- Discussed what it would be like to be an Explorer
- Read a book about Vikings
- Discussed a bit about Lief Ericson and his father Eric the Red
- Played a Viking Adventure Game
For homework this week, I would like the kids to explore more about Leif Ericson as I only gave them a teaser about his very interesting life. Here are some books you could check out of the library or read online:
#1 Choice : Leif the Lucky by D'Aulaire
Considered by some children's book authorities to be the d'Aulaire's finest work, this biography of Leif Erickson, son of Eric the Red, best exemplifies the artist's skill in Norwegian folk art, style, and history. Their well-researched text is lavishly illustrated with Viking rune-like carvings, from the dragon prow of the ship that Leif must hurry to remove, lest it anger the spirits of the land, to the stave churches so unique to Norway. Landscapes depict emerald green fjords against floes of ice and mountains of snow. The grand halls of King Olav Trygvason are ornamented with carvings of Nordic mythical creatures while tame polar bear cubs romp and play. In this setting the young Leif grows to manhood and learns the skills of navigation, sailing his own ship when just a teen from Greenland to Norway. It is on his return journey that he discovers a new land what we now know to be Newfoundland. Later he sends settlers there actually establishing a colony. 54 pages
Alternative Book Recommendation: (Use caution as I have not personally read these)
Viking Adventure / Bulla
Eric the Red and Leif the Lucky / Schiller
Free Online Book
Viking Tales by Jennie Hall (Look at chapter titles)
Want to take the lessons deeper?
Free Online Viking Lesson Plans
Extra's
Viking Quest Game - Beware it does contain information about Viking's worship of false Gods, war like behavior and other viking issues.
Assignment:
Over the next two weeks, we will be studying famous explorers. I would like each student to choose an explorer and research their life. Then the students will have an opportunity to share the projects in class on October 5th. Here are the guidelines:
Student Made Map:
Students must include a student made map (not printed off the computer or copied by machine from a book) that shows the explorer’s country of origin and routes of their major voyages.
Oral Presentation in the first person:
Each student will present a 2-3 minute presentation highlighting the explorer’s life and major accomplishments. The presentation should be delivered in “FIRST PERSON” as if the explorer himself is speaking or possibly as a ship mate or family member of the explorer. Costumes are encouraged. Each student may wear clothing that best represents how their explorer may have looked. Students must show their routes of exploration. They may feel free to make or bring any additional projects or props that represent their explorer.
Please email me at cmahmhprz@aol.com after your child has chosen their explorer. I want each child to do a different explorer so choose quickly. If they are highlighted in red, then someone has already chosen that explorer.
Projects will be presented on October 5th.
| Date | Explorer | Nationality | Achievement |
| Around 1000 | Leif Ericson | Norse | First European to reach North American Mainland |
| 1271-1295 | Marco Polo | Italian | Traveled to the Far East, to what was known then as Cathay or China-Made men want to travel there through his book |
| 1394-1460 | Prince Henry | Portuguese | Created navigation school in Sagres, Portugal Explored the western African coastline |
| 1487-1488 | Bartholomeu Dias | Portuguese | First European to round the Cape of Good Hope |
| 1492-1504 | Christopher Columbus | Italian | Made 4 voyages to West Indies and Caribbean Islands |
| 1497-1503 | Amerigo Vespucci | Italian | Sailed to West Indies and South America |
| 1497-1498 | John Cabot | Italian | Explored the shores of Newfoundland, Nova Scotia, and Labrador |
| 1498 | Vasco Da Gama | Portuguese | First to travel to West Indies around Africa |
| 1513 | Vasco de Balboa | Spanish | Led expedition across Panama and found the Pacific Ocean |
| 1513 | Juan Ponce de Leon | Spanish | Explored Florida looking for the Fountain of Youth |
| 1520-1521 | Ferdinand Magellan | Portuguese | Commanded first globe circling voyage |
| 1519-1521 | Hernando Cortez | Spanish | Conquered Aztecs in Mexico |
| 1523 | Giovanni da Verranzano | Italian | Searched for a Northwest Passage |
| 1523-1535 | Francisco Pizarro | Spanish | Conquered Peru |
| 1534-1542 | Jacques Cartier | French | Traveled St. Lawrence River |
| 1539-1541 | Hernando De Soto | Spanish | Explored American Southeast-Discovered the Mississippi River |
| 1540-1542 | Francisco Vazquez de Coronado | Spanish | Explored American Southwest |
| 1577-1580 | Sir Frances Drake | English | First English to sail around the world-Defeated the Spanish Armada- Claimed California for England |
