Assignments

**__Part 1:__** Notecards

Your first task is to research your explorer. The notecards found below will help guide you through your research, keep you organized, and ultimately become your power point presentation. The notecards should be downloaded to your desktop, and then uploaded to your google.docs account. Your teacher will walk you through this process.

All information will be found by utilizing the Explorer Search Engine found on this page, or our school library. Remember, even if you only use one fact from a website, you must include it in your bibliography. Be sure to record your sources as you conduct your research. (Use the bibliography notecard to keep track of all resources.)



__**Part 2:**__ Timeline

Now that you have collected your research, you are ready to complete your first assignment. Using the link below, you will create a timeline of your explorer. Your timeline must include the following:  timetoast.com
 * A minimum of 10 major events in your explorer's life
 * A minimum of 5 pictures (please use pictures from the desktop folder ONLY!)
 * Proper grammar and conventions

__**Part 3:**__ Narrative Writing in Letter Form

Using the link below, please create a new document in google.docs to respond to the following prompt.

[|CYSD Google.docs]

Explorer Letter Assignment: Imagine that you are your explorer. Write a letter to your sponsoring country/monarchs telling them about your journey. The letter should be 3 paragraphs in length and display proper grammar and conventions.

Be sure to include:  Some ideas you may want to include:  Remember- have fun and be DESCRIPTIVE!!!
 * An appropriate date
 * A proper greeting
 * A proper closing and signature
 * Your current location and the names of places you have stopped along the way
 * A description of the lands/places you have seen
 * Any native people you have encountered, and what your interactions were like
 * Any resources you have found or traded for
 * Where you are heading next


 * __Part 4:__** Reading Fluency Using Blabberize.com

Once you have published your letter, practice reading it fluently. Be sure to read at a "just right" pace- not too fast or too slow! Read with expression, pause at punctuation, group words into meaningful phrases, and speak clearly. Once you are comfortable reading your letter, please read your letter to two of your classmates. When you have completed these tasks, please see you teacher to "blabberize" your letter. Blabberize your explorer here!

__**Part 5:**__ Informational Writing

Using the link below, please create a new document in google.docs to respond to the following prompt.

[|CYSD Google.docs]

Write a 5 paragraph, informational essay about your explorer. To help you focus and organize your writing, please follow the outline below. (Hint: Your should be referring to your notecards throughout this process!)

__**Explorer Outline:**__

__Paragraph 1__ : Introduction (4-5 sentences) <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif;">__Paragraph 2__: Detail Paragraph 1 (5-6 sentences) <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif;">__Paragraph 3__: Detail Paragraph 2 (5-6 sentences) <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif;">__Paragraph 4__: Detail Paragraph 3 (5-6 sentences) <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif;">__Paragraph 5__: Conclusion (4-5 sentences)
 * <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif;">Begin with a grabbing lead (Try to use a new type of lead- DON'T start with a question!)
 * <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif;">Clearly state the focus of your piece (Do NOT write, "today I am going to tell you about...")
 * <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif;">Think chronologically- this would be a good place to talk about your explorer's early life
 * <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif;">Begin with a transition sentence
 * <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif;">Be sure to clearly state the main idea of this paragraph
 * <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif;">Again-think chronologically! How did your explorers journey begin? Who was his sponsor? What supplies did your explorer and his crew take?
 * <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif;">Begin with a transition sentence
 * <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif;">Be sure to clearly state the main idea of this paragraph
 * <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif;">What were their goals? Describe their route, and what they encountered along the way. (It would be interesting to point out where the explorer and his crew thought they were, and where they actually were!!)
 * <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif;">Begin with a transition sentence
 * <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif;">Be sure to clearly state the main idea of this paragraph
 * <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif;">What were the results of their journey? What resources did they find, land did they rediscover?
 * <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif;">Begin with a transition sentence
 * <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif;">Be sure to clearly state the main idea of this paragraph
 * <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif;">A great way to end your piece would be to speak of your explorers later life. What happened after the journey? How and when did your explorer die? <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif;">How is your explorer viewed? Is he considered a hero, a controversial figure, or both?

<span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif;">**__Part 6__**: Power Point Presentation The final part of this project is to create a power point presentation to share with your classmates. You will again be using your notecards to create your power point presentation. When creating your power point presentation, you must include the slides that have been created for you, however you may change their format. All images will be provided for you, and found in the desktop folder labeled Explorer Images. All work must be in your own words, and exhibit proper grammar and conventions.