Introduction:

In the thirteenth to fifteenth centuries, Europeans discovered that the Asian continent held many "treasures.” Some examples of these treasures were gems, jewels, silks, clothing and spices. The Europeans greatly desired these items because they brought brightness and interest to their lives.

Overland travel was difficult due to mountains and harsh conditions so the Europeans looked for other options to travel to Asia. If they couldn't travel by land, then sea was their only option.

A great debate began: which way to go?  Would it be possible to go around Africa?  Or would sailing due west get the Europeans to Asia?  Over decades many explorers tried both routes.  Those that set out toward the west wound up in the new world, now Greenland, America, Canada, Mexico and the West Indies.  Those that chose to explore around Africa ended up in India.  Not all made it but all of them have had an impact on the development of the land we now call home. You will decide what it was about these famous men that have made them so important. At the end of this WebQuest you will decide if each of these explorers was indeed successful.

Task

Your task will be to prepare for and participate in the MVEE (Most Valuable European Explorer) Award program. With a partner you will research one of thirteen European explorers. One of you will present the MVEE award and the other will receive the award. You must decide what was so significant about your explorer - what sets him apart from others who dared to journey during that time period that he deserves the award. The information you uncover will be presented to your classmates in the form of an introductory speech from the award presenter and be followed by a thank you speech from the award recipient. You will use PowerPoint to aid in your presentation.

Process

1. With a partner choose one of the following explorers you would like to learn more about:

Christopher Columbus
Ferdinand Magellan
Vasco Da Gama
Henry Hudson
Vasco Nunez Balboa
John Cabot
Ponce de Leon
Samuel Champlain
Hernando Cortez
Jacques Cartier
Francisco Pizarro
Amerigo Vespucci
Sir Francis Drake
Francisco Coronado
Hernando de Soto

2. Visit the websites listed in our Resource Guide to start gathering information. (Don’t forget – books and encyclopedias are also wonderful resources; you are expected to use three different resources).

3. Use G.R.A.B. to help organize your research

4. Since you will be presenting the information for the remainder of the class through a dramatization of an awards program, decide which member of the team will portray the Award Presenter and which will be the Award Recipient (the explorer).

5. Decide what the explorer will win the award for.

6. Each member of the team will need to prepare a speech for the awards program. A joint PowerPoint presentation will help deliver highlighted information.

7. The Award Presenter's speech should include:
     *introduction of the award to be presented
     *introduction of the winning explorer, including:
     *early life of the explorer;
     *date of the historic trip;
     *how the exploration has changed the world;
     *announce the name of the award-winning explorer.
 
    The Award Recipient's acceptance speech should include:
    *a thank you to the country (and/or leader) who sponsored them;
    *what they were looking for;
    *route they took;
    *discussion about the challenges of the journey;
    *what they found/if they encountered any natives.

Evaluation:

Click on the links to see the rubrics for your project.

            PowerPoint Rubric