Explorers...

Hi!  This is a reminder of 2 important Social Studies dates.  This Friday (11/8), all explorer cut-outs are due.  Students have worked very hard in class on their explorer biographies, and I look forward to sharing these on Friday.  

On Thursday (11/7), we will also have a quiz over several of the explorers we have already discussed in class or will be discussing this week.  Study guides came home last Thursday, but a copy is here for your reference as well.  Thanks so much for all that you do!  :)

Social Studies Quiz 

Explorers--Study Guide

What do you need to know for the quiz?

·       You should be able to recognize the explorers listed below in order to match them to their accomplishments/discoveries:

o   The Vikings—Examples of these include Eric the Red and Leif Erikson; they were known for sailing to Iceland, Greenland, Canada, and possibly even Northern Maine.

o   Marco Polo—He was a merchant who traveled to China and the Far East; the stories of his travels inspired Christopher Columbus. 

o   Christopher Columbus—Sent by Spain in 1492, he thought he had discovered a way to sail west to reach the Far East, but instead, he had actually discovered the New World.

o   Amerigo Vespucci—Another explorer who was sent by the Spanish, he reached South America and realized that this was not the New World, but a brand new continent.  North and South America are named for him.

o   John Cabot—An explorer sent by England, he reached North America (following the same path taken by the Vikings years before).  He saw amazing shoals of fish and wrote about the excellent fishing he found.

o   Henry Hudson—He was sent by England to look for a Northwest Passage; the Hudson Bay and the Hudson River are named for him.

o   Lewis and Clark—They were 2 men sent across the United States by President Thomas Jefferson in order to explore and to reach the Pacific Ocean with their Corps of Discovery.

o   Daniel Boone—He was a wilderness scout who was captured 4 times by Indians and who inspired the Boy Scouts of America in the early 1900s.

o   Hernando Cortes—He was a Spanish explorer that conquered the Aztecs in Mexico and discovered Baja California.

o   Sacagawea—She was a Native American woman who helped Lewis and Clark and translated for them during their travels across the United States.

o   Amelia Earhart—She was the first female to fly across the Atlantic Ocean.

o   Nellie Bly—She was a reporter known for her record-breaking trip around the world in less than 80 days; she traveled by boat, train, and even donkey.

o   Roald Amundsen—He was the first person to sail through the Northwest Passage by way of the Arctic Ocean and to reach both the North and South Poles.

·       There will also be a few discussion questions, based upon information that we have gone over in class, such as Describe what it would have been like to be a Viking… or How do you think Marco Polo felt when others did not believe his stories of adventure?  How would you have felt…

I can’t wait for you to show me what you know on our upcoming quiz! 

I love exploring with you in Social Studies!