Building Background Knowledge with Video and Books
Videos
This PBS video has timelines, maps, and colorful graphics to tell the biography of Juan Ponce de Leon.
In this video, presented by the Silver River Museum, the host describes the exploration and settlement of Florida by Europeans. The host talks directly to the watchers and describes history in a way that your students will understand.
Books
Who Was Ponce de Leon? by Pam Pollack and Meg Belviso*
My students love the Who Was...books. This book is written in a kid-friendly way that brings history to life. This could be a great read aloud during your Florida Explorer unit.
Finding Florida Exploration and Its Legacy by Wendy Conklin*
This book is a great summary of Florida's explorers. It includes information about Ponce de Leon, Panfilio Narvaez, and Hernando de Soto. It has engaging pictures and detailed text.
Independent Reading
I like to have activities that I can easily blend into my ELA block. After building background knowledge, I want my students to read, highlight, underline, and engage with the text.
This activity packet includes:
informational text,
maps, and
comprehension questions.
I love this reading comprehension packet because it includes informational text, graphic organizers, and comprehension questions. You can assign it as one packet or you can separate the packet into separate explorers.
Ponce de Leon
Panfilo Narvaez
Hernando de Soto
Jean Ribault
Pedro Menendez
These activities can be printed or uploaded through Google Classroom.
Task Card Activities
If you're looking for a new way to get kids moving and learning, you can try these FREE task cards. I like to post the Social Studies task cars around the room and assign the activity during centers. During centers, students move from card to card. They have to read the card and answer the questions on the worksheet. This resource has the same information as the activity packet, but it's presented in a new format.
Here is another task card activity to add to your Florida History collection.
I would love to hear what you think! If you try some of these activities, tag me on FB, Instagram or shoot me an email! I'd love to hear from a fellow Florida teacher!
*As an Amazon Associate, I earn commission from qualifying purchases.