© Lauren Webb. 2014. {a social studies life}

Name ______________________________________________________________ Date _______________________________ Social Studies Great Explorers Play

CAST Teacher Student at Extra Help Viking Explorers Leif Erickson – sailed ca. 1000; first European to land in North America Portuguese Explorers Bartholomeu Diaz – sailed 1488; first to sail around Africa toward India Vasco de Gama – sailed 1497; fist to successfully sailed around Africa to India Pedro Cabral – sailed 1500; discovered and claimed Brazil for Portugal Spanish Explorers Christopher Columbus – sailed 1492; set up first Spanish colony in the New World Amerigo Vespucci – sailed 1500; proved North and South America were two separate continents, discovered new land was not a part of Asia but a “New World” Vasco Nunez de Balboa – sailed 1510; crossed Isthmus of Panama, first European to see Pacific Ocean Ponce de Leon – sailed 1513; explored Puerto Rico and Florida, first governor of Puerto Rico Hernando Cortez – sailed 1519; conquered Aztec Empire in Mexico, colonized Mexico, North, and South America Ferdinand Magellan – sailed 1519; first to circumnavigate the world and reach Asia by sailing west Francisco Pizarro – sailed 1532; conquered Inca Empire in Perú French Explorers Giovanni de Verrazano – sailed 1524; explored east coast of North America Jacques Cartier – sailed 1534; explored St. Lawrence River in an attempt to reach China Samuel de Champlain – sailed 1603; explored St. Lawrence River, founded Quebec Jacques Marquette & Louis Joliet – sailed 1673; explored Mississippi River Robert de la Salle – sailed 1679; explored Great Lakes, reached mouth of Mississippi River, claimed Mississippi River Valley & called it Louisiana English Explorers Martin Frobisher – sailed 1576; explored Northern Canada Sir Francis Drake – sailed 1577; first Englishmen to circumnavigate the world, knighted for stealing Spanish gold Henry Hudson – sailed 1610; explored Hudson Bay

Before we start acting, skim through the play and find your lines! You should highlight them to help you keep track. Let’s Go!

{Scene – Your teacher’s classroom during an extra help session. The classroom is full of hanging posters of famous explorers} {Teacher stands on a chair to hang up a poster of Lewis and Clark} Student: Another poster of Lewis and Clark? Teacher: Of course. They’re the best! Christopher Columbus: {sarcastically} Oh, sure…they’re the best. I set up the first New World colony for the great Spanish empire, but this guy thinks they’re better than me. Leif Erikson: Stop whining, Columbus. I made it to North America 500 years before you and you get all the credit for it ! Did you know that October 9th is Leif Erikson Day in the United States? Of course you didn’t. Nobody does ! But everybody knows about Columbus Day ! Vasco Núñez de Balboa: Big deal, Leif. I was Vasco Nunez de Balboa and I made it to the other side of North America. You barely left the shore. That sounds more like a nice vacation spot than a real accomplishment. Francisco Pizarro: I’m going to have to agree with my fellow Spaniard. Balboa did travel a lot farther than you did, Erikson. Leif Erikson: Do you guys have any idea how much more technology you had available by 1500? I could’ve made it to the moon with the cool gadgets you guys had. Astrolabes to find your latitude, compasses to point north? Please…{shakes his head} Francisco Pizarro: Well, I did a lot more than just explore. I, Francisco Pizarro, was a conquistador, a conqueror of the restless and uncivilized natives that somehow managed to have an awful lot of gold. I led my men in an expedition that wiped out the entire Inca Empire in Peru ! Of course, when they weren’t around, I helped myself to a little of their gold.

Hernando Cortez: The Inca Empire? {laughs} How about the Aztec Empire of Mexico? Those guys would’ve eaten you alive. I mean that. They really did eat people. That didn’t stop me from crushing their empire, though. Took quite a bit of gold home with me, too, you know. And that’s why Hernando Cortez was the most terrifying conquistador of them all. Sir Francis Drake: Ah yes, all that gold you Spaniard stole. I’m not sure if you realize it or not, but I was made Sir Francis Drake for taking it away from the Spanish and bringing it back to England with me. Oh, and I was also the first Englishman to circumnavigate the world. {looks impressed with himself} Student: What does circumnavigate mean? Ferdinand Magellan: I’ll handle this one, Drake. Sir Francis Drake: That’s Sir Drake to you. Ferdinand Magellan: Yeah…whatever. Anyway, as I was saying, circumnavigate means to travel all the way around the earth. And I’d know, because I, Ferdinand Magellan, was the first person to do it. Drakey over there… Sir Francis Drake: A-hem ! Ferdinand Magellan: {sigh} Sir Drake over there may have been the first Englishman to do it, but I beat him by more than 50 years. Jacques Cartier: Correct me if I’m wrong, Magellan, but didn’t you die along the way and not make it around the world? From what I remember, your crew was the first to circumnavigate the world. Ferdinand Magellan: Details, details…what is important is that I was the captain of the first ship to sail around the world. What did you do that was so great, Cartier? Jacques Cartier: {trying to sound impressive} I explored the St. Lawrence River Valley ! Ferdinand Magellan: And why exactly would you do that?

Jacques Cartier: {embarrassed} I was…uh…looking for China. Samuel de Champlain: China?! You explored the northeast coast of North America and you were looking for China? At least when I explored the St. Lawrence River Valley, I knew what I was doing. Plus, I founded the great city of Quebec while I was there ! Martin Frobisher: Hey, what about me? I explored northern Canada nearly 30 years before you got there, Champlain ! Bartholomeu Diaz: Yep, because there’s a big future in northern Canada. It’s practically a frozen wasteland ! Martin Frobisher: Fine, what did you accomplish, Diaz? Bartholomeu Diaz: {proud} I was the first man to sail around Africa toward India. Vasco de Gama: Why don’t you tell the student what you found when you got there? Student: {really, REALLY, excited} Yeah, what happened? I want to know more ! Bartholomeu Diaz: Well, I…uh…never really…made it to India… Student: {really, REALLY, disappointed} Awww, why not? Bartholomeu Diaz: {quietly} The…uh…weather wasn’t good for sailing…so we needed to…kinda…turn back. Vasco de Gama: I, on the other hand, young student, sailed the same route as Diaz and made it to India successfully not even 10 years later. That is why Vasco de Gama is the greatest explorer ! Student: Why did you guys want to get to India so badly? Christopher Columbus: {worried about being left out} I was going there too ! Vasco de Gama: That’s great, Columbus. Unfortunately for you and Frobisher -

Martin Frobisher: Hey! How’d I get dragged into this? I was looking for China. Vasco de Gama: Yeah, but you were looking for China for the same reason so many of us were looking for India. Student: Are one of you dead explorers going to tell me why you were looking for India or what? Bartholomeu Diaz: The reason that so many of us were looking for a way to get to Asia (since that includes both India and China) was that we wanted to get rich by trading with the people there. You see, they had all sorts of cool stuff that people really wanted back in Europe. Sir Francis Drake: {interrupting} Silks, spices, that sort of thing. The spices were especially valuable since European food tasted so awful back then. Speaking of which, can I get a pack of those Smarties? Teacher: You got it Drake. Gotta love the Drake… Sir Francis Drake: A-hem… Teacher: Oh, right. Sir Drake. Sir Francis Drake: Thank you! Amerigo Vespucci: I can’t believe what I’m hearing! Here we are, having a discussion about all these so-called great explorers, and I haven’t even been mentioned yet! After all, I’m the one who realized that North and South America were two separate continents. And, not to brag, but they are kinda named after me…I’m Amerigo. They’re the Americas. See? Giovanni da Verrazano: I feel so left out, too…I was the first major French explorer, paving the way for guys like Cartier and Champlain, and they only named the Verrazano Bridge after me... Teacher: If it makes you feel better, it’s a nice bridge. Giovanni da Verrazano: I’d feel better if I could have some Smarties like Sir Drake over there.

Sir Francis Drake: A-hem… Giovanni da Verrazano: What? I’m the only one who remembered to call you “sir.” Sir Francis Drake: Sorry about that…I’m not used to people actually remembering. Giovanni de Verrazano: Well, that’s how I roll. Student: That doesn’t even make any sense. Giovanni de Verrazano: {sarcastically} Well, excuse me! I did sail nearly 500 years ago, you know. Ponce de Leon: {to Student} Sorry to interrupt, but do you know if anyone has found what I was looking for? Student: Umm…I don’t know…what were you trying to find, Ponce de Leon? Ponce de Leon: Well, when I wasn’t busy with my duties as the first governor of Puerto Rico, I spent my days exploring Puerto Rico and Florida for the Fountain of Youth. Student: Nope, don’t think we’ve got one of those. Disney World is down that way, though. Ponce de Leon: Does that make you stay young forever? Student: Only if you stay in Neverland while you’re down there. {looking at remaining explorers} Hey, what did you guys do? You’ve been awfully quiet. Pedro Cabral: I sailed in 1500 and discovered Brazil. I claimed it for the most powerful empire in the world, Portugal. Tell me, are we still a world power? Teacher: Not entirely, although your soccer team did pretty well at the World Cup a few years ago. Pedro Cabral: Well…I guess that’s a start…

Henry Hudson: Enough talk of games – let’s get back to the real explorers here. {trying to sound very important} I made several expeditions, not even all for the same country in fact. I was in high demand, you see…Anyhoo, you’re probably familiar with some of my discoveries like the Hudson River and Hudson Bay. The river is my personal favorite, as I hear it did quite a bit to help New York City to grow, especially once it was connected to the Great Lakes by the Erie Canal. Robert de la Salle: Speaking of the Great Lakes, you might be interested to know that not only did I explore the Great Lakes, but I was also the first man to reach the mouth of the Mississippi River. While I was there, I claimed all the land near the Mississippi River for France. Jacques Marquette & Louis Joliet: Hey, we explored the Mississippi River first ! Leif Erikson: Never hear of it. Can’t be all that important. Teacher: Actually, the Mississippi River has been very important throughout American history. We’ll get to see that as the year goes on. Leif Erikson: {yawns} I’m sure that’s very fascinating, but we still haven’t settled the question of who is the greatest explorer here. Teacher: That’s very true, Leif. And don’t think I didn’t notice that yawn. Do it again and I’ll kick your Viking butt back across the Atlantic Ocean to Scandinavia! Leif Erikson: {sits up straighter} Sorry! Sir Francis Drake: A-hem… Robert de la Salle: Yeah, yeah, we know… Teacher: Anyway, Leif Erikson is right. We need to try to figure out who truly was the greatest explorer. I think tonight’s homework will be to pick one explorer (it doesn’t have to be the one you were in the play) and write a paragraph to explain why he was the most important to the Age of Exploration.

Applying

Using all of the information you’ve learned, decide who the most important explorer from the cast is. Then, write a paragraph arguing and defending your decision. Use specific facts to prove that

you’ve made a wise choice.

Think about when these explorers traveled, where they went, and what they accomplished. An explorer who had a long-term impact on the world is probably more important than another explorer

who had more of a short-term impact. {5-7 sentences}

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