Explorers Literacy Activities
This section contains numerous explorers-themed literacy activities including reading comprehension and cloze reading exercises, sentence surgeons and correct-me passages, exciting writing prompts, critical thought activities, and project ideas. Use the filters on the left side of the page to isolate activities by grade level or format.
Marco Polo and the Silk Road Reading Comprehension
Description: This resource includes a historical passage and eight multiple choice questions. PASSAGE LENGTH: 170 Words; LEXILE: 810
Marco Polo and the Silk Road Reading Comprehension - Online
Description: This resource includes a historical passage and eight multiple choice questions. It gives immediate feedback. In addition, when you click the "listen" button, you can hear the passage while it highlights the text. PASSAGE LENGTH: 170 Words; LEXILE: 810
Marco Polo and the Silk Road Correct-me Passage
Description: This fun activity requires students to correct a passage about Marco Polo that has seven factual errors. Students first must discover the errors, then click on them and select the correct answer from the drop down menu.
Marco Polo Fact or Fiction
Description: This fun activity requires students to read a Marco Polo passage and then, to sort 10 statements into those that are facts and those that are fiction.
Marco Polo Fact or Fiction - Online
Description: This fun activity requires students to read a Marco Polo passage and then, to sort 10 statements into those that are facts and those that are fiction.
Marco Polo Topic Sentence and Supporting Details
Description: This printable activity requires students to select sentences from a series of sentences that fit under the given topic sentence, and to construct a paragraph based on the logical order of the selected sentences.
Marco Polo Virtual History Teacher
Description: Students play the role of a virtual history teacher and must grade responses to three questions about Marco Polo. Each response is incomplete, and students must fill in the missing information in the "response" section. Students can use the Marco Polo biography for reference.
Marco Polo Activities Bundle - All of the Printable Marco Polo Activities on This Site
Description: This bundle includes all of the printable activities related to Marco Polo on MrNussbaum.com
Vasco da Gama Reading Comprehension - Printable
Description: This activity requires includes a reading passage and seven multiple choice questions. The answers are included in the PDF.
Prince Henry Reading Comprehension - Printable
Description: This activity requires includes a reading passage and seven multiple choice questions. The answers are included in the PDF.
Christopher Columbus Paralaugh
Description: This activity functions like an online mad lib. Students must add parts of speech to create a hilarious story.
Christopher Columbus Reading Comprehension
Description: This resource includes a historical passage and ten multiple choice questions.
Christopher Columbus Reading Comprehension - Online
Description: This resource includes a historical passage and ten multiple choice questions. It gives immediate feedback. In addition, when you click the "listen" button, you can hear the passage while it highlights the text.
Christopher Columbus Reading Comprehension - Online
Description: This resource includes a historical passage and eight multiple choice questions. It gives immediate feedback. In addition, when you click the "listen" button, you can hear the passage while it highlights the text.
Christopher Columbus Reading Comprehension Details Focus - Online
Description: This resource includes a historical passage and five multiple choice questions. It gives immediate feedback.
Christopher Columbus Reading Comprehension Main Idea Focus - Online
Description: This resource includes a historical passage and five multiple choice questions. It gives immediate feedback.
Christopher Columbus Reading Comprehension Sequencing Focus - Online
Description: This resource includes a historical passage and five multiple choice questions. It gives immediate feedback.
Christopher Columbus Reading Comprehension Contextual Vocabulary Focus - Online
Description: This resource includes a historical passage and five multiple choice questions. It gives immediate feedback.
Christopher Columbus Correct-me Passage
Description: This fun activity requires students to correct a passage about Christopher Columbus that has ten factual errors. Students first must discover the errors, then click on them and select the correct answer from the drop down menu.
Christopher Columbus Fact or Fiction
Description: This fun activity requires students to read a Christopher Columbus passage and then, to sort 10 statements into those that are facts and those that are fiction.
Christopher Columbus - Virtual History Teacher
Description: Students play the role of a virtual history teacher and must grade responses to three questions about Christopher Columbus. Each response is incomplete, and students must fill in the missing information in the "response" section. Students can use the Christopher Columbus biography for reference.
Christopher Columbus Fact or Fiction - Online
Description: This fun activity requires students to read a Christopher Columbus passage and then, to sort 10 statements into those that are facts and those that are fiction.
Christopher Columbus Topic Sentence and Supporting Details
Description: This printable activity requires students to select sentences from a series of sentences that fit under the given topic sentence, and to construct a paragraph based on the logical order of the selected sentences.
Was Christopher Columbus Overrated in History?
Description: This writing prompt requires students to consider an argument that Christopher Columbus was overrated in history. It then asks students to write about something they consider overrated.
Christopher Columbus Activities Bundle - All of the Printable Christopher Columbus Activities on This Site
Description: This bundle includes all of the printable activities related to Christopher Columbus on MrNussbaum.com
Christopher Columbus Digital Centers - by Computer Mice
Description: This resource includes numerous bundled digital learning, researching, communicating, reviewing, and gaming activities on Christopher Columbus in a single resource. Students can conduct research , fill out graphic organizers and Venn diagrams, write e-books with pictures, conduct interviews, determine fact or opinion, play games, and much, much more! If you're teaching about Jacques Cartier , you're sure to find any number of unique opportunities for your students here.
Columbus Day, or, Not So Much
Description: This writing prompt requires students to determine whether or not Columbus should get his own holiday, and if not, what famous person should replace him and why?
Columbus Day, or, Not So Much - Google Classroom
Description: This writing prompt requires students to determine whether or not Columbus should get his own holiday, and if not, what famous person should replace him and why? Copy it directly to Google Classroom to use as an assessment, discussion or, to collect student data.
Ponce de Leon Reading Comprehension
Description: This resource includes a historical passage and ten multiple choice questions.
Ponce de Leon Reading Comprehension - Online
Description: This resource includes a historical passage and ten multiple choice questions. It gives immediate feedback.
Ponce de Leon Cloze Reading - Online
Description: This contextual vocabulary exercise requires students to insert the vocabulary words from the word bank that complete the paragraph.
Francisco Coronado Reading Comprehension - Online
Description: This resource includes a historical passage and seven multiple choice questions. It gives immediate feedback. PASSAGE LENGTH: 578 Words; LEXILE: 1210
Francisco Pizzaro Biography
Description: This is a full biography of Spanish explorer and conquistador Francisco Pizarro.
Hernando de Soto Reading Comprehension - Printable
Description: This activity requires includes a reading passage and seven multiple choice questions. The answers are included in the PDF.
Vasco Nunez de Balboa Reading Comprehension - Printable
Description: This activity requires includes a reading passage and seven multiple choice questions. The answers are included in the PDF.
Vasco Nunez de Balboa Digital Centers - by Computer Mice
Description: This resource includes numerous bundled digital learning, researching, communicating, reviewing, and gaming activities on Balboa in a single resource. Students can conduct research , fill out graphic organizers and Venn diagrams, write e-books with pictures, conduct interviews, determine fact or opinion, play games, and much, much more! If you're teaching about Balboa , you're sure to find any number of unique opportunities for your students here.
Ferdinand Magellan Reading Comprehension - Online
Description: This resource includes a historical passage and ten multiple choice questions. It gives immediate feedback. In addition, when you click the "listen" button, you can hear the passage while it highlights the text. PASSAGE LENGTH = 534 Words; LEXILE = 910
Ferdinand Magellan Reading Comprehension
Description: This resource includes a historical passage and seven multiple choice questions. PASSAGE LENGTH = 534 Words; LEXILE = 910
Ferdinand Magellan Fact or Fiction
Description: This fun activity requires students to read a Ferdinand Magellan passage and then, to sort 10 statements into those that are facts and those that are fiction.
Sequencing the Life of Ferdinand Magellan
Description: This fun activity requires students to read a Ferdinand Magellan passage and then, to sequence ten events of his life from earliest to latest
Ferdinand Magellan - Virtual History Teacher
Description: Students play the role of a virtual history teacher and must grade responses to three questions about Ferdinand Magellan. Each response is incomplete, and students must fill in the missing information in the "response" section. Students can use the Ferdinand Magellan biography for reference.
Ferdinand Magellan - Main Idea and Supporting Sentences
Description: Below are three headings at the beginnings of paragraphs. Below the chart are the associated supporting detail sentences. Which sentences would appear under which heading? Use the numbers before the sentences so you don’t have to write the entire sentence. Order matters!
Ferdinand Magellan Correct-me Passage
Description: This fun activity requires students to correct a passage about Ferdinand Magellan that has ten factual errors. Students first must discover the errors, then click on them and select the correct answer from the drop down menu.
Ferdinand Magellan Fact or Fiction - Online
Description: This fun activity requires students to read a Ferdinand Magellan passage and then, to sort 10 statements into those that are facts and those that are fiction. It gives immediate feedback.
Ferdinand Magellan Reading Comprehension for Google Classroom
Description: This modified google quiz form allows you to collect data and scores using this reading comprehension exercise as part of your google classroom. These are designed for you to customize, add to, subtract from, and change . PLEASE MAKE A COPY AND DO NOT TYPE ON THE ORIGINAL.
Ferdinand Magellan Activities Bundle
Description: This packet includes all eight printable activities related to Ferdinand Magellan on MrNussbaum.com
French Explorers Correct-me Passage
Description: This fun activity requires students to correct a passage about French explorers that has nine factual errors. Students first must discover the errors, then click on them and select the correct answer from the drop down menu.
Jacques Cartier - Virtual History Teacher
Description: Students play the role of a virtual history teacher and must grade responses to three questions about Jacques Cartier. Each response is incomplete, and students must fill in the missing information in the "response" section. Students can use the Jacques Cartier biography for reference.
Jacques Cartier Reading Comprehension
Description: This resource includes a historical passage and ten multiple choice questions. PASSAGE LENGTH: 490 Words; LEXILE: 1210
Jacques Cartier Fact or Fiction
Description: This fun activity requires students to read a Jacques Cartier passage and then, to sort 10 statements into those that are facts and those that are fiction.
Jacques Cartier Fact or Fiction - Online
Description: This fun activity requires students to read a Jacques Cartier passage and then, to sort 10 statements into those that are facts and those that are fiction. It gives immediate feedback.
Comparing and Contrasting Jacques Cartier and Samuel de Champlain
Description: This activity requires students to compare and contrast Jacques Cartier and Samuel de Champlain. Students must evaluate ten statements to determine if each is associated with Cartier, Champlain, or both.
Jacques Cartier Activities Bundle
Description: This packet includes all eight printable activities related to Jacques Cartier on MrNussbaum.com
Jacques Cartier Digital Centers - by Computer Mice
Description: This resource includes numerous bundled digital learning, researching, communicating, reviewing, and gaming activities on Jacques Cartier in a single resource. Students can conduct research , fill out graphic organizers and Venn diagrams, write e-books with pictures, conduct interviews, determine fact or opinion, play games, and much, much more! If you're teaching about Jacques Cartier , you're sure to find any number of unique opportunities for your students here.
Robert Sieur de la Salle Reading Comprehension
Description: This resource includes a historical passage and ten multiple choice questions.
John Cabot Reading Comprehension - Printable
Description: This activity requires includes a reading passage and seven multiple choice questions. The answers are included in the PDF.
John Cabot Digital Centers - by Computer Mice
Description: This resource includes numerous bundled digital learning, researching, communicating, reviewing, and gaming activities on John Cabot in a single resource. Students can conduct research , fill out graphic organizers and Venn diagrams, write e-books with pictures, conduct interviews, determine fact or opinion, play games, and much, much more! If you're teaching about John Cabot, you're sure to find any number of unique opportunities for your students here.
Sir Francis Drake Reading Comprehension
Description: This resource includes a historical passage and seven multiple choice questions.
Sir Francis Drake Reading Comprehension - Online
Description: This resource includes a reading passage and seven multiple choice questions. It gives immediate feedback. In addition, when you click the "listen" button, you can hear the passage while it highlights the text. You can also print out detailed results. PASSAGE LENGTH: 590 Words; LEXILE: 1010
Captain James Cook Reading Comprehension - Printable
Description: This activity requires includes a reading passage on Captain James Cook and seven multiple choice questions. The answers are included in the PDF.
Captain James Cook United States Postage Stamp Coloring Page
Description: This is a coloring page that features a beautiful United States postage stamp honoring Captain James Cook.
Sir Walter Raleigh Online Reading Comprehension
Description: This passage gives a printable score report, allows for narration, and offers customization options such as highlighting and text controls. Apx. Grade Level: 5 | Lexile Level: 980 | Word Count: 324
Scurvy Reading Comprehension
Description: This resource includes a historical passage and seven multiple choice questions. PASSAGE LENGTH: 214 Words; LEXILE: 1110
Scurvy Reading Comprehension - Online
Description: This resource includes a historical passage and seven multiple choice questions. It gives immediate feedback. In addition, when you click the "listen" button, you can hear the passage while it highlights the text. PASSAGE LENGTH: 214 Words; LEXILE: 1110
Scurvy Reading Comprehension for Google Classroom
Description: This modified google quiz form allows you to collect data and scores using this reading comprehension exercise as part of your google classroom. These are designed for you to customize, add to, subtract from, and change . PLEASE MAKE A COPY AND DO NOT TYPE ON THE ORIGINAL.
The Kraken Reading Comprehension - Online
Description: This resource includes a historical passage and seven multiple choice questions. It gives immediate feedback. PASSAGE LENGTH: 332 Words; LEXILE: 1110
The Kraken Reading Comprehension
Description: This resource includes a historical passage and seven multiple choice questions. PASSAGE LENGTH: 332 Words; LEXILE: 1110
The Legend of the Kraken Reading Comprehension for Google Classroom
Description: This modified google quiz form allows you to collect data and scores using this reading comprehension exercise as part of your google classroom. These are designed for you to customize, add to, subtract from, and change . PLEASE MAKE A COPY AND DO NOT TYPE ON THE ORIGINAL.
Lewis and Clark Cloze Reading
Description: This contextual vocabulary exercise requires students to insert the vocabulary words from the word bank that complete the paragraph.
Lewis and Clark Reading Comprehension - Main Idea Focus
Description: This resource includes a historical passage and five multiple choice questions.
Lewis and Clark Reading Comprehension - Sequencing Focus
Description: This resource includes a historical passage and five multiple choice questions.
Lewis and Clark Reading Comprehension - Contextual Vocabulary Focus
Description: This resource includes a historical passage and five multiple choice questions.
Lewis and Clark Reading Comprehension - Details Focus
Description: This resource includes a historical passage and five multiple choice questions.
Lewis and Clark Reading Comprehension - Online
Description: This resource includes a historical passage and ten multiple choice questions. It gives immediate feedback. PASSAGE LENGTH: 395 Words; LEXILE: 1110
Lewis and Clark Reading Comprehension - Main Idea Focus - Online
Description: This resource includes a historical passage and five multiple choice questions. It gives immediate feedback.
Lewis and Clark Reading Comprehension - Sequencing Focus - Online
Description: This resource includes a historical passage and five multiple choice questions. It gives immediate feedback.
Lewis and Clark Reading Comprehension - Details Focus - Online
Description: This resource includes a historical passage and five multiple choice questions. It gives immediate feedback.
Lewis and Clark Reading Comprehension - Contextual Vocabulary Focus - Online
Description: This resource includes a historical passage and five multiple choice questions. It gives immediate feedback.
Sacagawea Reading Comprehension
Description: This resource includes a historical passage and ten multiple choice questions.
Sacagawea Reading Comprehension - Online
Description: This resource includes a historical passage and ten multiple choice questions. It gives immediate feedback. In addition, when you click the "listen" button, you can hear the passage while it highlights the text.
Sacagawea Fact or Fiction
Description: This fun activity requires students to read a Sacagawea passage and then, to sort 10 statements into those that are facts and those that are fiction.
Sacagawea Digital Centers - by Computer Mice
Description: This resource includes numerous bundled digital learning, researching, communicating, reviewing, and gaming activities on Sacagawea in a single resource. Students can conduct research , fill out graphic organizers and Venn diagrams, write e-books with pictures, conduct interviews, determine fact or opinion, play games, and much, much more! If you're teaching about Sacagawea, you're sure to find any number of unique opportunities for your students here.
Meriwether Lewis Fact or Fiction
Description: This fun activity requires students to read a Meriwether Lewis passage and then, to sort 10 statements into those that are facts and those that are fiction.
The Lost Journal Pages of Meriwether Lewis
Description: When Thomas Jefferson sent Lewis and Clark to explore the vast Louisiana Territory, he had visions that they’d find exotic creatures such as wholly mammoths and undiscovered landforms such as mountains made of salt. While Lewis and Clark discovered over three hundred species of animals and plants, and even sent a magpie and prairie dog as pets to Thomas Jefferson, they never found the kind of creatures that legends are made of (though they did find massive grizzly bears). What if Lewis and Clark actually did discover an unworldly plant, animal, and landform, but those pages were somehow lost from Lewis’ journal forever when their keelboat capsized? In the spaces provided below, use your imagination to name, draw, and describe these lost discoveries.
Discoveries from the Journal of Meriwether Lewis
Description: The section provides an introduction to the journal of Meriwether Lewis along with excerpts of his notes regarding observations of various birds and animals.
Comparing and Contrasting Meriwether Lewis and William Clark
Description: This activity requires students to compare and contrast Meriwether Lewis and William Clark. Students must evaluate ten statements to determine if each is associated with Lewis, Clark, or Both.
Discoveries from the Journal of Meriwether Lewis - A Primary Source Digital Scavenger Hunt
Description: This activity requires students to use the excerpts from the journal of Meriwether Lewis to answer the scavenger hunt questions.
William Clark Fact or Fiction
Description: This fun activity requires students to read a William Clark passage and then, to sort 10 statements into those that are facts and those that are fiction.
Lewis and Clark Digital Centers - by Computer Mice
Description: This resource includes numerous bundled digital learning, researching, communicating, reviewing, and gaming activities on Lewis and Clark in a single resource. Students can conduct research , fill out graphic organizers and Venn diagrams, write e-books with pictures, conduct interviews, determine fact or opinion, play games, and much, much more! If you're teaching about Lewis and Clark, you're sure to find any number of unique opportunities for your students here.
