EARLY EXPLORATIONS OF

THE AMERICAS
BY: MARIO DIAZ

 Content Area : Social Studies

Grade Level : Fourth Grade

Summary : The purpose of this power point is to have students understand the routes
of early explorers from the 15th and 16th century.
Learning Objective : Given websites and facts about the early explorations of the
Americas the students will need to interpret the material to answer the questions
within the power point with 100 percent accuracy.
Content Standard :4.4 Trace the routes of early explorers and describe the early
explorations of the Americas, including: (C, E, G, H, P, TN) Christopher Columbus
Ferdinand Magellan Amerigo Vespucci Robert de La Salle Hernando de Soto
Henry Hudson Jacques Cartier

Accomplishment : Fourth grade students will learn about native civilizations in

North America, European explorations to the New World during the fifteenth and
sixteenth centuries, and the political, economic, and social development of the
British colonies in the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries.

LIST OF EXPLORERS
There were a plethora important explorers from the 15th and 16th centuries; however, here
is a list of some of the most famous and successful explorers from the 15th and 16th
centuries.
Christopher Columbus (from Spain, 1492) was sailing westward to find a trade route to
China, and found America.
Ferdinand Magellan (from Spain, 1529) was the first to sail around the world around
South America through the Straits of Magellan and reaching the Pacific Ocean
Amerigo Vespucci (from Italy, 1498) Sailed South Americas coast.
Robert De La Salle (from France, 1682) first European to travel the length of the
Mississippi River.
Hernando De Soto (from Spain, 1539) explored south-eastern U.S. from Tampa Bay to
South Carolina and crossed the Mississippi River.
Henry Hudson (from England, 1610) discovered the Hudson River, the Hudson Strait,
and the Hudson Bay.
Jacques Cartier (from France, 1534) explored Canada and sailed the St. Lawrence

PICTURES OF ROUTES

INTERACTIVE MAP
THIS LINK BELOW SHOWS AN INTERACTIVE MAP THAT INCLUDES THE ROUTES
OF THE EXPLORATIONS OF NORTH AMERICA FROM 1492-1700.
HTTP://WWW.EDUPLACE.COM/KIDS/SOCSCI/BOOKS/APPLICATIONS/IMAPS/MAPS
/G5S_U2/
CLICK ON ONE OF THE EXPLORERS NAMES GIVEN TO YOU FROM THE LIST TO
VIEW THE ROUTE !

CANT REMEMBER THE EXPLORERS CLICK U ARROW BELOW TO RETURN TO

LIST.

EXPLORERS FACTS
THE LINK BELOW SEPARATES THE EXPLORERS BY COUNTRY AND HAS AMAZING
FACTS ABOUT THE EXPLORATIONS
HTTP://WWW.HISTORY.COM/TOPICS/EXPLORATION/EXPLORATION-OF-NORTHAMERICA
THE LINK BELOW LIST EACH INDIVIDUAL EXPLORER FROM THE EARLY 15TH AND
16TH CENTURY. PLEASE REVIEW EACH INDIVIDUAL EXPLORER FROM THE LIST TO
REVIEW FOR A SHORT QUIZ FROM FACTS LISTED BY THIS LINK!!!
HTTP://WWW.ENCHANTEDLEARNING.COM/EXPLORERS/NAMERICA.SHTML

QUESTION 1 ?
Who was the first person to realize that the Americas were separate from
the continent of Asia? HINT: America was named for him in 1507, when
the German mapmaker Martin Waldseemller, printed the first map that
used the name America for the new world.
A. Jacques Carter

B. Robert De La Salle
C. Amerigo Vespucci
D. Christopher Columbus

CORRECT!
The answer was C. Amerigo Vespucci
Amerigo Vespucci (1454-1512) was an Italian explorer who
was the first person to realize that the Americas were separate
from the continent of Asia. America was named for him in
1507, when the German mapmaker martin waldseemller,
printed the first map that used the name America for the new
world. (Enchanted Learning).

QUESTION 2?
Who was the French explorer who led three expeditions to Canada and
sailed the St. Lawrence river?

A. Ferdinand Magellan
B. Jacques Cartier
C. Hernando De Soto
D. Henry Hudson

CORRECT!
The answer was B. Jacques Cartier.
Jacques Cartier (1491-1557) was a French explorer who led three
expeditions to Canada, in 1534, 1535, and 1541. He was looking for
a route to the pacific through north America (a northwest passage)
but did not find one. Cartier paved the way for French exploration of
North America. Cartier sailed inland, going 1,000 miles up the St.
Lawrence River. He also tried to start a settlement in Quebec (in
1541), but it was abandoned after a terribly cold winter. Cartier
named Canada; "Kanata" means village or settlement in the Huroniroquois language. Cartier was given directions by Huron-iroquois
Indians for the route to "Kanata," a village near what is now
Quebec, but Cartier later named the entire region Canada.

QUESTION 3?
Sent by King Louis XIV, he was the first European to travel the length of
the Mississippi River and named the entire basin Louisiana in honor of
the king. Who was the explorer?
A. Robert La Salle
B. Henry Hudson

C. Ferdinand Magellan
D. Hernando De Soto

CORRECT!
The answer was A. Robert La Salle.
Ren-Robert Cavelier, Sieur De la Salle (1643-1687) was a French
explorer. He was sent by King Louis XIV (14) to travel south from Canada
and sail down the Mississippi river to the gulf of Mexico. He was the first
European to travel the length of the Mississippi River (1682). His mission
was to explore and establish fur-trade routes along the river. La Salle
named the entire Mississippi basin Louisiana, in honor of the king, and
claimed it for France on April 9, 1682. He also explored Lake Michigan
(1679), Lake Huron, Lake Erie, and Lake Ontario. He tried to start a
settlement in the southern Mississippi River Valley, but the venture ended

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CONCLUSION
The purpose of this power point is to have students understand the routes of early explorers from
the 15th and 16th century. Students should now be able to trace the routes of the early explorers
and describe the early explorations of the Americas from: Christopher Columbus, Ferdinand
Magellan, Amerigo Vespucci, Robert de La Salle, Hernando de Soto, Henry Hudson, and Jacques
Cartier with 100% accuracy.
Thank You , Mario Diaz