Explorer Lesson Plan

Homeschool Teacher - Lesson Plan & Newsletter
March 9, 2007
History

On this day in 1454, Explorer Amerigo Vespucci was born. Learn more about him here:
http://www.helium.com/tm/204276/united-states-america-north

Language Arts
Write an Acrostic Poem about an Explorer with this worksheet:
http://www.teach-nology.com/worksheets/soc_studies/explorer/poem/

Vocabulary

Define the following words:

1. Explorer-
2. Sailor-
3. Trade-
4. Voyage-
5.Cargo-
6. Navigation-


Journal
Imagine you are a sailor on a ship sailing toward the New World during the 15th or 16th Century. What would your days be like? What jobs would you perform? Write a diary entry (or draw a picture) describing life at sea.

Color this explorer coloring sheet http://www.edhelper.com/teachers/coloring_Explorers_coloring_page_1.htm




Science
How did wind help the early explorers and their ships? Try this experiment:
Materials:
2. 1 bar of soap
3. 1 toothpick
4. something to float your boats in (small pool, bathtub, sink, or bowl)
5. glue
6. construction paper cut into small square for sail

Procedure:

1. Glue the toothpick to the sail. Once sails are glued on, stick the toothpick
into the soap.

2. Sail your boat! Try to blow the “ship” to make it go further.

Evaluation:

What did you observe? How do you think the wind helped the ships to travel?

Music
Early Explorers used a Compass to tell them what direction they were headed. Learn more about directions with this song:

North, South, East, and West
(to the tune of Head, Shoulders, Knees, and Toes)

North, South, East, and West
East and West
North, South, East, and West
East and West
The compass shows what direction we will go
North, South, East, and West
East and West!

Draw a Compass and label the directions.

Don’t Forget the Math Challenge!
http://homeschoolingk.blogspot.com/2007/03/math-challenge-march-9.html

For more Free Homeschool Lesson Plans

http://homeschoolingk.blogspot.com/ (k-3)

http://homeschoolingthemiddleyears.blogspot.com/( 4-8)