A WebQuest for Arizonan English Language Learners 4th- 8th

Great Explorers of the Americas

Developed by

Armando Heredia

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 Introduction | The Task | The Process | Evaluation | Conclusion

Men who dared to prove that the world was round.

Introduction

Welcome to Mr. Heredia's English Language Learning classroom.  We are learning about great Explorers of the Americas, and the people and places they encountered.

Studying the discovery of America starts from east of the Mississippi and moves west. Christopher Columbus is one of the great names that has been historically mentioned in this discovery of America.

Many explorers sailed the oceans to America on galleon like the one pictured above.

Later, Manifest Destiny would send other explorers such as Lewis and Clark westward. Settlers would later follow the Oregon trail to begin settlements in the west.

However,  important discoveries were happening in the southwest as well. History indicates that Hernando Cortez and the Spanish Conquistadors landed along the Yucatan Peninsula.  They came in search of riches, land, adventures, and to convert pagans to Christianity.

Here you see pictures of a Spanish   conquistador helmet and lance.

Moving north the Spanish discovered and claimed land for Spain. The Spaniards discovered and settled many places in the southwest, giving them names that sometimes still exist today.

Coronado would be one of the first European to set eyes on the Grand Canyon in Arizona.

Through this study we will concentrate on two explores: Christopher Columbus and Hernando Cortez.  We will also learn about the Native Americans who already lived in North America when these European explorers arrived to this continent.

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The Task

Your task will be to research one of the explores name listed below.   You will be placed in teams of three. You will consist of a historian/reporter, and a geographer, and cultural anthropologist. Your assignment is to present your information to the class as a typed report along with an oral presentation.

1. "Christopher Columbus "  

2. "Hernando Cortez"

Team members will be able to visit any of the various web sites designated in the resource section.  You will also be able to print out a questionnaire that specifies the assignments for each position.  You will research and provide the answers to the questions that have been provided to you.

After your team has completed the research, you will get together to share all your findings. For extra credit all the information will be presented in power point presentation.

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The Process

#1. Receive your assignment of teams and team position

(historian/reporter, geographer, or cultural anthropologist).

Choose one of the two explorer listed below:

    1. "Christopher Columbus "  

#2 Check out the vocabulary  enrichment   

    Vocabulary enrichment: In order to improve understanding of the topics that you will be studying and using in WebQuest view and print the vocabulary list.   Vocabulary List

#3.  Print out the questions for your assigned position .  

Check out the page assigned to you by your teacher. Each page contains the questions you will be answering as well as the links to other resources to help you answer the questions.

Historian/Reporter          Geographer

 Cultural Anthropologist

#4.  Research your topic on the internet sites listed on the Research Resource Page.

        Research Resource Page

#5.  Take notes on the worksheets that have been printed for your position on the team.

#6.  Write a brief summary about your selected explorer.

#7.  Put all the information together all

information gathered by your team.

# 8  Type up your report, add at least

one appropriate graphic.

#9.  Make an oral presentation.

#10.  Prepare a brief PowerPoint presentation about your topic to share on our classroom website. (For extra credit.)

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Evaluation

Evaluation:

Your report will be evaluated using the following criteria:

The report:

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Conclusion

Conclusion

Congratulations!

 You have completed this WebQuest.  In the process of doing so you have learned a lot about two great explores, Christopher Columbus and Hernando Cortez.

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