THE PROCESS
1. Get an Explorer! Your teacher will give you one explorer to research from the list below. Your teacher will also give you a partner and some paper to help with your research.
2. Assign Jobs! There are two jobs that need to be carried out in order to complete this project successfully. It is up to your group to decide who does what job. They are listed with descriptions below:
Scribe - The scribe is responsible for keeping a record of all the information gathered. Both members of the group will decide what information should be written down about their explorer, but it's up to the scribe to make sure it all gets written down so you can use it later for your card. The scribe is also responsible for creating the card on the computer once the information has been gathered.
Detective - The detective is responsible for finding the information about the explorer using the links below. Both members of the group will decide what information should be written down, but it's up to the detective to operate the computer and navigate the many web sites. The detective is also responsible for finding a picture of your explorer to use on the front of your baseball card.
3. Use your Hints! Once everyone in your group has a job, you need to research your explorer. Upper Deck knows all of the information in your text book so they need you to uncover other information using the web. They don't know how to use the internet as well as you or your teacher, so they've asked your teacher to give you some "hints" on where to find information.
Hint #1: Voyage of Exploration
Hint #2: Age of Exploration
Hint #3: Famous Explorers at Enchanted Learning
Hint #4: Exploration Through the Ages
Questions you MIGHT be interested in:
1. When was your explorer alive? (birth and death dates)
2. Where was your explorer born?
3. Which country sponsored your explorer?
4. Where was your explorer going?
5. How successful was your explorer?
6. A brief paragraph about how your explorer impacted both the New World and Europe.
7. How did your explorer meet his end? (how did he die?)Include any interesting stories or dangers that your explorer had to overcome.
4. Create Your Card! Use Microsoft Publisher, Word, or Open Office to create your "Explorer Card." Be creative with the way you present your information, making sure that all of the questions above are answered. It's up to you how it looks, what size the font is, what color, and how you write it. When done you should only need one piece of paper, with your picture on one side, and the information folded over on the back side.
5. Find a picture on one of the web sites of your explorer or create your own using Kid Pix. It's important to have one for the front of your card so Upper Deck has a complete rough draft. Your teacher can help you find a picture using Ask Kids if you can't find one on your own.
Your teacher can help make the rough draft of your card look just right with the help of the school laminator.