Mapping World Explorers

Who explored where? When? Represent travel since ancient times by mapping explorers' routes around the globe.

• 1.

  Since the beginning of human habitation on Earth, people have explored new areas. Research the kingdoms and nations that sent explorers forth. Find the names of independent adventurers. Look beyond the recent Spanish and Portuguese explorers who have had good publicity. You may learn about some amazing places that Chinese explorers visited. Or discover lands where Vikings arrived before other Europeans. Exploration over land counts, too, such as the Silk Road. Make a timeline of your findings.

• 2.

  Cover your art area with newspaper. To make a papier mâché globe to map out your findings. Tear newspaper into strips or squares. Mix equal parts of water and Crayola® School Glue. Slide the torn newspaper into the glue. Cover a crumpled piece of recycled newspaper with two or three layers of newspaper, smoothing it as you go. Dry.

• 3.

  Add more layers of paper until you have a sturdy globe. Dry completely.

• 4.

  Look at an atlas or globe to find the placement of land masses on Earth. Sketch the continents on your globe with Crayola® Washable Marker. Paint land and sea with Crayola Tempera and Paint Brushes. Dry.

• 5.

  With the point of Crayola Scissors, poke a hole in the globe where your first explorer started. Poke other holes at various stops along the journey. Poke chenille sticks in holes from one to another to mark each explorer's route. Choose a different color

• 6.

  Push another craft stick in your globe to hold your color key. Write down the time period and the people who were exploring on paper tabs cut from recycled file folders. Match the tabs to the appropriate colored chenille stem and tie to a craft stick.

Benefits

• Students research information about early explorers, concentrating on selected nations, routes, or time periods.
• Students find maps of exploration routes over water and land and create a timeline.
• Children represent their findings in a three-dimensional model and map travel routes over space and/or through time.

Adaptations

• Older students map the migration of the first people on the continent of Africa. Trace the paths people are thought to have moved along to populate the Earth.
• What motivates people to explore? List and discuss the reasons throughout history.
• <I>Plus Ultra</I> is a saying meaning <I>more beyond</I>. Discuss what that motto means in terms of exploration, especially as it applies to future generations.