About This Lesson
Exploration of North America focuses on Spanish explorers who crisscrossed the Americas in search of gold and riches, and on other European explorers who searched for the Northwest Passage. After reviewing the explorations of Columbus, students learn about Ponce de León’s search for the Fountain of Youth, De Soto’s long march to the Mississippi, Coronado’s quest for cities of gold, the founding of St. Augustine, and the development of settlements around Spanish missions. The focus then shifts to the explorers who undertook perilous voyages to find the Northwest Passage, a shortcut across North America to Asia, including John Cabot, Samuel de Champlain, and Henry Hudson.
This unit includes a Student Reader, Timeline Image Cards, and Teacher Guide, providing Guided Reading Supports and the following Additional Activities: map skills exercises; Explorers Chart; domain vocabulary activity; video about California missions; an excerpt from de Champlain’s journal; a virtual field trip to St. Augustine; and a Unit Assessment.
