Early American Explorers: History Biography Webquest (PDF & Google Drive)

Enjoy learning about the early American explorers and the Age of Exploration through these historical biography summaries. In a user-friendly template, students will summarize the life and biography of an individual. It’s no-prep for you, but quality content for your students.

What's Included:

• A detailed page of teacher instructions.

• A pdf print version of 17 summary templates for 17 different early American explorers.

• Access to same product in Google Drive format for 1:1 schools or a trip to the lab.

• A gallery walk template for students to complete while reading their peer's finished summaries.

• Early American explorer templates that are included: Christopher Columbus, Ferdinand Magellan, Giovanni Verrazzano, Leif Erikson, Hernan Cortes, Jacques Cartier, John Cabot, Amerigo Vespucci, Francisco Coronado, Henry Hudson, Hernando De Soto, Francisco Pizarro, Sir Francis Drake, Sir Walter Raleigh, Samuel De Champlain, Juan Ponce De Leon, Vasco Nunez De Balboa, and a blank template for any additional explorer of choice that may not be in this list.

Ideas For Use:

There are numerous ways to incorporate these biography summaries into your curriculum.

• Individual - Assign the biography you are studying in class. Have each person research and complete individually for class homework.

• History Museum - With the biography bundles, such as the Founding Fathers Bundle, assign each student one of the 10 -15 included biographies. After completion, have each student post their completed biographies on the classroom wall like a museum for all to see. Then, print off the included “gallery-walk” reflection template. Students will complete the “gallery walk” template by reading the other completed, posted biographies. This option allows students to learn even more historical biographies.

• Presentations - Have students work individually or as partners then present the completed digital file as a presentation for all students to see and hear. Classmates can complete the gallery walk worksheet as a summary while they actively listen.

• Sub Plans - This resource is such an excellent activity for that day when you can’t be in the classroom. Your sub will appreciate this content-rich resource.

A PDF file with 18 printable pages.