Explorer's Notebook
Planning Sheet 2ExplorerGroup MembersClass
Instructions: During the Age of Exploration, explorers kept records of their expeditions. In order to get full credit for your expedition, you must include certain documents and proof of your journey. Each person will be given an assignment and when the assignment is complete, the group will compile each member's information for the GOLD (grades).
Your Explorer's Notebook must include the following:
All members of the group are responsible for including the following assignments in their Explorer's Notebook.
An explorer's title page. (-10 if not included)
A public announcement alerting people to the voyage.
A want ad to help attract crew members. (-10 if not included)
A map tracing your explorer's journey.
Choose one of the following assignments and complete it in Journal Entry (diary) form:
______Information about the crew, ship(s), problems faced, and weather. If you are unable to find information about your explorer's crew or the problems they encountered during the expedition, be creative! (1-2 paragraphs)
______Specific information about the area(s) explored. This should include items such as plants, animals, minerals, agriculture, and human life. You may also want to include drawings of things you saw during your expedition(s) into Mexico and Texas. Helpful hint: Use your knowledge of Texas geography and Native Americans to help you complete this assignment. (1-2 paragraphs)
______A letter to the monarch drawing conclusions about the voyage and persuading him or her either to continue or abandon similar explorations in the future. (2-3 paragraphs)
To make your notebook look old and worn:
You must type your information first. After you have completed all of the assignments, use coffee to make the paper look old and worn. You will need any brand of instant coffee, a paper coffee filter, and a cup of water. (Instant dissolves better and gives the paper a better color.)
Put a teaspoon of instant coffee in the coffee filter. Close up the filter and dip it into the water. Gently rub the filter over your paper. Be careful not to saturate your paper with water. You just want to moisten the paper with the coffee-colored water. After your paper has reached the desired color, let it dry for 24 hours.