Explorers+Web+Quest

EXPLORING EXPLORERS!

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 * Introduction**

There have always been explorers. Explorers are people who travel to or investigate unknown places. In traveling, they make or follow a route, path, or trail. Prehistoric men and women who ventured out across the continents were among the first explorers.

Explorers are usually thought of as people who purposely visit and study an unknown geographic area. The earliest explorers had no maps and no idea of what they might find! The golden age of exploration began in the fifteenth century as sailors from Europe ventured out and explored the world, locating routes across its oceans and continents and defining the earth's physical shape, size, and positions. These explorer's helped us to map the world we know today.

Why do people go exploring? What are the characteristics of an explorer and what makes them want to explore in spite of the dangers and discomforts they face? How have their explorations changed our world or impacted our cultures? How do we know about their explorations? In this research project, your group will begin to explore the answers to these questions!


 * Task**

1) **Research several explorers.** Using the websites listed below and books from the library, //skim// to learn a little about each of the following explorers listed below. Use the note-taking forms provided below to take notes on each explorer. To save time, you should divide this work up among your team members, then share the information after you are done.

2) **Select Your Top Five**. After becoming familiar with the exploits and adventures of various explorers at sites like the [|Discoverers Web], [|Explorers of the World], or [|The Age of Exploration], create your personal 'top five' list of explorers. For each explorer on your list, write a paragraph to explain the following:
 * Ibn Batutta || David Livingstone || Eric the Red ||
 * James Cook || Ferdinand Magellan || Zhung He ||
 * Vasco de Gama || Roald Amundsen || Lewis & Clark ||
 * Francis Drake || Christopher Columbus || Robert Peary ||


 * Why did they choose to do what they did?
 * What characteristic(s) did they display that helped them to succeed?
 * How did their exploration(s) impact other cultures or the modern world?
 * How do we know about their exploration(s)?

This document should be created on Microsoft word and should include a thumbnail picture of each explorer.




 * 3) Make an Annotated** **Map** of the routes your top five explorers followed. On a world map provided by your teacher, trace their routes with colored markers using different patterns. Make at least two index cards with information about each explorer’s route. Make a title for your map on a sentence strip. Tell the teacher when you are ready to mount your display on a bulletin board, then put it up.




 * 4) Identify Explorer Traits**. After studying different explorers, make a list of 5 characteristics that you believe are important to any explorer. Explain why you feel each one is important. Give examples from your research for each.




 * More Web Resources:**

An indexed list of over 150 biography and information sites - - too many to fit on this page: [|**Explorers - A to Z**]

A wide range of biographies of explorers: [|http://www.mariner.org/age/biohist.html] http://www.stemnet.nf.ca/CITE/explorer.htm

European Voyages of Exploration: The Fifteenth and Sixteenth Centuries from the //University of Calgary// : http://www.ucalgary.ca/applied_history/tutor/eurvoya/

Exploration is Risky Business: http://www.win.tue.nl/~engels/discovery/death.html

Zoom Explorers at //Enchanted Learning// [|http://www.EnchantedLearning.com/explorers/]

Learn about explorers of Australia, their lives, and their experiences. [|**Australian Explorers**]

Leaarn about Zheng He.

http://www.chinapage.com/zhenghe.html http://www.asiawind.com/zhenghe/ http://dragonvoyage.com/

Learn about Ibn Batutta.

http://www.eduplace.com/ss/hmss/7/unit/act3.1blm.html http://www.sfusd.k12.ca.us/schwww/sch618/Ibn_Battuta/Ibn_Battuta_Rihla.htmlhttp://www.fordham.edu/halsall/source/1354-ibnbattuta.html [|http://www.isidore-of-seville.com/ibn-battuta/]  Compare Ibn Batuta and Zhenge He http://www.monkeytree.org/silkroad/battuta.html 
 * Evaluation:**

Your group will be evaluated on each completed project. Each one of the projects will be worth 25 points, broken down as follows:

Ideas* 15 pts. Conventions 5 pt Appearance 5 points


 * Ideas will include such things as how completely, accurately or well you have completed the written requirements of the project.

You will also be evaluated on how well you worked together as a group. Each member of the group will be asked to complete a group process reflection and pie graph after your work is completed. The group process score will also be worth a total of 25 points.



Download and print rubrics for each task and for the group process before you begin work! Happy Exploring!