Explorer Project for small class of Special Education 4^th Grade Students
Susan Milovich

This project will be the culmination of the exploration unit. After pretending to travel on a sailing ship with activities that include packing, cooking, making compasses, etc. the children will write a script for an audio/video project on an explorer. The project will be completed in class with teacher and aide participation and at home.

New Jersey Core Content Curriculum Standards Goals for Audio/Video Project

LA Lit 3.2 Writing

A 4-7 Use the writing process to draft, revise, review and edit a piece of writing.

A 8 Use a variety of reference materials including the Internet.

A 9 Use the computer writing applications.

B 2 Write informational reports across the curriculum.

C1 Use grade appropriate English Language conventions.

LA Lit 3.3 Speaking

D 2 Prepare, rehearse and deliver and oral presentation.

D 3 Use notes to structure a presentation.

D 4 Maintain audience interest.

D 6 Read aloud with fluency.

Technology Literacy 8.1

A 2-4 Use basic features, input and access data, and produce a finished product.

A 6 Create a multimedia presentation.

A 7 Create and maintain files and folders.

B 6 Identify and use web browsers and search engines to get information.

Social Studies 6.1

A 3 Locate sources of information in books, newspaper, TV, radio, Internet.

A 6 Distinguish fact from fiction.

Social Studies 6.3

D 1 Discuss factors that contributed to oceanic travel and exploration in the 15^th and 16^th century including technological innovations in ship building navigation, naval warfare, navigational inventions such as the compass, and the impact of wind currents on the major trade routes.

Time for Student Work

The research and script writing should last two weeks, including two or three lessons on copyright, fair use laws, and bibliographies. Students will be given two class periods to work on the laptops to complete their research sheets with the aide and teacher. They are expected to work at home during the second week to create and practice their scripts. An addition week of Language Arts and Social Studies time will be needed to complete the audio/video project.

Resources (software, hardware, other)

Laptop computer cart and classroom computers with Internet access

List of search engines and websites

Classroom and school library books on explorers

File of sounds downloaded by teacher from Internet

Microphones/Headphones

Windows Movie Maker

Audacity – if necessary

Anticipated problems and extensions

Lack of adequate computer memory

Problems with Internet access at the time when we are scheduled for the laptops

Discuss similarities and differences between explorers and their trips.

Create an explorer timeline using all the reports from the students.

My sample project follows. Two additional worksheets would be created to help the students gain a simple understanding of copyright and fair use laws and a format sheet for the bibliography. Special Education students often need these teacher-made resources to improve their note taking skills. The Explorer Research Chart, Mock Student script, and Mock Student Bibliography are filled out in italics as the Mock Student would.

Explorer Audio & Video Project

Each student is assigned an explorer and his discoveries. Please follow these directions to complete your report.

Part One - Research

Research your explorer on the Internet or in the classroom library or school library books. Internet resource list included. “We will use Laptop Cart.”
Write short notes in the research chart to answer each questions. You do not have to write in complete sentences on the chart.
When you have completed the chart you will write your script.

Part Two – Audio & Video Project

Please write your script. Turn your short notes into complete sentences. Each paragraph should have at least three good sentences. Use more sentences when you have more facts to write about. Write first draft, get this edited, type final copy and hand in.
At school, create a file from downloaded drawings, photographs, and sound effects, about your explorer, his ship, or the places that he traveled. We will use some of our “Laptop Cart” time for this.
Record you script at school as well. Practice before your turn at home so you can read everything you wrote!
Work with me to put your video together. We will do this during recess, morning work time and some social studies periods.

Part Three – Bibliography

All the resources such as websites, images, sound effects, etc., where you got your information must be credited. We will have a lesson about this in class. Follow the format attached to this sheet to help you create your list. Type and hand in.

You will be graded on:

Your facts – Did you find information for each part of the chart? Are the facts correct? Did you add anything extra or just do the minimum?
Your script – Did you write in complete sentences about each fact? Is it simple and complete? Did you use words that you understand and can read?
Your bibliography – Do you have a listing for every resource you used? Did you follow the format?
Your video – Can we understand your voice on your recording? Do your pictures and sound effects match the topic?

Student Resource List

You may use any of these websites and search engines or you may find your own websites on the Internet.

A Treasure Trove of North American Exploration

http://www.collectionscanada.ca/passages/

Elementary Themes European Explorers

http://www.cdli.ca/CITE/explorer.htm

Enchanted Learning

http://www.enchantedlearning.com/explorers/

Cybersleuth Kids

http://cybersleuth-kids.com/sleuth/History/Explorers/index.htm

Google Safe Search for pictures and other information

http://onekey.com - click on images

National Atlas for maps of the U.S.

http://www.nationalatlas.gov/printable/reference.html#list

National Geographic for maps of the world

http://www.nationalgeographic.com/maps/

I will create a file on our school computer with different sound effects that you can use such as the ocean, the wind, animals that your explorer might have found, etc. You can put them in your own file if you want to use them. Make sure to include them in you bibliography

Example of Proper Bibliography

Please follow this format when you are typing your bibliography.

Web Site: Author(s). Title of Site or web page. URL of site, copyright year listed.

Book: Author(s). Title of book. Edition. Location of publisher: Name of Publisher, year of publication.

Encyclopedia: Title of encyclopedia, volume of encyclopedia used. Location of publisher: Name of Publisher, year of publication, pages where the article is located. Magazine or Journal: Author(s). "Title of article." Name of magazine, Volume. Issue (date): pages where the article is located.

Here are some examples:

All Posters. www.allposters.com/IMAGES/ARI/S13007, 1998

The World Fact Book. www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook/geos/sp.html, 2005

Enchanted Learning. http://www.enchantedlearning.com/explorers/, 2000-2005

United Learning. Exploring the World: Spanish Explorers of North America. (2000). Retrieved October 5, 2005, from United Streaming: http://www.unitedstreaming.com

Sound effects from Partners in Rhyme. http://www.partnersinrhyme.com, 2005

Explorer Research Chart

My mock student has filled in the chart.

About the Explorer

Who is this explorer?	Juan PONCE DE LEON
Where and when was this explorer born?	Santervas, Spain, in 1460
Why did this person explore?	Searching for the legendary fountain of youth and other riches and land for Spain.

About the Trip and the Discovery

When did the explorer begin his trip?	Sailed with Columbus on 2^nd voyage – stayed in San Domingo Sent to Puerto Rico. Sailed from Puerto Rico 3/15/1513
When did the explorer discover the new land?	Discovered east coast of Florida (St. Augustine) in April 1513 Was 1st European to set foot in Florida
What did the explorer name this new land?	"Pascua de Florida" (feast of flowers)
What is this area called now if it is different from what the explorer named it?	Florida means flowers
What country did he explore for?	Spain

Additional Information

Did the explorer find anything other than new land – like spices, gold, etc.

discovered the Gulf Stream (a current in the Atlantic Ocean). This oceanic current would become very important for Spanish trips from Europe to America.

What difficulties did the explorer have?

fighting with the Native Americans (putting down their rebellions against Spanish rule).

Choose one additional interesting fact.

Was a soldier in Spain before an explorer.

While exploring on west coast of Florida – met Native Americans - many men were wounded, including Ponce de Leon. Ponce de Leon later died in Havana, Cuba, from this wound (in July, 1521). He is buried in San Juan, Puerto Rico.

Juan Ponce de Leon Script by Mock Student

Juan Ponce de Leon was a Spanish explorer and soldier born in Santervas, Spain, in 1460. He was a soldier in southern Spain before he sailed on Columbus’ second expedition to the Americas in 1493. Ponce de Leon did not return to Spain with Columbus. He stayed in Santo Domingo. Ponce de Leon wanted to search for the legendary fountain of youth and other riches.

Soon, he became governor of the Dominican province. He heard of gold in the neighboring island of Borinquen, now called Puerto Rico, and conquered the island, claiming it for Spain. He was appointed governor of this island. He was very rough with the natives and lost the job.

His major voyage came in 1513, when Ponce de Leon got permission to find and claim the island of Bimini. He sailed from Puerto Rico on March 3, 1513, with three ships, the Santa Maria, the Santiago, and the San Cristobal, and about 200 men. They reached the east coast of Florida in April 1513. Ponce de Leon named the land "Pascua de Florida", which means feast of flowers in Spanish, because they first spotted land on April 2, 1513, Palm Sunday. He then claimed Florida for Spain. They left on April 8, heading south in the warm current now known as the Gulf Stream. This ocean current would become very important for Spanish trips from Europe to America.

His last expedition was another search for Bimini Island in 1521. His force of 200 men landed on the west coast of Florida instead. They met Native American warriors, who wounded many of the men with arrows, including Ponce de Leon. Ponce de Leon later died in Havana, Cuba, from this wound. He is buried in San Juan, Puerto Rico.

He is famous for being the first European to set foot in Florida. He also established the oldest European settlement in Puerto Rico and discovered the Gulf Stream. He never found the fountain of youth.

Bibliography by Mock Student

All Posters. www.allposters.com/IMAGES/ARI/S13007, 1998

Enchanted Learning. http://www.enchantedlearning.com/explorers/, 2000-2005

ISA. www.freedomprivacy.com/images/fountain.jpg, 2005

Sound effects from Partners In Rhyme. http://www.partnersinrhyme.com, 2005

The World Fact Book. www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook/geos/sp.html, 2005