Discovering Famous
European Explorers
A student booklet describing the lives of these historical European explorers:
Christopher Columbus, Juan Ponce de León, John Cabot, Vasco
Núñez de Balboa, Jacques Cartier, and Henry Hudson
This 8 page booklet can be completed in one unit or over the course of a year. It is the perfect
student booklet to go along with any curriculum or literature about these explorers.
Simply print front/back, fold, and staple. Answer guide included.
Baby Boston font from kevinandamanda.com
© Ashley Widener 2013
Henry
Discovering Famous
Hudson
When was he born?
_____________________
European Explorers
Why did Hudson have to turn back on his first two
expeditions in 1607 and 1608?
_______________
__________________________________
On his 3rd expedition, who did he face when he
landed on the coast of Maine?
______________
__________________________________
Describe the interaction between the Native
Americans and Hudson’s crew.
_____________
__________________________________
__________________________________
__________________________________
__________________________________
Which body of water did Hudson find after leaving
Maine?
A booklet describing the lives of major
historical European Explorers
_____________________________
By: ___________________________
Christopher
Jacques
Columbus
Cartier
When and where was he born?
______________
When and where was he born?
______________
What was one challenge Columbus faced before he
In 1535, which area did Cartier set out to find on his
was able to take his first major voyage?
first solo trip?
________
__________________________________
Who did Columbus convince to fund his expedition?
__________________________________
__________________________________
Name the three ships that sailed with Columbus to
________________________
__________________________________
Who accompanied him?
__________________
Where did Cartier and his crew actually land?
__________________________________
the Americas in 1492.
What challenges did Cartier face on his travels?
Which area did Columbus set out to find?_______
__________________________________
__________________________________
__________________________________
____________________
__________________________________
__________________________________
Where did Columbus land, and who was already
there?
_____________________________
__________________________________
__________________________________
Describe the interaction between the Native
Americans and Cartier’s crew.
______________
__________________________________
__________________________________
__________________________________
Vasco Nunez
de Balboa
What did Columbus call the Native Americans, and
why?
______________________________
__________________________________
Describe the interactions between Columbus and
his crew and the Native Americans.
___________________
__________________________________
__________
__________________________________
__________________________________
__________________________________
__________________________________
What things happened to them during the
Which ship was not able to take the journey back to
expedition?
Spain, and why?
When and where was he born?
_____________
What did Balboa and his partner set out to find on
his expedition of 1500?
__________________________
__________________________________
__________________________________
__________________________________
What was Balboa’s most important accomplishment?
__________________________________
How did Balboa display courage?
_______________________
__________________________________
How did the lives of the Native Americans change
after meeting and trading with the Europeans?
__________________________________
__________________________________
Why is it not correct to say that Columbus
discovered America?
Juan Ponce
John
de Leon
Cabot
When and where was he born?
______________
When and where was he born?
______________
What was Ponce de Leon most known for?
______
__________________________________
What was his major accomplishment?
How did Ponce de Leon and Columbus work
Who sent Cabot on his journey in 1497?
together?____________________________
__________________________________
_________
__________________________________
________
__________________________________
In 1497, which area did Cabot set out to find?
Which island did he conquer, and why?
________
__________________________________
__________________________________
__________________________________
What did he name the new land covered in flowers?
In which area did Cabot and his crew actually land?
__________________________________
__________________________________
What are some character traits that Ponce de
Leon displayed?
What are some character traits that Cabot
displayed?
ANSWER GUIDE
Henry
Discovering Famous
Hudson
When was he born?
Around the 1560s or 1570s
European Explorers
Why did Hudson have to turn back on his first two
The ice in the
North forced them to head back south.
expeditions in 1607 and 1608?
On his 3rd expedition, who did he face when he
landed on the coast of Maine?
Americans.
He met Native
Describe the interaction between the Native
They traded
with one another peacefully, but at times
violence broke out because the groups
did not trust one another.
Americans and Hudson’s crew.
Which body of water did Hudson find after leaving
Maine?
He found the Hudson River.
A booklet describing the lives of major
historical European Explorers
By: ___________________________
Christopher
Jacques
Columbus
Cartier
When and where was he born?
1451 in Italy
What was one challenge Columbus faced before he
He could
not find anyone willing to pay for his trip.
was able to take his first major voyage?
Who did Columbus convince to fund his expedition?
Queen Isabella and King Ferdinand of
Spain
Name the three ships that sailed with Columbus to
the Americas in 1492.
the Santa Maria
The Nina, the Pinta, and
He
hoped to find a new route to eastern
Asia.
Which area did Columbus set out to find?
Where did Columbus land, and who was already
there? His ships landed on an island in the
Bahamas, which he named San Salvador.
Native Americans lived there.
When and where was he born?
1491 in France.
He was born in
In 1535, which area did Cartier set out to find on his
He set out to follow the
Northwest Passage to Asia.
first solo trip?
Who accompanied him?
There were 110 men.
Where did Cartier and his crew actually land?
landed in Canada.
He
What challenges did Cartier face on his travels?
The winters were harsh, and many men
died from a disease called scurvy.
Describe the interaction between the Native
Americans and Cartier’s crew. Some Indian
tribes traded with them. The Iroquois
Indians showed Cartier a treatment for
scurvy.
Vasco Nunez
de Balboa
When and where was he born?
What did Columbus call the Native Americans, and
He named them Indians, because he
thought he had landed in the Indies.
why?
Describe the interactions between Columbus and
1475 in Spain
What did Balboa and his partner set out to find on
They set off towards
South America to find treasure and
riches.
his expedition of 1500?
What things happened to them during the
expedition? Their ship started leaking, so they
tried to survive by farming. Balboa moved
north, helped discover a town called Santa
Maria de la Antigua del Darien, and married
a Native American woman.
What was Balboa’s most important accomplishment?
He led a group to discover the Pacific
Ocean.
How did Balboa display courage? He bravely sailed
to new lands. It took bravery to settle in a new
place and find work to survive.
The Native
Americans were eager to trade with the
Europeans and share supplies. However,
the Natives resisted being dominated by
Columbus.
his crew and the Native Americans.
Which ship was not able to take the journey back to
The Santa Maria wrecked
and started to fall apart.
Spain, and why?
How did the lives of the Native Americans change
after meeting and trading with the Europeans?
The
natives were able to obtain things like
metal weapons, fabrics, and horses. Some
were also introduced to other religions.
Why is it not correct to say that Columbus
discovered America? There were thousands
of Native Americans already dwelling in
America before Columbus first arrived.
Juan Ponce
John
de Leon
Cabot
When and where was he born?
1460 in Spain
What was Ponce de Leon most known for?
discovered and named the state of
Florida.
He
How did Ponce de Leon and Columbus work
Ponce de Leon sailed on
Columbus’s second expedition.
together?
He
conquered Puerto Rico because he heard
there was gold there.
Which island did he conquer, and why?
What did he name the new land covered in flowers?
Florida
What are some character traits that Ponce de
Leon displayed?
trustworthiness
boldness
courage
determination
When and where was he born?
Italy
Around 1450 in
What was his major accomplishment?
North American for England.
He claimed
King
Henry VII of England wanted him to go.
Who sent Cabot on his journey in 1497?
He
hoped to follow a Northwest Passage to
Asia.
In 1497, which area did Cabot set out to find?
In which area did Cabot and his crew actually land?
He landed near Newfoundland.
What are some character traits that Cabot
displayed?
commitment
boldness
courage
determination