Studying explorers can stimulate a lot of student interest and provide a foundation for excellent integrated lessons that involve science, technology, geography, culture, history, language arts and art.  And exploration in the news offers teachable moments, as well as cause-and-effect relationships.  

To get started, we’ve assembled some of the best links below.

The usual suspects

The Conquest of North America
Spanish explorers

Discoverers Web
Find explorers by period and location -- very complete site.

European Explorers from Gander Academy
Canadian exploration 

European Explorers from Chenowith School District

Kathi Mitchell Explorers
A large link site

Kid Info Explorers
Slow loading, but worth the wait -- this site has both a list of explorers and countries explored with good links and activities.

KSU Explorers
A general link site to explorers with the emphasis on North America

Monthly Themes: Explorers
For grades K-8

Mariner’s Museum Age of Exploration
A good site with the emphasis on the ships -- don’t miss the activity section.

New World Exploration
Lessons and printables 

REC Social Studies, Geography
A list of sites with free printable maps

Zoom Explorers
Find short biographies on a huge number of explorers from early to space exploration -- for elementary use.

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Unconventional explorers and exploration

Challenger Center: For Teachers: Space Exploration
Excellent site for advanced thinkers – ponder space exploration and the problems it represents.

Distinguished Women of the Past and Present
Female explorers

Explorers Then and Now
Compare and contrast explorer traits.

How to Become an Astronaut

Ocean Exploration Museum

Solar System Exploration

The Unconventional Explorer
Interesting site that offers lesson ideas on a variety of lesser-known explorers as well as the usual