The Explorer Project

Essential Question: Why did the Europeans explore and what were they looking for?

Activity: (50)
Imagine you are an explorer from ___________. You have heard stories about uncharted lands in the New World, as well as fame and riches found beyond anyone’s dream. You and your crew have decided to make this voyage. Write and perform a skit pretending you are an explorer asking the King and Queen of _____________ to pay for your expedition to the New World. Assume the King and Queen will have many questions for you. You must persuade them that this will beneficial to all. Make sure to include details about your trip – why? where? how? who? plans upon arrival?, etc. Make sure your play includes accurate information from your country.

Content

Appearance

Knowledge

Conventions

Use of technology

Complete understanding of project;
Fully developed and well organized;
Skits are informative and based in facts.
Evidence of research done to answer the questions and the details required to persuade the King and Queen
Directions followed

Final form of project is attractively presented in terms of design, layout and neatness;
Evidence of creativity and originality

Able to discuss knowledgeably;
Can add information about the explorers, the land, the routes, or the discoveries to the information presented in the project;
Easily answers questions

Accuracy with spelling, punctuation, capitalization, and grammar

Able to choose the appropriate technology to produce and present the concepts;
Uses technology to aid in communication and organization of the project;
Uses technology to locate appropriate maps of the world and the Americas

Essential Question: Why did the Europeans explore and what were they looking for?

Activity: (25)
Research the explorers from your country. Create a poster of the world. Trace and label the routes taken by these explorers. Label the routes with the names and dates of their voyages. Create a second map of the Americas showing land claimed by _________. Label major areas explored and claimed by ____________. Label major resources and discoveries found in these areas.

Content

Appearance

Knowledge

Conventions

Use of technology

Complete understanding of project;
Fully developed and well organized;
Appropriate maps of the world and the Americas chosen to accurately show routes, land, discoveries, and resources
Evidence of research done to correctly identify land claimed, routes traveled, and discoveries made
Directions followed

Final form of project is attractively presented in terms of design, layout and neatness;
Evidence of creativity and originality

Able to discuss knowledgeably;
Can add information about the explorers, the land, the routes, or the discoveries to the information presented in the project;
Easily answers questions

Accuracy with spelling, punctuation, capitalization, and grammar

Able to choose the appropriate technology to produce and present the concepts;
Uses technology to aid in communication and organization of the project;
Uses technology to locate appropriate maps of the world and the Americas

Essential Question: Why did the Europeans explore and what were they looking for?

Activity: (25)
Create an advertisement to attract people to come and settle in the area explored by _____________. Convince your readers that this area is too good to pass up. Make sure information is accurate for your country’s exploration and its findings.

Content:

Appearance

Knowledge of Subject

Conventions

Use of technology

Complete understanding of project;
Fully developed and well organized;
Evidence of research completed to convince people to visit and settle the area;
Advertisement contains persuasive elements and includes accurate historical information;
Directions followed

Final form of project is attractively presented in terms of design, layout and neatness;
Evidence of creativity and originality

Able to discuss knowledgeably;
Can provide information not evident in project alone;
Easily answers questions

Accuracy with spelling, punctuation, capitalization, and grammar

Able to choose the appropriate technology to produce and present the concepts;
Uses technology to aid in communication and organization of the project

Essential Question: What were the effects of European exploration on native people?

Activity: (50)
Conduct an interview with members of the Native American tribe from the area where your country explored. How was their land and lifestyle effected by their interactions with the explorers from _____________?

Content

Appearance

Knowledge

Conventions

Technology -

Complete understanding of project;
Create an interview that asks and answers specific questions that will give a clear picture of how the Native American’s lives were affected;
Fully developed and well organized;
Includes a variety of “thick” and “thin” questions;
Answers are thorough and creative;
Directions followed;
Includes how the natives' land was affected by the explorers;
Included how the natives' lifestyle was affected by the explorers;

Final form of project is attractively presented in terms of design, layout and neatness;
Evidence of creativity and originality;
The interview is easy to understand and flows smoothly;

Able to discuss knowledgeably;
Can provide information not evident in project alone;
Easily answers questions

Accuracy with spelling, punctuation, capitalization, and grammar

Able to choose the appropriate technology to produce and present the concepts;
Uses technology to aid in communication and organization of the project

Essential Question: What were the effects of European exploration on native people?

Activity: (25)
Create a debate that represents points of view from the explorers from ____________ and the Native Americans from the areas that were settled by the explorers.

Content

Appearance

Knowledge of Subject

Conventions

Technology

Complete understanding of project;
Fully developed and well organized;
Valid and consise arguments from both sides
Debate arguments are supported and based from factual information
directions followed

Final form of project is attractively presented in terms of design, layout and neatness;
Evidence of creativity and originality;
Debate is easy to understand and both sides provide strong and powerful arguments

Able to discuss knowledgeably;
Can provide information not evident in project alone;
Easily answers questions

Accuracy with spelling, punctuation, capitalization, and grammar

Able to choose the appropriate technology to produce and present the concepts;
Uses technology to aid in communication and organization of the project

Essential Question: What were the effects of European exploration on native people?

Activity: (25)
Native Americans suffered from diseases brought to the New World by the explorers. Research the following diseases: small pox, bubonic plague, typhus, cholera, measles, and diptheria. Create a slide show to educate your classmates about these diseases. Why were the Native Americans so helpless against these diseases?

Content

Appearance

Knowledge of Subject

Conventions

Technology

Complete understanding of project;
Fully developed and well organized;
Includes an explanation of how these diseases were brought by the explorers;
Each of the diseases is presented in a clear and creative way
includes an explanation of why the Native Americans were so helpless against these diseases;
Directions followed;
All diseases are researched: small pox, bubonic plague, typhus, cholera, measles, and diptheria
Information is presented in a slide show

Final form of project is attractively presented in terms of design, layout and neatness;
Slide show flows and is easy to understand
evidence of creativity and originality

Able to discuss knowledgeably;
Can provide information not evident in project alone;
Easily answers questions

Accuracy with spelling, punctuation, capitalization, and grammar

Able to choose the appropriate technology to produce and present the concepts;
Uses technology to aid in communication and organization of the project

Essential Question: How did new technologies enable them to explore?

Activity: (50)
Pitching the OWE Company
You are planning an exploration of a new world in the 21st century. Design a plan to present to the Other Worlds Exploration Company from whom you wish to gain funding for your exploration. Include the following in your presentation.
Where do you wish to explore and why?
What benefit can you provide to OWE Co. and possibly mankind?
What new technologies must you develop or use to complete your journey?
In considering this, think about what technological advances allowed the explorers in the 1400’s to make their voyages.
Relate that information to what technologies you will need to complete your voyage.
You may make your presentation to the OWE Co. Board of Directors using any presentation method you feel will best present your idea. Only the best ideas will be funded.

Content

Appearance

Knowledge of Subject

Conventions

Use of Technology

Complete understanding of project;
Fully developed and well organized;
Includes information about where you wish to explore and why;
Includes how OWE Co. and mankind would benefit from your exploration;
Includes new technologies you will develop to complete your journey;
Directions followed

Final form of project is attractively presented in terms of design, layout and neatness;
Evidence of creativity and originality

Able to discuss knowledgeably;
Can provide information not evident in project alone;
Easily answers questions

Accuracy with spelling, punctuation, capitalization, and grammar

Able to choose the appropriate technology to produce and present the concepts;
Uses technology to aid in communication and organization of the project

Essential Question: How did new technologies enable them to explore?

Activity: (25)
Technology Changes the Way we do things …Tech Expo
Research the types of technological advances that occurred during the 1300’s and 1400’s that made exploration of the new world possible.
Make a display that illustrates what these advances were, how they worked and how they made exploration of the new world possible.
You may consider poster, models, working demonstrations for your display

Content

Appearance

Knowledge of Subject

Conventions

Use of Technology

Complete understanding of project;
Fully developed and well organized;
Evidence of research done to understand the technological advances made during the appropriate time period;
Display illustrates what these advances were, how they worked and how they made exploration of the new world possible;
Directions followed

Final form of project is attractively presented in terms of design, layout and neatness;
Evidence of creativity and originality

Able to discuss knowledgeably;
Can provide information not evident in project alone;
Easily answers questions

Accuracy with spelling, punctuation, capitalization, and grammar

Able to choose the appropriate technology to produce and present the concepts;
Uses technology to aid in communication and organization of the project

Essential Question: How did new technologies enable them to explore?

Activity: (25)
Using the following resources to complete the Then and Now Project Sheet.
View the video clips in the United Streaming Video folder
Read your History Text Book pp. _____________
View selected resources from the Library
Consider the following questions as a guide for your research
What was the technological advance (invention)?
How did it change the way people did things?
How did it affect the people who used the advance or the natives who came in contact with it?
What technologies do we use in the 21st century that aid our efforts to explore new worlds?

Content

Appearance

Knowledge of Subject

Conventions

Use of Technology

Complete understanding of project;
fully developed and well organized;
Evidence that research was completed related to the technological advance investigated, using resources provided
Project describes what the technological advance was, and how it changed the people that used it (including natives if applicable)
Project describes 21st century technology that is used to explore new worlds and relates to technological advances used during early exploration;
Directions followed

Final form of project is attractively presented in terms of design, layout and neatness;
Evidence of creativity and originality

Able to discuss knowledgeably;
Can provide information not evident in project alone;
Easily answers questions

Accuracy with spelling, punctuation, capitalization, and grammar

Able to choose the appropriate technology to produce and present the concepts;
Uses technology to aid in communication and organization of the project

Essential Question: What were the reasons for the success and/or failure of the expeditions?

Activity: (50)
You have returned from the original expedition and are now planning a return trip. Based on the results of your original trip, what will you bring this time? Will you take the same route? Why? Create some sort of graphic organizer to detail the similarities and differences between the two trips. Develop categories and within those categories explain the similarities and differences...example: route, food, supplies, technology

Create a persuasive presentation to the King and Queen explaining why they should finance your trip back to America. Make sure you have visual aids to help you with your presentation.

Content

Appearance

Knowledge of Subject

Conventions

Technology

Complete understanding of project;
Fully developed and well organized;
Appropriate graphic organizers chosen to compare and contrast;
Evidence of research done to analyze the changes that need to happen for next expedition;
Presentations has appropriate visual aids to enhance presentation;
Evidence of research done to support arguments for presentation to King and Queen;
Directions followed

Final form of project is attractively presented in terms of design, layout and neatness;
Evidence of creativity and originality

Able to discuss knowledgeably;
Can provide information not evident in project alone;
Easily answers questions

Accuracy with spelling, punctuation, capitalization, and grammar

Able to choose the appropriate technology to produce and present the concepts;
Uses technology to aid in communication and organization of the project

Essential Question: What were the reasons for the success and/or failure of the expeditions?

Activity: (25)
Pretend you are a ship's captain, first mate, or passenger.
Keep a journal about the success and failures of the expedition with which you are traveling. Record your thoughts, feelings and reactions to the expedition.  You should have at least 10 entries, at least one week apart. Make sure you incorporate accurate accounts and information in your journal that would make your journal entries realistic.

Content

Appearance

Knowledge of Subject

Conventions

Technology

Complete understanding of project;
Fully developed and well organized;
At least 10 entries, spread one week apart;
Accurate historical information included in entries;
Told from point of view of traveler on ship with thoughts, feelings and reactions;
Includes information that would highlight; Expeditions successes and failures;
Directions followed

Final form of project is attractively presented in terms of design, layout and neatness;
Evidence of creativity and originality

Able to discuss knowledgeably;
Can provide information not evident in project alone;
Easily answers questions

:

Accuracy with spelling, punctuation, capitalization, and grammar

Able to choose the appropriate technology to produce and present the concepts;
Uses technology to aid in communication and organization of the project

Essential Question: What were the reasons for the success and/or failure of the expeditions?

Activity: (25)
Choose an explorer from your country and defend why this person should have a holiday named for him (example: Columbus Day- October 8).  Film a commercial to state the reasons and advertise for your holiday.

Content

Appearance

Knowledge of Subject

Conventions:

Technology

Complete understanding of project;
Fully developed and well organized;
Evidence of research completed to accurately defend the need for a holiday;
Commercial contains persuasive elements and includes accurate historical information;
Directions followed

Final form of project is attractively presented in terms of design, layout and neatness;
Evidence of creativity and originality

Able to discuss knowledgeably;
Can provide information not evident in project alone;
Easily answers questions

Accuracy with spelling, punctuation, capitalization, and grammar

Able to choose the appropriate technology to produce and present the concepts;
Uses technology to aid in communication and organization of the project

Collaboration Skills and Preparation

1

2

3

4

Does not collaborate well with the team
Does not participate in any of the team's activities and meetings
Does not complete their portion of the assignment
Is active in the planning

Collaborates well with the team
Participates in some of the team's activities and meetings
Completes their portion of the assignment
Helps other teammates when needed
Is active in the planning

Collaborates well with the team
Participates in most of the team's activities and meetings
Completes their portion of the assignment in a timely fashion.
Helps other teammates when needed
Is active in the planning stages of the project
Takes responsibility and leadership roles when asked

Collaborates well with the team
Participates in all of the team's activities and meetings
Completes their portion of the assignment ahead of schedule.
Helps other teammates when needed
Is instrumental in the planning stages of the project
Takes responsibility and leadership roles