Thursday, May 12, 2016

Age of Exploration: Explorer's Maps Project

The Majestic Map Company has asked you to design a souvenir map to be sold in the gift shop at the birthplace museum of an explorer.  Sometimes the place where an important or famous person is born is preserved as a museum for tourist to visit.  A birthplace museum typically includes rooms with historical furniture, often what was in the house when the famous person was born, along with exhibits about the life of the famous person.

Your map must appeal to tourist who are visiting the birthplace museum.  It must fit onto one side of an 11 x 14 piece of paper. (Ledger paper).  It must be colorful and attractive to appeal to tourist who will buy it as an informational reference and/or to display on their wall at home or in the office or classroom.

You map must include these things:

  • The explorers name.
  • A map of the routes they travelled on their voyages
  • At least two illustrations from this list:
    • a portrait of the explorer
    • a diagram of one of their ships
    • a scene showing what happened on their voyage
  • A paragraph about their life including why they are important. Use the information in the history book for this.
  • Information (either visual or in writing) about the impact of exploration including.  
    • A product or other thing they may have brought back to Europe
    • Something they brought to the Americas
Due to copyright issues, and a very low budget, the company must insist on original work.  No part of the project my be copied/printed from the internet or other sources.

Your may choose any of the following explorers:
  • Vasco da Gama
  • Juan Cabral
  • Christopher Columbus
  • Ferdinand Magellan
  • Hernan Cortez
  • Francisco Pizarro
  • John Cabot
  • Giovanni Da Verrazano
  • Henry Hudson
Be sure to tell Mr. Chester whom you have chosen. No more than two groups per person.

Thursday, May 5, 2016

Buzzfeed's Top Ten Renaissance People Projects.

First read all of chapter 30 and take notes using the packet. Do not do the bottom part about the pedestals. We're not doing this.

Follow these steps to create your Top Ten Renaissance People projects.


  1. Cut one large piece of paper (11 x 14) in half making to long strips of paper.
  2. Fold both pieces of paper in half twice to make four equal "squares".
  3. Glue one square to another to make one long strip.  This strip will have seven squares.  
    1. Fold this long strip into an accordion booklet.
  4. Cut out your notes and attach them to the booklet.
    1. Create a cover page on the front.
    2. Rank the people #1-10.
    3. Glue one person to each page in order.  (You'll need to use the backs.  
    4. Number each person by their rank.
    5. Write a reason for each person's rank.
    6. Create a list of "Runners Up." write this list on the last page.
  5. Glue your book into your journal.

This project is due on Tuesday.