the Bay Transcript; Maps – Paths of the Explorers; Forum – Ask the Experts; Profiles- Who Were the Pathfinders?; Quiz – Test Your Knowledge; and a Timeline. Excellent

EXPLORERS – 42EXPLORE                             NEW URL!
http://www.42explore2.com/explorers.htm
A gateway site on explorers with links to web sites on explorers, activities, web quests and sites by kids for kids. Excellent

EXPLORERS
http://edtech.kennesaw.edu/web/explorer.html
A gateway site with links to explorers and expeditions, lesson plans, activities, and more. Excellent

EXPLORERS OF THE MILLENNIUM                         NEW!
http://library.thinkquest.org/4034/
A student-created site for upper elementary and junior high students on explorers. Sections: Hall of Fame, Timeline, Nominations, Explorer Quiz, and Explorer Links. Excellent

FILL UP THE CANVAS: RIVERS OF WORDS – EXPLORING WITH LEWIS & CLARK             NEW!
http://memory.loc.gov/learn/features/lewisandclark/index.html
An outstanding site on the Lewis & Clark Expedition with Flash. Click on each step of the journey to view original documents, illustrations, etc. Excellent

GOD, GLORY AND GOLD - THE ROOTS OF EXPLORATION                     NEW!
http://library.thinkquest.org/J002760/
A site for elementary students by students on why men explored the world. Sections: Pirates, Shipwrecks, Explorers, Myths, Navigation, Trade, Poetry, and Games. Excellent

HENRY HUDSON – 17^TH CENTURY EXPLORER           
http://www.ianchadwick.com/hudson/
A detailed collection of information on English explorer and mariner Henry Hudson. Sections: Early Years, First Voyage 1607, Second Voyage 1608, Third Voyage 1609, Fourth Voyage 1610, Aftermath, Family Tree, Short Story, and links. Excellent

HISTORY MYSTERY – EXPLORATION GAMES                     NEW!
http://teacher.scholastic.com/histmyst/index.asp
Three games for students, two on explorers and one on the Vikings. Excellent

THE JAMESTOWN ONLINE ADVENTURE                 NEW!
http://www.historyglobe.com/jamestown/
"In 1606, some 105 adventurers set off from England to try and establish the first permanent English colony in the New World. They settled in what is now the state of Virginia and called their colony first James Fort, and then James Towne, in honor of James I, the King of England. The early years of the colony were nearly a total disaster. Almost half of the settlers died due to poor choices in settlement location, management of resources, and quarrels with the indigenous Powhatan Indians.
You are the Captain of the Jamestown Colony: Can you do any better than the real colonists? You will have a copy of the London Company's Instructions to help guide you. Also, you can ask your fellow colonists and the Native Americans for advice. Be careful, though, because some advice is better than others!" A fun online game for elementary and middle school students. Excellent

KIDS ONLINE RESOURCES
http://www.kidsolr.com/history/page2.html
Extensive list of links on explorers. Sections: Explorers, Vikings, The English and Conquistadors. Excellent

LEWIS & CLARK – 42EXPLORE                         NEW!
http://www.42explore2.com/lewisclark.htm
Basic information for students on the Lewis & Clark expedition with links, games, webquests and more. Excellent

LEWIS & CLARK – THE JOURNEY OF THE CORPS OF DISCOVERY                 NEW!
http://www.pbs.org/lewisandclark/
A PBS companion site to the Ken Burns film on Lewis & Clark. Sections: Inside the Corps, Native Americans, The Archive, Into the Unknown, Interactive Trail Map, Classroom Resources, Living History and more. The Classroom Resources section includes Lesson Plans. Excellent

LEWIS & CLARK MEGASITE                 NEW!
http://www.nationalgeographic.com/lewisandclark/
A portal site on the Lewis & Clark Expedition from the National Geographic. Includes an Interactive Journey Log, Expedition Records and More, a movie clip, Photo Gallery and much more. Excellent

SECRETS OF THE ICE: AN ANTARCTIC EXPEDITION                 NEW!
http://www.secretsoftheice.org/
"Between 1999 - 2002, scientists from 19 countries have been traversing Antarctica, collecting ice cores and gathering data that will describe climate and environmental change over the past 200 years. They have traveled by Tucker Sno-Cats, snowmobiles and Caterpillar tractors, living in tents and small trailers and dealing first hand with some of the most extreme weather conditions on the planet. More expeditions are planned for the next three years." Sections: Explore Antarctica, Ice Core Research, Scientific Expedition, Expedition Headquarters, and Learning Resources. Excellent

SPANISH EXPLORATION AND CONQUEST OF NATIVE AMERICA
http://www.vaca.com/index.html
Details the exploration and conquest of Native America by De Soto, DeVaca, and Coronado by following the trails their explorations took. Includes a PDF format book detailing the conquest of Native America. Includes maps, illustrations, and more. Excellent

THE TRAVELS OF IBN BATTUTA – A VIRTUAL TOUR WITH THE 14^TH CENTURY TRAVELER
http://www.sfusd.edu/schwww/sch618/Ibn_Battuta/Ibn_Battuta_Rihla.html
An account of the travels of the little-known 14^th century explorer Ibn Battuta. Includes photos, illustrations, and maps. Each section includes links to additional information. Outstanding. Excellent

VIKING EXPLORATION AND SETTLEMENT
http://www.cdli.ca/CITE/vikingexplor.htm
Long before Columbus, Viking explorers landed and established settlements in Greenland and Vinland (North America). Sections: Timeline of Viking Events in Greenland, Viking Expansion, Leifur Eiriksson’s Heritage of Discovery, Did 14^th Century Scandinavians Visit Midwestern North America?, Viking Explorers, Icelanders Discover Greenland and Iceland, and Map Showing Viking Exploration Routes in Europe. Excellent

VIRTUAL MUSEUM OF NEW FRANCE – THE EXPLORERS                 NEW URL!
http://www.civilization.ca/vmnf/explor/explcd_e.html
A virtual museum of New France in Canada, the French colony in the 16^th and 17^th centuries. Includes links to French explorers of the "new" world. A New France ABC includes photos of objects used by the colonists in daily life, their use and the context in which they were used. Also includes a Photographic Exploration of Canada with Malak which includes a large number of photos of the areas the French colonized. Follow the quick links for a lot more information. Excellent

VOYAGE OF DOOM
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/lasalle/
Companion site to the Nova program " Voyage of Doom" which chronicles the discovery and excavation of French explorer Robert Cavalier Sieur de La Salle’s ship, the Belle, which sank off the coast of Texas in 1688. The ship was discovered at the bottom of the bay and excavated. Sections: Stories in the Timber, Explore the Shipwreck, Who Owns Lost Ships?, Buoyancy Brainteasers and Teacher’s Guide, Resources, Transcript and more. Excellent

VOYAGE OF EXPLORATION – DISCOVERING NEW HORIZONS – A THINKQUEST SITE             NEW URL!
http://library.thinkquest.org/C001692/
A Thinkquest site on exploration. Sections: Home World, Great Explorers (with a quiz for each), Expeditions (with quizzes), Navigation (how they did it), New Horizons (the future), Why Explore? (why they did it) and Teacher World (score tracking and activities). Excellent

ZOOM EXPLORERS
http://www.enchantedlearning.com/explorers/
Web site for elementary students on explorers. Search alphabetically, by region, or by century. Gives a brief description of the explorer and his expedition. Includes maps showing some of their routes and illustrations where portraits are available. Excellent

CAPTAIN COOK – VOYAGES OF DISCOVERY
http://www.hunterian.gla.ac.uk/museum/cook/cook.html
Three interactive maps show Cook’s voyages of discovery. Click on the darkened areas to see artifacts Cook collected from that region. Very Good

CHRISTOPHER’S CROSSING – GAME                     NEW!
http://edweb.sdsu.edu/courses/edtec670/Cardboard/Board/C/Columbus.html
A game for upper elementary students on Columbus. "Third, fourth, and fifth grade students will be able to use Christopher's Crossing. The teacher will supply the initial instruction about Christopher Columbus. Through role-play and readings from their social studies book, students will learn about Columbus. They will discover his interest in a short, easy way to the Indies, his struggle to get funding, his first voyage across the Atlantic in search of gold, and his reactions to the Indians. The game will reinforce their newly acquired knowledge in a realistic setting. Students can play the game as often as they wish. The structure allows for unlimited play possibilities." Very Good

ENDEAVOUR
http://www.barkendeavour.com.au/
James Cook’s bark Endeavor has been re-created and sails out of Australia. It is a three-masted collier bark and has been re-created with great attention to authenticity. It has already carried out a voyage around the world. The site has details of the voyages, photos, captain and crew reports, and much more. Very Good

EUROPEAN EXPLORERS ELEMENTARY THEME PAGE
http://www.cdli.ca/CITE/explorer.htm
Information on European explorers arranged by country. Includes links to European explorers in the "New World" and in New France. Very Good

THE EXPLORATION AGE                     NEW!
http://www.geocities.com/rdl_wcw_wwf_fan/TOE.html
A site for students on the Age of Exploration. Includes pictures, essays, general information, biographies and more. Very Good

EXPLORERS THEME PAGE
http://www.cln.org/themes/explorers.html
A gateway site with links to curricular resources for information on explorers and instructional resources for lesson plans. Very Good

FAMOUS EXPLORERS AND RESOURCES ABOUT COLUMBUS                         NEW!
http://www.suelebeau.com/explorers.htm
A page of links suitable for students about explorers and Columbus. Very Good

THE FATE OF FRANKLIN – (SIR JOHN FRANKLIN’S ARCTIC EXPEDITION)             NEW!
http://www.ric.edu/rpotter/SJFranklin.html
Information on the explorations of Sir John Franklin, the searches for the lost ships and more. A very extensive site. "The disappearance of Sir John Franklin and his crew in what is now the Canadian Arctic set off one of the greatest rescue operations in the history of exploration. Franklin's 2 ships had sailed from England on 19 May 1845 and were last sighted in late July heading for Lancaster Sound. A 3-way search was organized in 1848, with Sir James Clark Ross proceeding through Lancaster Sound, Captain Henry Kellet via Bering Strait, and John Rae and Sir John Richardson trekking overland from the Mackenzie River." http://tceplus.com/index.cfm?PgNm=TCE&ArticleId=A0003031 Sections: Franklin in the Public Eye 1818-1859, The Arctic in Popular Culture, The Frozen Zone, Searching for Franklin (modern searches 1997-2004), Sir John Franklin Links and the Arctic Book Review. Very Good

FORBIDDEN TERRITORY: STANLEY AND LIVINGSTONE
http://www.nationalgeographic.com/features/97/lantern/
A magic lantern show on the explorations of Stanley and Livingstone in Central Africa. Very Good

GO WEST ACROSS AMERICA WITH LEWIS & CLARK – ONLINE GAME                         NEW!
http://www.nationalgeographic.com/features/97/west/
A fun online game in which students travel with the expedition and help them with decision-making. Very Good

THE HALL OF SCIENCE AND EXPLORATION
 http://www.achievement.org/autodoc/halls/sci
Interviews with 20^th century scientists and explorers. Explorers include: Robert D. Ballard, Sylvia Earle, Sir Edmund Hillary and Donna Shirley. Very Good

MATTHEW A. HENSON MEMORIAL WEB SITE
 http://www.matthewhenson.com/
Information on this African-American who co-discovered the North Pole with Peary in 1909. Includes: Peary’s Diary Published on the Internet, Henson Literature (free literature to be downloaded on and by Henson), a Henson exhibit, a student presentation, a Lowell Thomas 1939 interview with Henson, audio recording of Peary. (Note: This site addresses the controversy in which some claimed that Henson did not co-discover the North Pole. Some strong opinions are expressed.) Very Good

OPERATION PHIPS – ARCHEOLOGICAL RESCUE
http://www.mcc.gouv.qc.ca/pamu/champs/archeo/epaphips/wreck01.htm
An account of the excavation of the Anse aux Bouleaux, a ship from the fleet of Sir William Phips, which was sunk 1690 in the estuary of the St. Lawrence River. This was part of the fleet that was sent to attack Quebec in the war between France and Britain at the end of the 17^th century. Includes photos of the excavation, artifacts and history. Very Good

RACE TO THE END OF THE EARTH                         NEW!
http://www.nationalgeographic.com/ngkids/0002/race_to_end/index.html
A National Geographic Kids feature on the race between Amundsen and Scott to reach the South Pole. Appropriate for grades 4-6. Very Good

REFERENCE RESOURCES: FAMOUS EXPLORERS                         NEW!
http://www.kidinfo.com/American_History/Explorers.html
A huge site with links to a large number of websites on famous explorers. Very Good

VIRTUAL EXPLORATION SOCIETY                 NEW!
http://www.unmuseum.mus.pa.us/ves.htm
Eleven brief essays on explorers and their explorations. Includes: Louis Bleriot, Amelia Earhart, Roy Chapman Andrews, Matthew Henson and more. Appropriate for upper elementary students and up. Very Good

YOU WOULDN’T WANT TO BE A POLAR EXPLORER – WEB BOOK                 NEW!
http://www.salariya.com/web_books/explorer/index.html
"An Expedition You Wouldn’t Want to Go On - Get ready...as a brave young sailor looking for adventure, you are about to join Ernest Shackleton’s expedition to icy Antarctica as a polar explorer. I T' S F R E E Z I N G ! To use this Web Book place your cursor over the images to see the comments as you explore the Antarctic. Click on Next and Previous to navigate through the sections, or use the list of contents on the left. Based on the book You Wouldn't Want to Be a Polar Explorer!" A fun illustrated book about Shackleton’s expedition to Antarctica. Aimed at elementary/middle school students. Run your cursor over the illustrations for comments. Follow the chapters through the list at left. Very Good

ZOOM INTO MAPS                     NEW!
http://memory.loc.gov/learn/features/maps/exploration.html
Early maps of the western hemisphere. Very Good

THE AGE OF DISCOVERY – 1340-1600
 http://www.lib.utexas.edu/maps/historical/shepherd/explorer_map_shepherd.jpg
A detailed map showing the voyages of English, French, Dutch, Spanish and Portuguese explorers. Slow to load but worth a look. Good

ANTARCTIC EXPLORERS                             NEW!
http://www.south-pole.com/homepage.html
Click on the History tab and then Explorers for a list of Antarctic explorers and information on their explorations in Antarctica. Good

AUSTRALIAN EXPLORERS
http://www.davidreilly.com/australian_explorers/
Information for elementary students on Australian explorers. Until the 18^th century Australia was almost completely unknown to the Europeans and these explorers opened the continent to European settlement. Good

CHRISTOPHER COLUMBUS: A CULINARY HISTORY
http://www.castellobanfi.com/features/story_3.html
An article from Castello Banfi vineyard about the provisions about Columbus’ voyages and foods they found in the "new" world. Good

CHRISTOPHER COLUMBUS CROSSWORD PUZZLE                 NEW!
http://www.aves.ednet.ns.ca/gr/columbus.htm
A brief crossword puzzle suitable for upper elementary students. Good

CHRISTOPHER COLUMBUS LINKS                     NEW!
http://www2.lhric.org/pocantico/columbus.htm
Links to sites on Columbus for students. Good

THE COLUMBUS NAVIGATION HOMEPAGE                     NEW!
http://www1.minn.net/~keithp/index.htm
Explores the navigation methods used by Columbus, plus a history of his voyages, a timeline, and more. Geared toward upper elementary, middle school students. Better than it looks at first. Good

COLUMBUS REPORTS ON DISCOVERIES OF ISLAND OF INDIA – LIBRARY OF CONGRESS EXHIBIT                 NEW!
http://www.loc.gov/exhibits/treasures/trt038.html
An exhibit of the report of Columbus of his "discovery" of India in 1493. View a copy of the document and its English translation. Good

COOK’S FIRST VOYAGE – 1768-1771                 NEW!
http://www.muffley.net/pacific/cook/cook1.htm
An examination of the reasons for Cook’s voyage and the places he visited. Good

CYBERHUNT – AHOY COLUMBUS!                         NEW!
http://teacher.scholastic.com/products/columbus.htm
Seven questions with links to find the answers. For elementary students. Good

THE DEATH OF MAGELLAN 1521
http://www.ibiscom.com/magellan.htm
A brief account of the death of the explorer and mariner Ferdinand Magellan in a battle with natives on an island in the Philippines. An eyewitness account was written by a passenger. Good

THE EUROPEAN VOYAGES OF EXPLORATION 1415-1650                 NEW URL!
http://www.thenagain.info/WebChron//WestEurope/Voyages.Chron.html
A timeline of European voyages of exploration with links to short articles on some of the expeditions. Good

EXPLORATION – HOT TOPIC LIST                 NEW!
http://cte.jhu.edu/techacademy/web/2000/slezak/exhotlist.html
A topic list with links to sites on explorers. Sections: English Explorers, French Explorers, Portuguese Explorers, Spanish Explorers, Dutch Explorers, Viking Explorers and Additional Resources. Good

EXPLORER POEMS BY STUDENTS
http://www.kathimitchell.com/explpoe.htm
Simple poems by elementary students on various explorers. Use as a basis for students’ own poems. Good

EXPLORERS                     NEW!
http://library.thinkquest.org/J002428F/
A website on explorers for primary students. Includes: Magellan, Cortez, Columbus, Ericson and Drake. Note: The Drake link doesn’t work. Good

EXPLORERS HOTLIST                     NEW!
http://www.clairbournlibrary.org/Explorers%20Hotlist.htm#deSoto
A page of links to sites on explorers. Good

EXPLORERS OF THE WORLD
http://www.bham.wednet.edu/bio/explore.htm
A web site for students on the kind of people who choose a life of exploration. Covers explorers of Land, Sea, Water, and Art. Good

EXPLORING THE CAROLINAS – LIBRARY OF CONGRESS EXHIBIT                     NEW!
http://www.loc.gov/exhibits/treasures/trm069.html
"John White, one of the company sent by Sir Walter Raleigh to establish an English colony on Roanoke Island in 1585, went at least twice to the Carolina coast in the 1580s. There he produced a series of drawings of the everyday life of the Native American populations. Theodor de Bry engraved these scenes from White's renderings. White also compiled this map of the North Carolina coast from Cape Lookout to the mouth of the Chesapeake Bay, based on the British explorations of 1585-86, which was subsequently engraved by de Bry and published in 1590." Good

FLORIDA OF THE CONQUISTADOR                         NEW!
http://www.floridahistory.org/floridians/conquis.htm
A brief history of the Florida explorations of Juan Ponce de Leon, Panfilo de Narvaez, Hernando de Soto, and Tristan de Luna. Good

FRAY JUNIPERO SERRA
http://www.padreserra.org/serra.htm
Chronicles the life of Father Junipero Serra, a Spanish Franciscan friar who explored what was to become California and established missions there. Good

HALL OF EXPLORERS                         NEW!
http://www.columbia.k12.mo.us/tmp/burger/folktale/index.html
A site appropriate for upper elementary students on explorers. Includes a list of links to brief articles about the explorer. Good

LATITUDE- THE ART AND SCIENCE OF 15^TH CENTURY NAVIGATION
http://www.ruf.rice.edu/~feegi/
Shows the tremendous importance of the Portuguese advances in navigation that allowed explorers to determine their position with greater accuracy. Good

MARCO POLO AND HIS TRAVELS                         NEW!
http://www.silk-road.com/artl/marcopolo.shtml
A brief account of the journey of Marco Polo in the 13^th and 14^th centuries. Good

MARCO POLO – ON THE TARTARS – MEDIEVAL SOURCEBOOK                 NEW!
http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/source/mpolo44-46.html
"Of the origin of the kingdom of the Tartars--of the quarter from whence they came--and of their former subjection to Un-khan, a prince of the north, called also Prester John." Good

MARCO POLO – THE GLORIES OF KINGSAY (HANGCHOW) – MEDIEVAL SOURCEBOOK                 NEW!
http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/source/polo-kinsay.html
"Marco Polo returned to Venice, his hometown, in 1295 after an absence of twenty-five years in the East. He claimed to have spent seventeen years in the service of Kublai Khan, ruler of the Mongols and of the largest empire in the world. He had many stories to tell. These stories were eventually written down by Rustichiello of Pisa, who heard them while sharing a Genoese prison with Polo, sometimes after 1298. Here is the account in the book of Hangchow, called "Kinsay". Although Kublai Khan's capital was in the north, at the city later called Beijing, Hagnchow had served as the capital of the Southern Song dynasty until 1279 and was a major cultural and political center." Good

MARCO POLO THEME PAGE                 NEW!
http://www.cdli.ca/CITE/expolo.htm
Links for elementary students on Marco Polo. Note: We found a couple of broken links on this page. Good

MONTEREY BAY AREA HISTORY                 NEW URL!
http://www.mchsmuseum.com/historymenu.html
The first section of this site gives a history of the early exploration of the California coast in the Monterey area. Good

PASSAGES: A TREASURE TROVE OF NORTH AMERICAN EXPLORATION                 NEW URL!
http://www.collectionscanada.ca/2/8/index-e.html
Information from the National Library of Canada on exploration in North America. Includes an Introduction, Alphabetical List or Chronological Outline. (Note: Start with Introduction, go back to Home page and then follow either the Alphabetical List or Chronological Outline.) Good

THE PORTUGUESE ROLE IN EXPLORING AND MAPPING THE NEW WORLD                NEW!
http://www.loc.gov/rr/hispanic/portam/role.html
Examines the primary role of Portugal in the exploration of the Americas. Good

SAMUEL DE CHAMPLAIN’S 1607 MAP
http://lcweb.loc.gov/exhibits/treasures/trr009.html
Considered an American Treasure, this is the original map hand-drawn on vellum for presentation to the king of France. It is one of the few maps of the period that was drawn up by de Champlain himself showing his own explorations and calculations. It covers the New England and Canadian coasts. An enlargement increases it to full-screen size. Good

SHIPS OF DISCOVERY
http://www.shipsofdiscovery.org/
Information on how excavation of shipwrecks is contributing to our understanding of the early explorers. Sections: Columbus’ Lost Ships, Artifact Conservation, Shipwreck Excavations Ancient Techniques, Experimental Archeology, Ancient Documents, and Artifact Replicas. Click on Ships at the bottom to show a map of New World Shipwrecks. Good

SOUTH-POLE.COM
http://www.south-pole.com/homepage.html
"Welcome to the home page of South-Pole.com. This site is dedicated to the heroic explorers of our polar regions and the surrounding islands. The tales of these brave souls were often related in expedition mail sent home to anxious loved ones and beneficiaries." Focusing on the mail sent home from Antarctic expeditions, the site uses excerpts from the explorers. Click on the names of the explorers for in-depth articles about each one. Good

TAKING ON THE WORLD! EUROPEAN EXPLORERS                     NEW!
http://library.thinkquest.org/6174/
Information for elementary students by students on 8 explorers including Columbus, Magellan, Hudson. Includes an Activities section with a puzzle and a quiz and a Resources section with references. Good

WOMEN EXPLORERS                     NEW!
http://www.distinguishedwomen.com/subject/explore.html
Links to information on women explorers. Good

THE AGE OF EXPLORATION ONLINE CURRICULUM GUIDE – THE MARINER’S MUSEUM             NEW URL!
http://www.mariner.org/educationalad/ageofex/index.php
An online curriculum guide to the Age of Exploration from the Ancient World to the 19^th century. Each chapter discusses the major explorations. There are timelines, vocabulary and biographies of the great explorers. The activities section for Teachers and Students is extensive. Outstanding. Excellent

COLUMBUS’ VOYAGE TO THE NEW WORLD - CLASSROOM ACTIVITY                 NEW!
http://www.pecentral.org/lessonideas/ViewLesson.asp?ID=1125
A classroom activity for grades 3-5 on Columbus’ voyages. Excellent

DISCOVERY CHANNELS: INVESTIGATING THE LEGACIES OF EXPLORATION AND COLONIZATION – LESSON PLAN         NEW!
http://www.nytimes.com/learning/teachers/lessons/20001009monday.html?searchpv=learning_lessons
A lesson plan for grades 6-12 on the legacy of the Age of Exploration. "In this lesson, students explore the issues surrounding the celebration of Columbus Day and investigate the impact and legacy of exploration and colonization through group research. Students synthesize the information they have gathered and create a first person narrative about exploration and colonization." Excellent

THE DISCOVERY OF AMERICA: A PLAY ABOUT EARLY EXPLORERS – CLASSROOM ACTIVITY             NEW!
http://teachers.net/lessons/posts/972.html
A play script for elementary students on early explorers. Excellent

EDUCATION WORLD – THE GREAT EXPLORERS! - LESSON PLANS
http://www.education-world.com/a_special/millenium_02.shtml
Education World’s look at the Great Explorers of the Millennium. Sections: Lessons of the Explorers, Exploring the World-Virtually, A New Twist on Explorers, and Great Sites for Teaching About Explorers. Excellent - See also the Websites section

EXPLORE THE EXPLORERS ONLINE – LESSON PLANNING ARTICLE                 NEW!
http://www.education-world.com/a_lesson/lesson081.shtml
A lesson planning article with suggestions for lesson plans on explorers. Excellent

EXPLORERS – ACTIVITIES AND QUIZZES
http://www.mce.k12tn.net/explorers/explorers_start.htm
Lists explorers or groups of explorers with a brief essay on each. Each has several activities and a quiz. Includes a multiple choice quiz on all the explorers plus Hangman and Challenge games. Excellent

EXPLORER’S EXPERIENCE – LESSON PLAN                 NEW!
http://www.artsedge.kennedy-center.org/content/2365/
A lesson plan for grade 5. "Students will discuss the concept of exploration. They will research a world explorer and prepare maps of the routes traveled. Students will create a papier-mache map to represent the explorer’s journey." Excellent

LEWIS AND CLARK: FACING CHALLENGES, REAL AND IMAGINED – LESSON PLAN                 NEW!
http://www.nationalgeographic.com/xpeditions/lessons/06/g35/challenges.html
A lesson plan for grades 3-5 on the obstacles the expedition would have faced. "Before the Lewis and Clark Expedition, Europeans knew little about what lay west of the Mississippi River. The mental maps of expedition members could not prepare them for what lay ahead; nonetheless, they met and overcame numerous challenges in the diverse habitats they encountered. In this lesson, students will consider how they perceive geographic features and obstacles, and how expedition members might have done so. If possible, begin the lesson before your students see the large-format film Lewis and Clark: Great Journey West or explore the Lewis and Clark Web site, and finish it afterward." Excellent

MARCO POLO TAKES A TRIP – LESSON PLAN                 NEW!
http://edsitement.neh.gov/view_lesson_plan.asp?id=451
A lesson plan for grades. "In this lesson, students will learn about the remarkable travels of Marco Polo. They will consult maps to locate Venice and follow the routes Marco took to Beijing and back. They will learn about the challenges of traveling along the Silk Road, discover some interesting facts about China under Mongol rule, and find out how Marco came to produce his famous book. Then they will work in groups to create a large mural/timeline of the life and adventures of this famous traveler." Excellent

ON THE ROAD WITH MARCO POLO – CURRICULUM UNIT                 NEW!
http://edsitement.neh.gov/view_lesson_plan.asp?id=488
A 7-lesson curriculum unit focusing on Marco Polo and his travels for grades 3-5. "In this curriculum unit, students will become Marco Polo adventurers, following his route to and from China in order to learn about the geography, local products, culture, and fascinating sites of those regions. Students will record their "journey" by creating journal entries, postcards, posters, and maps related to the sites they explore. The EDSITEment Marco Polo Journey Map, with its guiding questions, may be used either as a culminating exercise or a method of reviewing previous lessons and introducing new ones." Excellent

ON THIS DAY WITH LEWIS AND CLARK – LESSON UNIT             NEW!
http://edsitement.neh.gov/view_lesson_plan.asp?id=297
A unit of 5 lessons examining the explorations of Lewis and Clark for grades 3-5. "During much of their journey, Meriwether Lewis and William Clark had no idea what they would encounter next. And, in a sense, that is how everyone lives every day. Even when we think we know what's around the corner, life can throw surprises at us. The story of Lewis and Clark is the universal story of human beings dealing with the unexpected. It's also great entertainment with a compelling cast of characters—an adventure, a road trip, a buddy story. It's about teamwork and failure and success. It brims with history and science.
Looking at historic maps of the West, students can begin to appreciate the immensity and mystery of the mission Lewis and Clark accepted. As "experts" investigating specific subjects assigned to Lewis by President Jefferson, students will conduct careful research. Reading brief diary entries of the men of the Corps will spark the interest of students as they relive the discoveries of the original participants." Excellent

OTHER WORLDS: THE VOYAGE OF COLUMBUS – LESSON PLAN             NEW!
http://edsitement.neh.gov/view_lesson_plan.asp?id=322
A lesson plan for grades 9-12 on Columbus. "Debate over the legacy of Christopher Columbus has opened new perspectives on the Renaissance world that gave impetus to his first voyage, and has raised awareness of the cultures he and those who followed him encountered in the world across the sea. Through the Internet, students can observe the events of 1492 from this dual vantage-point, exploring the two worlds that made contact when Columbus stepped ashore." Excellent

STORIES THAT GO WITH THE TERRITORY: UNCOVERING THE TALES OF FAMOUS EXPLORERS AND THEIR EXPEDITIONS – LESSON PLAN                 NEW!
http://www.nytimes.com/learning/teachers/lessons/20010828tuesday.html?searchpv=learning_lessons
A lesson plan for grades 9-12 on explorers. "In this lesson, students investigate various expeditions throughout history to new and/or uncharted territories. Students then work in groups to develop and 'produce' television news magazine segments about some of these historic expeditions." Excellent

THE TRAVELS OF IBN BATTUTA – LESSON PLAN
http://www.nationalgeographic.com/xpeditions/lessons/10/g35/tgbattuta.html
A lesson plan for grades 3-5 on Islamic explorer Ibn Battuta. "In this lesson, students will work in groups to research the different areas that the 14th century Islamic traveler Ibn Battuta visited. They will review some of the basics of Islam, and create posters illustrating what they have learned about Ibn Battuta. [Note: It would be ideal if students could have studied some of the basics of the Islamic religion before doing this lesson.]" Excellent

USGS RESOURCES FOR TEACHING ABOUT LEWIS & CLARK             NEW!
http://rockyweb.cr.usgs.gov/outreach/lewisclark/lc_usgseducation.html
"The USGS publishes nearly 100,000 different maps, aerial photographs, books, booklets, posters, CDs, digital data, and satellite imagery, many of which are useful for teaching about Lewis and Clark, Native Americans, and the cultural and physical geography of the United States, past and present.   These resources can be used in an inquiry-based setting in a variety of courses and projects at the elementary, secondary, and university levels.  In addition, the USGS hosts Internet-based resources that can be used for teaching about Lewis and Clark.
Descriptions of some of these items and how to use them in education are at left." Excellent

WANTED: EXPLORERS - CLASS PROJECT                 NEW!
http://www.fcps.k12.va.us/KingsParkES/technology/t4t/explorers/
A webquest for 2^nd grade students. "Introduction: Are you looking for adventure?? Do you enjoy exploring the unknown and learning new things? The North American Geographic Society has an opportunity for you. We are recruiting interested parties to explore uncharted territories and interact with the natives. Adventurers will experience wondrous opportunities: ● going on explorations ● bartering for goods ● making maps and learning about new people and lands" This project uses the "THE CASE OF THE MISSING TRUNKS – WEBQUEST" as an integral part of the project. See the Webquests section. Excellent

WEB DE ANZA ONLINE LEARNING COMMUNITY – LESSON PLANS                 NEW!
http://anza.uoregon.edu/teacher.html
"A web site created to be a collegial, teacher centered, resource focusing on meeting teacher needs in applying Web de Anza , a web based study environment designed to promote historical inquiry about Juan Bautista de Anza and his two 18th century expeditions from northern Mexico to Northern California" Take time to explore this site which contains several linked lesson plans. Excellent

WHAT WAS COLUMBUS THINKING? – LESSON PLAN                     NEW!
http://edsitement.neh.gov/view_lesson_plan.asp?id=257
A lesson plan for grades 3-5 on Columbus. "Most students recognize the name Christopher Columbus. They may be aware that his voyages ushered in the first period of sustained contact between Europeans and the Americas and its people. They may not know, however, why Columbus traveled to the New World or what happened to the native people he encountered.
In this lesson, students read excerpts from Columbus's letters and journals, as well as recent considerations of his achievements. Students reflect on the motivations behind Columbus's explorations, his reactions to what he found and the consequences, intended and unintended, of his endeavor." Excellent

WHICH WAY DID THEY GO? – LESSON PLAN                 NEW!
http://www.nationalgeographic.com/xpeditions/lessons/17/g68/whichway.html
A lesson plan for grades 6-8 on explorers. "Throughout history, explorers have searched for the quickest, easiest, and most lucrative routes between two locations. In what is now the U.S. state of Arizona, Spanish explorers sought the "Seven Cities of Cibola," American explorers sought the best stagecoach and railroad routes, and Mormons sought new locations for settlement in the White Mountains. This lesson will delve into how Arizona topography has influenced exploration.
[Note: A similar lesson detailing the exploration of your own state or country would be a useful complement in a history class and introduce a new way for your students to see the region. Research and good topographic maps of the location are necessary for maximum effect.]" Excellent

A CLOSER LOOK AT COLUMBUS – LESSON PLAN                 NEW!
http://www.peacecorps.gov/wws/guides/honduras/honcolumbus.html
A lesson plan for grades 10-12 on Columbus. Very Good

COMING TO THE AMERICAS – LESSON PLAN
http://www.hunterian.gla.ac.uk/museum/cook/cook.html
A project for 6^th grade students in which student take on the role of early explorers as they search for a route to Asia. Students must create a map of their voyage, a drawing of their ship and quotations from the explorer. Very Good

CONQUISTADORS: FRANCISCO PIZARRO –LESSON PLAN                 NEW!
http://school.discovery.com/lessonplans/programs/pizarro/
A lesson plan on Pizarro for grades 9-12. "Students will    ● determine the reasons for Francisco Pizarro's success in vanquishing the Incas; and ●write a paper explaining their conclusions." Very Good

CONQUISTADORS: HERNÁN CORTÉS – LESSON PLAN                 NEW!
http://school.discovery.com/lessonplans/programs/cortes/
A lesson plan for grades 9-12 on Cortés. Very Good

CONTACT: EUROPE AND AMERICA MEET – 1492-1673 – LESSON PLANS UNIT                NEW!
http://www.eduref.org/cgi-bin/printlessons.cgi/Virtual/Lessons/crossroads/sec3/k2/unit2/unit2_k2_head.html
A unit of lesson plans for grades K-2 on the explorations of Columbus and the effect they had both on the Europeans and the Native American population. Very Good

CULTURE CLASH: NEW WORLD MEETS OLD – LESSON PLAN                 NEW!
http://school.discovery.com/lessonplans/programs/cultureclash/
A lesson plan for grades 6-8 on Columbus. "Students will   

After completing your treasure chest, you will present it to the board members at the museum (the class) for analysis. They will determine whether or not the chest and its contents are authentic and deserve world wide recognition." Note: We found a few broken links among the large number of links on this site. Excellent

WE WANT YOU TO SAIL THE OCEAN BLUE – WEBQUEST                     NEW!
http://192.107.108.56/portfolios/m/malave_j/explorers_web/
A webquest on exploration for 5^th grade students. "IMAGINE THIS:
It is the year 1590, and you are living in Europe.  You take a walk one day through the town square when you notice newly built large wooden ships along the harbor.  You are curious about these grand vessels, so you walk closer to the dock.  You stop and read a posted sign that says...
Ship Crew Wanted for Voyage to the New World
Captain Malave has received a charter from Your Majesty the King to set sail west across the vast blue ocean in search for unclaimed land in the New World. The Captain requests a strong, reliable crew to join her in this expedition." Excellent

AN ADVENTURE TO THE NEW WORLD – WEBQUEST                     NEW!
http://score.rims.k12.ca.us/activity/newworld/
A webquest on explorers for junior high students. "Instructions from the King and Queen

Your mission is to claim all land for the monarchy, locate a new trading route across the ocean, look for the Northwest Passage, and bring back gold, silver, metals, spices, new plants, and any items deemed valuable. You will be provided with a ship, crew, and all the necessary provisions for an extensive journey to the New World. Certain precise requirements must be met if you expect to be rewarded for your achievements. In order to fulfill your contract you will make an Explorer's Notebook consisting of the attached items. Good luck on your journey and Godspeed.  The Monarchy" Note: We found some broken links on this site. Very Good

ARE YOU READY TO EXPLORE THE WORLD? – EXPLORER WEBQUEST
http://auden.webster.edu/~hillso/explorer.htm
A webquest for upper elementary students on explorers. "Exploration is a very important part of our history. Without the explorers we would not have found the "New World" or many other places. Christopher Columbus is a very important explorer for America and we honor him by having Columbus Day. We know that Christopher Columbus sailed in 1492 with the Pinta, Santa Maria, and Nina. He sailed to find India, but found America. Now, you are the Governor of Missouri with the job of deciding which explorer we should honor by having a day named after him. Who will it be? How will we will celebrate him? Why are we celebrating him?" Very Good

EXPLORERS – WEBQUEST                         NEW!
http://curry.edschool.virginia.edu/go/edis771/fall98webquests/student/skristinsmith/introex.htm
A webquest for elementary students on explorers. "YOU have been selected to help design the newest line of trading cards.   Your job is to create the first ever Explorer Trading Cards.  These cards will look similar to Baseball cards, but instead of having batting averages, the cards will have facts about the explorers major discoveries.   Using the information that is provided below and the other additional sources, you will select the information that will be printed on the cards for everyone to see.  These cards will be sold nationwide beginning next year, so we need your help soon.  Good luck!  We look forward to seeing your final products!" Note: A lot of the links on this site are broken. Very Good

EXPLORERS WEBQUEST                 NEW!
http://projects.edtech.sandi.net/pershing/explorers/
A webquest for 7^th grade students on explorers. "You will make a Pop Up book. Your Pop Up book will consist of several pages:

THE CASE OF THE MISSING TRUNKS – WEBQUEST                 NEW!
http://www.fcps.k12.va.us/KingsParkES/technology/webquests/explorers/
A webquest for middle school students on explorers. "Task:  Your parents have called the New York Port Authority and given them the name of your teacher. They have mailed her the trunks. Each group will be given a trunk. Your group's job is to open the trunk and look inside. Using the items in the trunk and the websites below, your challenge is to figure out which famous explorer owned the trunk. However, in order to return the trunk to the rightful owner, the Port Authority would like you to explain why it belongs to that person. To do that, you will have to give a talk about your explorer explaining:

You will use the items in the trunk to illustrate the points of your talk. For instance, if you find a newspaper from the year 1492, written in Spanish, you might assume that the trunk belongs to Christopher Columbus. To the Port Authority you might say that Christopher Columbus sailed for Queen Isabella of Spain in 1492, thus we believe this trunk belongs to him. The Port Authority also needs a luggage tag and a passport for each trunk to be returned." Note: We found some broken links on this site. Good

CHRISTOPHER COLUMBUS WEBQUEST                 NEW!
http://www.people.virginia.edu/~jv2x/wq.html
A webquest on Columbus for middle school students. "The Historical Correctness Society (HCS) has noticed an unprecedented amount of errors in a history book's recount of Christopher Columbus's journey. As a result, they have requested that you compose a revised history of Christopher Columbus's voyage to the Americas.
The HCS wants you to type up a two page essay, double-spaced, that either expands on a factual point or exposes a fallacy within the history text.
Once this task has been completed the HCS requests that you either compose or respond to a letter to the publisher that emphasizes the importance of including factual accounts in history books." Very small print makes this hard to read but the process is very good. Good

EXPLORATION – ATTRACTING EXPLORERS – WEBQUEST                 NEW!
http://web1.umkc.edu/mceeeconandhist/students/webquest/exploration/attract_expl.htm
A webquest comparing space exploration to historical explorations. " With the International Space Station, Alpha, now a reality, Earthlings are closer than ever to colonizing space. Space is as much an unknown frontier to us as unmapped parts of the Earth were to early explorers. What similarities do we share with those early explorers?
TASK
 You see the entrepreneurial possibilities of colonizing space.  However, you are a firm believer that we must learn from the past.  Therefore, you will make a cost-benefit chart of becoming an explorer during the 1400 and 1680s and another one for you today." Good

EXPLORERS WEBQUEST                     NEW!
http://www.jjn.gsacrd.ab.ca/studentpub/projects/webquest/NEWEXP~1.HTM
A webquest for 5th grade students on explorers. "The grade 5 students at J.J. Nearing School have been selected to design a new line of trading cards.  Your job is to create the first ever Explorer Trading Cards.  These cards will look similar to hockey cards and other trading cards you have seen, but they will have facts about the major discoveries of Canadian Explorers.   Using the information that is provided below, material that you have learned in class and additional sources, you will select the information that will be printed on the cards.   Good luck!  We look forward to seeing your final products!" Note: We found a couple of broken links on this site. Good

EXPLORERS WEBQUEST                             NEW!
http://www.pps.k12.va.us/schools/caes/room413/ExplorerWQ.html
A webquest for upper elementary/middle school students on explorers. "Good day young reporters. The Grand Council is going to celebrate its first Explorers Day Festival. We need information about four explorers who sailed the seas and discovered things about the "New World."  
Task: Your group will research 4 early explorers. You will describe their accomplishments by: ●  Stating what country the explorer was working for. ● Identifying his reason for exploring. ● Listing 3 items of information that he found. ●Describing the successes or accomplishments of the explorer." Note: We found a couple of broken links on this site. Good

NAVIGATING NEW WORLDS – EXPLORERS ON THE WEB – WEBQUEST                 NEW!
http://cte.jhu.edu/techacademy/web/2000/slezak/explorerindex.html
A webquest on explorers for upper elementary/middle school students. "You will work with a partner to search the internet and identify what drove the exploration of an explorer of your choice. During your search you will be looking for certain aspects of his exploration. Once you have obtained these aspects, you will be able to complete the following: