This is where you will find links to interactive maps for day 3 of my Age of Exploration unit.
You can select which explorers’ routes you want students to draw based on your state standards.
Here are my recommnedations:
- Spain – Columbus, Magellan,
- England – Cabot, Hudson
- Portugal – de Gama, Dias
- France – Cartier, (Optional: Verrazano)
For more instructions, see the lesson plan for “Explorers’ Technology and Routes”. If you don’t own the unit, you can buy it here.
Map 1: European Exploration Map created by a Google Maps User
What I like about this map.
- This map is very user-friendly. When students click on the explorer’s name, it zooms in on his route.
- This map shows routes for 9 explorers.
What I don’t like about this map.
- Only one route is shown for France (Cartier but not Verrazano)
- This map was created by a user. Therefore, it may have some inaccuracies. When I checked the routes, they seemed correct.
Routes shown:
- Spain – Columbus, Magellan, de Balboa
- England – Cabot, Drake, Hudson
- Portugal – de Gama, Dias
- France – Cartier
Map 2: Explorers: Age of Encounter by Google Earth
What I like about this map.
- This map was created by PBS Education.
- Students can learn more about each explorer by watching videos.
- The map zooms in and out on different ports.
- This website would be a great early finisher activity.
What I don’t like about this map.
- No French explorers’ routes are shown (However, you could just change “France” to “Italy” on the map key of the student worksheet).
- It’s a little tricky for students to copy the routes because of the way the map moves.
Routes shown:
- Spain – Columbus, Magellan
- England – Cabot, Drake
- Portugal – de Gama
- Italy (Republic of Florence) – Vespucci
Early Finisher Idea
After your students finish drawing the routes of European explorers, they may want to know more about navigational technology during the Age of Exploration. The Mariners’ Museum and Park is a great website for kids.
