Anchors aweigh — what a voyage this week was! You learned why the Age of Exploration began about 500 years ago: people wanted spices, silk, and gold, and hoped to find sea routes to faraway lands.
You climbed aboard the caravel with its clever triangle sails. You learned the navigator's tools: the compass that points north, the astrolabe that measures the stars, and charts that map the sea.
You even became a navigator yourself, following courses and drawing treasure charts. And you discovered that exploration never ended — today we explore the deep sea and outer space! Now show what you know.
1. Why did explorers set sail about 500 years ago?
2. Name two navigation tools and what they did.
3. What are the four main directions?
1. A long journey by sea is called a .
2. The needle always points north.
3. The was a small, fast exploring ship.
4. The measured the sun and stars.
5. Explorers wanted , silk, and gold.
6. The told the captain which way to steer.
Write T for true or F for false in each circle.
Match each tool to its job. Write the letter: A (points north), B (measures stars), C (maps the sea), D (sails the ocean).
| Tool | Job (A–D) |
|---|---|
| Compass | |
| Astrolabe | |
| Chart | |
| Caravel |
Draw your favorite scene from this week: a caravel at sea, a navigator with tools, or your own expedition.
This week you learned:
• Why the Age of Exploration began: spices, silk, gold, and sea routes
• The caravel and its clever triangle sails
• Navigation tools: compass, astrolabe, and charts
• Exploration continues today in the deep sea and space
Next week: What happened when explorers and the people of the Americas met — two worlds coming together, with amazing exchanges and hard times too.
| I can... | Circle one |
|---|---|
| Tell why explorers set sail | YES / NOT YET |
| Name the navigator's tools | YES / NOT YET |
| Use the four main directions | YES / NOT YET |