Famous Explorer Lesson Plan

Lessons

Famous Explorer Lesson Plan

Presented by The Chronicles of Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader

Introduction

Grade Level: 6th - 9th Grade

Subject: ELA - Writing (Cross Curricular - Social Studies)

Topic: Historical Explorers (Narrative Writing)

Duration: 1 Week (5- 1 hour class periods)

In this lesson plan, students will research historical explorers and recreate diary entries or ship logs from the perspective of those explorers. This lesson plan is intended for grade levels 6-9 and meets social studies and writing curriculum requirements. Please see "Curriculum Connections" section below.

This lesson plan may be used (optional) in conjunction with The Chronicles of Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader, available on BLU-RAY and DVD April 8, 2011.

The Chronicles of Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader brings to life the third adventure-filled story in C.S. Lewis’ beloved book series. Written in 1950, TheChronicles of Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader has been a student favorite for decades, and now students can experience the magic and wonder of C.S. Lewis’ story on BLU-RAY and DVD. The themes of adventure and exploration may be complimentary to historical study of famous explorers.

For information on entering your class to win free The Chronicles of Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader themed classroom materials courtesy of Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment, see "Giveaway Details" section at the bottom of this plan.

This lesson is available also online at:

Curriculum Connections / Standards

ELA - Writing (Common Core Standard):

CC. ELA. W. 3. Write narratives to develop real or imagined experiences or events using effective technique, relevant descriptive details, and well-structured event sequences.

- Engage and orient the reader by establishing a context and point of view and introducing a narrator and/or characters; organize an event sequence that unfolds naturally and logically.

- Use narrative techniques, such as dialogue, pacing, and description, to develop experiences, events, and/or characters.

- Use a variety of transition words, phrases, and clauses to convey sequence and signal shifts from one time frame or setting to another.

- Use precise words and phrases, relevant descriptive details, and sensory language to capture the action and convey experiences and events.

Objectives

- Students identify important explorers and use their findings to demonstrate and dramatize their understanding of the life of an early explorer through their narrative journal/dairy entries, while demonstrating mastery of above writing techniques.

Social Studies (Common Core Standard):

CC. HSS. 2. Determine the central ideas or information of a primary or secondary source; provide an accurate summary of the source distinct from prior knowledge or opinions

CC. HSS. 7. Integrate visual information (e.g., in charts, graphs, photographs, videos, or maps) with other information in print and digital texts.

Objectives

- Students will create maps, charts, graphs, and drawings as tools to illustrate information about different people, places and World regions.

Lesson Activity

Background

Early explorers used compasses, maps, and the stars to navigate. These explorers also kept detailed records in the forms of journals or ship logs of their travels. These have served as amazing historical records of their discoveries. Students will re-create a six-day journal from the perspective of a famous explorer.

Research

In teams of five (5), students will each research one explorer from the list below and then share his/her research with his/her group.

- Sir Francis Drake

- Ferdinand Magellan

- Marco Polo

- Christopher Columbus

- Vasco De Gama

- Hernando De Soto

- Hernando Cortes

- Amerigo Vespucci

- Francisco Pizarro

Materials

- Internet, Classroom texts, reference books

- Blank journal/notebook

- Maps, rulers, pencils, pens, crayons/markers

Questions

Students should use the Internet and classroom textbooks to answer the following questions at minimum:

1) What time period was your explorer from?

2) Where did they travel?

3) Why did they travel? What was the mission?

4) How long was the journey?

5) How did they navigate?

6) What was day to day life like?

7) What were some unexpected difficulties?

Journal Contents

- Entry 1: Create a map of the travels

- Entry 2-6: Daily log/journal entry from the perspective of student's explorer

- Entry 7: Daily log/journal entry from a day near the end of his/her exploration

- Students should include photographs or drawings that illustrate daily life or discoveries.

- Students may use a journal of choice and write by hand or computer to match the time period.

The Chronicles of Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn TreaderTie-In

The Chronicles of Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn Treaderdiscussion can be conducted as an introduction to the journal activity or afterwards as a related exercise.

- Discuss the use of dialogue to establish character in the story.

- Discuss the use of pacing and introduction of various conflicts.

- Discuss using descriptive details and sensory language to recreate an intense action or visual scene.

Student Evaluation

Students should be evaluated on:

- Factual content and thoroughness of journal entries

- Writing style, character perspective, and description

Category / Expert / Proficient / Good / Must Improve / Poor
Observations & Factual Accuracy (25%) / The writer has exceeded expectations. / The writer has done an excellent job of incorporating thoughtful and detailed observations from the perspective of the explorer. / The writer has answered most or all prompt questions with factual information and provided some observations. / The writer did not demonstrate knowledge of enough research/facts to inform explorer's perspective.
Use of Appropriate and Visual Language (25%) / The writer has exceeded expectations with unique insight or creativity. / The writer uses precise words/phrases, relevant descriptive details, and sensory language to capture the action and convey experiences/events. / N/A / The writer did not demonstrate adequate ability to write from the explorer's perspective.
Grammar, Punctuation, Spelling (25%) / No grammar, punctuation, or spelling errors. / Minimal errors. / 3-6 errors. / Excessive errors indicating a rushed attempt at the task
Completeness (25%) / Answered all questions in the prompt and demonstrated thorough understanding of explorer's journey. / N/A / Most or all of the questions were answered. All journal entries were complete. / Questions were unanswered or were not thorough. May be missing journal entries.

Free Classroom Materials: Giveaway Details

Engrade and Fox Home Movies will be giving FIVE (5) classrooms up to 30 sets of The Chronicles of Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader journals, puzzles, and pens.

To be entered into the random drawing, simply send an email to narnia[@]engrade.com containing the following:

- One-paragraph explanation of how you would use the materials in your classroom or how you used this lesson plan

- # of students in your classroom

- Mailing address for materials

Please note that this giveaway is only open to K-12 teachers in the United States.