Early Exploration Student Activities

From The First Canadians

Part 2. Explorers of Canada → A. Early Exploration → B. Contact and Conquest →
→ C. First Explorers → D. Cartier & Champlain → E. The Fur Traders → E. Later Explorers

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Chapter Review

1 Chapter Review
2 Applying your Knowledge

1. In your notebook write a short explanation of who these people were, and why they are important in the history of exploration:

Saint Brendan
Leif Eriksson
Giovanni Caboto/John Cabot

2. Why did the Viking settlement at L'Anse aux Meadows fail?

3. Why did Europeans start exploring in the 1400s?

4. What did Giovanni Caboto find when he sailed across the Atlantic? Why was this an important discovery?

5. What is the difference between the green and dry fisheries?

6. As you read about the different explorers keep track of what led them to explore. List the reasons why each explorer either came to Canada, or why they explored further inland. Use a chart like the one below to keep track of the explorers.

**Explorers of Canada**
Name of Explorer		Reasons for Exploration
	1	2	3
Explorer #1	Enter Reason	Enter Reason	Enter Reason
Explorer #2	Enter Reason	Enter Reason	Enter Reason
Explorer #3	Enter Reason	Enter Reason	Enter Reason
Explorere #4	Enter Reason	Enter Reason	Enter Reason

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Applying your Knowledge

1. Read about the early explorers. Imagine you are an explorer from that period of history, or you are a sailor on one of the early sailing ships. What fears would you have as you set out on your voyage? Write a some journal entries pretending to be that person. Write 8 to 10 entries spread out over one month (the usual time it took to cross the Atlantic by ship). Your first entry should be for the day you leave port. Your last entry should be setting foot on Canadian soil.

2. People often say that the early European explorers discovered the Americas. However, you know that First Nations were the first people in the Americas. Who do you think should be called the discoverers? In groups of three think of arguments to support the idea that Europeans discovered the Americas, and argumens to support the idea that First Nations discovered the Americas.

3. Trade was very important for Europeans in the past. When you go home tonight create a list of things in your house that were not made in Canada (i.e.: they were traded and brought here). In class imagine what would happen to Canada if some of this trade was closed.

4. European explorers believed that they could take the land they found in North America. It did not matter if other people were already living on it. Do you think this was right? Give three reasons to support your answer.

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