The explorers to North America are some of my favorite subjects simply because of the courage necessary to voyage out in to the unknown. There are so many explorers one could learn about. Reading about the explorers to America and doing hands-on activities helps us too explore. This time, we're exploring the explorers!
Christopher Columbus gets all the credit for discovering America. But Europeans discovered portions of North America in 1000 A.D.
Lesson Objective: The Vikings found the Americas almost 500 years before Columbus, but they did not settle there. (Copy sentence: The Vikings found America but did not stay there.)
One of my favorite books for learning about the vikings, as well as other early "discoveries" of America, is Betsey Maestro's Discovery of the Americas. In this book, many theories of early North American exploration are shared, and it has an extensive section on the Vikings.
Some other of the best books are these.
As for Viking-specific activities, try some of these from around the web and in various books.
Why was Columbus trying to go West in order to get to Asia? A fascinating background to Columbus' story (and subsequently the discovery of America) is the tale Marco Polo. We play the Marco Polo game to get a feel for the dangers and the challenges that Silk Road travelers would face. We taste salt and cinnamon. We touch silk.
Then we're ready to learn about Columbus.
Lesson Objective: Europeans wanted to get the spices from the Indies, so they tried to search for a passage. Columbus decided to try going West. Europeans did not realize that another continent existed; Columbus thought he was in Asia. Natives were surprised by the strange people arriving on boats. (Copy sentence: Columbus sailed West to go to Asia. OR Columbus thought he was in Asia. )
Note: There is no need to cover all these lesson objective points for the youngest kids. Simplify if they need less! Sometimes less is more.
The highlight of our reading was Pedro's Journal by Pam Conrad
In contrast, Encounter by Jane Yolen is a picture book from the other perspective, that of the native who meet the strange "white bird" that comes to their island. It shows their confusion and frustration with the newcomers! Together, these two books provide a facsinating perspective of Columbus' arrival in North America. Many people have complex emotions about Columbus. I think it's nice to read things from different perspectives.
I also enjoy the early reader Columbus by Stephen Krensky. Similarly, Columbus by Ingri D'Aulaire is a perennial favorite. I don't like it as much due to some inaccuracies, but it is still a good book. For older children, Where Do You Think You're going, Christopher Columbus? by Jean Fritz is enthralling.
To learn about Columbus, try a variety of activities, like these.
Given the hundreds of people who explored the New World, it is clear that for elementary-aged kids, once again choices will have to be made as to who to study.
Objective: Later European explorers (such as Balboa, Magellan, Amerigo Vespucci, Ponce de Leon, Cabot, Cartier, Hudson) learned that the new land was not Asia. It was a previously unknown continent. Explorers came to North America in hopes of finding gold or finding places to settle. (Copywork sentence: Later explorers knew that Columbus had not found Asia. AND/OR Explorers searched for gold.)
Older kids will learn about lots of explorers and their sponsors in Around the World in A Hundred Years by Jean Fritz.
What can you do to make learning about the explorers extra interesting? Make things hands-on.
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