European Explorers Learning Guide (3rd) Home:School Connections Unit Overview The accomplishments of Christopher Columbus, Juan Ponce de León, Jacques Cartier, and Christopher Newport are the focus of this unit on European explorers. For each of these explorers, the students will identify the country who sponsored him, his reason(s) for exploring, and the success/achievements from his travels. For example, Ponce de León was sponsored by Spain and set forth to discover riches and conquer land. He is known for being the first European to land in Florida (near St. Augustine) and gave Spain a claim to Florida. In addition to learning about the explorers, students will discuss the impact of exploration on American Indians including changes to their cultures and environment. Key Terms or Concepts Your student may come home using some new vocabulary. Here are just a few so you can continue the conversation: 
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explorer conquer fall‐line voyage 
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settlement colonize Home Support There are a number of ways you can support your student during this unit. These are just a few suggestions:  Use world map place mats at dinner to review the countries the explorers sailed from and the regions on the U.S. in which they explored.  Have a family discussion about what it would be like to be an explorer. Where would you go? Why? What supplies would you need? How would you obtain the supplies? Relate this to how the European explorers may have planned their own trips.  Take a look at a U.S. map or atlas and find any famous places named for the explorers or simply learn more about the locations they visited.  If possible, have family members in your home switch rooms for a night. How did it feel having someone else in your living space? Were things different when you returned? How did it feel staying in a new place you were not used to? Relate this to what it would be like from both the explorers and the Native Americans’ viewpoint when the European explorers arrived. Books and Websites Here are some books you can read to or with your child.  Exploration and Conquest by Betsy Maestro  Explorers of North America by Christine Taylor‐Butler  The World Made New by Marc Aronson  Explorer (DK Eyewitness Book) by Rupert Matthews There are many kid‐friendly websites to explore the past. A few worth checking out are:  Social Studies for Kids: Explorers [http://www.socialstudiesforkids.com/subjects/explorers.htm]  Cyber Sleuth Kids: Explorers [http://cybersleuth‐kids.com/sleuth/History/Explorers/index.htm]  New World Explorers [http://americanhistory.mrdonn.org/explorers.html]