Explorers Research
Explorer Research
A Project for 5th Grade
Task | Evaluation | Timeline
Students are researching the various European explorers during the Age of Exploration (and beyond, upon request). These explorers during this era helped bring about a global awareness of other lands, cultures, and communities. Their discoveries forever changed the world. While each country and explorer had different motives for exploration, they all had an impact on history. Each student’s job is to investigate and report the impact of one explorer on the world. Students chose their explorers based on their own interests and the availability of data during preliminary research.
Task
Students will be required to:
Research an explorer, compiling the relevant details
Create a script of what will be presented to the class
Develop visuals to support the presentation (in Keynote or Kidspiration)
Orally present the explorer's details to the class
Research Questions
During our preliminary research in the library, the students discussed the important aspects to research. The class came up with the following:
1) General Info: name, nationality, dates of birth/death
2) When did they explore?
3) Where did they explore? (map)
4) What did they do before exploring?
5) What inspired them to explore?
6) Who sponsored their exploration?
7) Description of technology (ships, tools, etc.)
8) Description of their crew
9) Description of life during exploration (food, life on a ship, what did they see, etc.)
10) Why is the explorer famous?
While researchers may or may not find all of these details for their explorer, they will have to decide if the information found is sufficient. They will also determine which information is important to help the class understand the impact of their explorer on history.
Evaluation of Research / Presentation
Students will be graded based on the rubric below.
Timeline
While students will be given some time to research during social studies and library time, they will need to spend time independently researching and preparing for their presentations. This time may include: reviewing books checked out from the library, using encyclopedias, looking online (ensuring the sources are reliable), or compiling any information gathered into a presentation.
1) Initial selection of explorer / preliminary research in library
2) Research block during library and social studies class
3) Develop online presentation information
4) Complete presentation information / prepare for presentations
5) Presentations to class
Task | Evaluation | Timeline
Updated by Robert James on July 28, 2023.