Age of Exploration: Unit 1

In this first unit of 8th grade history, students will study the European exploration of the

North America which lead to the founding of the United States.

Essential Unit Questions

• What lead to Europeans exploring North America?

• Who were the major European explorers of North America and what were their contributions?

• What were the lasting effects of European exploration of North America?

Outline Content of Unit 1:

• Geography & Climate of N. America• Major Indian groups of N. America• Events in Europe that led to Columbus’s

“discovery”• Major Spanish explorers & their contributions• Major French explorers & their contributions• Major Dutch explorers & their contributions• Major English explorers & their contributions

Exciting Activities in this Unit

• Climate zone jeopardy• Explorer bingo• Native American cuisine-you’ll taste

buffalo!• Reading a play about Columbus• Cool video clips