YOU have been selected to help design the newest line of trading cards.   Your job is to create the first ever Explorer Trading Cards.  These cards will look similar to Baseball cards, but instead of having batting averages, the cards will have facts about the explorers major discoveries.   Using the information that is provided below and the other additional sources, you will select the information that will be printed on the cards for everyone to see.   Good luck!  We look forward to seeing your final products!
  

    Your task is as follows:

• Using the handout/template provided, fill in the blanks with information you find in your resources.
• On the other side of the cards, draw a picture of the explorer.
• Finally, cut the cards out and sort them into categories.  (Ex. birth date, hometown, what discovered)

*Read through the whole process before you begin to work.

• Select an explorer that you will begin to research.
• Once you have selected an explorer, go to the Resource section and  click on that explorer's name.  This will take you to a page where you will find different links about the explorer that will help you find the information needed to complete the cards.  There are also other resources, such as books, that will help you find the information needed to complete your cards.  You should read about the explorer and fill in the important information.
• When you have filled in all the  information, review the information to make sure you have  written down all the important facts.
• Next, locate a picture of that explorer.  (You will find pictures on the web sites and in books.)  On the back side of the card you will draw a picture of that explorer so that one side has a picture of the explorer and the other will contain information about him.  (Very similar to Baseball cards.)
• When you have finished filling out the first explorer's card go back to the Resource section and select another explorer.  Beginning the process over again (find information and draw a picture).
• Continue this process until you fill in all of the cards.
• When you have filled in all the cards your next assignment is to cut out all of the cards and organize them into categories.  You can organize them in any way you want.  They can be organized by home town, date of birth or any other number of ways.  Try and come up with a new way of your own.
• Finally, when you have arranged your cards explain to your teacher how you have arranged your cards and let him or her review your new trading cards!

Sites on the Web about Explorers-

Enchanted Learning

Leif Erricson
    Leif Erricson 
    Thinkquest on Leif Erricson 

Columbus
    Thinkquest on Columbus
    Christopher Columbus
    1492 Exhibit

Cortés
    Cortés
     Gander Academy

Magellan
    Thinkquest on Magellan

Pizarro 

Coronado
    Coronado

Desoto

Ponce de León
    Discovery of Florida 

Balboa
    Vasco Balboa
    Balboa

     Your teacher will check your cards and grade them on the following:

• the information can be easily read (neat handwriting)
• the information is correct
• the picture is neatly drawn and shows that you took time to draw it
• the cards are organized into categories and you can explain the categories

    We thank you for all the hard work that you have put into developing the first ever Explorer Trading Cards.  Hopefully, you have learned a little about each explorer and what they discovered during their explorations.