The Case of the Missing Trunks

Introduction:Just this morning your parents were reading the newspaper and found the most interesting article.






Task:  Your parents have called the New York Port Authority and given them the name of your teacher. They have mailed her the trunks. Each group will be given a trunk. Your group's job is to open the trunk and look inside. Using the items in the trunk and the websites below, your challenge is to figure out which famous explorer owned the trunk. However, in order to return the trunk to the rightful owner, the Port Authority would like you to explain why it belongs to that person. To do that, you will have to give a talk about your explorer explaining:

You will use the items in the trunk to illustrate the points of your talk. For instance, if you find a newspaper from the year 1492, written in Spanish, you might assume that the trunk belongs to Christopher Columbus. To the Port Authority you might say that Christopher Columbus sailed for Queen Isabella of Spain in 1492, thus we believe this trunk belongs to him. The Port Authority also needs a luggage tag and a passport for each trunk to be returned.

Process:

  1. Open your trunk and examine each of the items. Discuss them with your partners.
  2. Using the Evidence Worksheet, list the items in the trunk.
  3. Visit the websites below and eliminate explorers until you have found the one that you think is the owner of the trunk.
  4. Make notes beside each item of evidence on the worksheet that supports your decision.
  5. Practice giving your report to the Port Authority.
  6. Design a luggage tag in KidPix Studio Deluxe. Attach it to the trunk. The tag should include:
    • Name of explorer
    • Name of ship he traveled on
    • Country where the voyage started
  7. Fill in the passport (Passport page 1, Passport page 2). On the outside of the passport:
    • Draw the flag of the country where the explorer was born.
    • Write the name of the country.
  8. On the inside of the passport:
    • Fill in the name and birthdate
    • Create a stamp for each country the explorer visited
    • Draw a picture of the explorer
    • Note the important discoveries or accomplishments
  9. Give your report in front of the class. They will serve as the Port Authority's judging panel. It will be up to them to decide whether you have found the proper owner, or not.
  10. Display your trunk, passport, and Evidence Worksheet at the Explorers Extravaganza.

Resources:

Use the websites below to do your investigating. You will be able to return to this homepage by clicking on the  at the bottom of each of the pages.
 

Jacques Cartier

Christopher Columbus

Ponce De Leon
Christopher Newport
Fancisco Vasquez de Coronado

Samuel de Champlain
Flags of the explorers

Learning Advice:
You will be working together in a group. Each person should share in the work. Take turns writing and driving the mouse. You will need to divide up the items in the trunk when you give your report. Each person should do some of the talking. Do not eliminate an explorer just because one item does not match. Take your time making choices.

Conclusion:
The Port Authority is very grateful for your help. You have been invited to the Explorers Extravaganza. There will VIPs in attendance and light snacks to celebrate your success. You will get a chance to view the trunks and evidence of the other groups.
 

Teacher Note: This project requires the use of  trunks filled with evidence pertaining to the five explorers. The trunks could be made out of boxes, pencil cases, or even a piece of tag board folded in half. The evidence could be pictures or real items. Any drawing software could be used to create the luggage tags and the passports. Or, the students could use crayons and markers. The evidence worksheet and passport can be downloaded using Acrobat Reader. If you do not have that program, it can be downloaded for free at adobe.com
 
 

Designed by Brooks Widmaier
May 17, 2006