Age of Exploration Scavenger Hunt | World History Activity for Grades 5–7
Bring the Age of Exploration to life with this engaging classroom scavenger hunt!
This ready-to-use printable resource helps students strengthen reading comprehension, historical analysis, and content knowledge while uncovering the people, motives, and lasting impact of the Age of Exploration.
Designed for grades 5–7, the activity introduces famous explorers such as Columbus, Magellan, da Gama, Hudson, and Cartier. Students will examine why Europeans set sail, what they encountered in the New World, and how exploration reshaped global trade and culture—all while piecing together a secret mystery phrase for a fun final challenge.
✅ What’s Inside:
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10 Informational Reading Cards on explorers & key concepts
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10 Comprehension Question Trails
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Student Recording Sheet
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Teacher Answer Key
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Clear Student Instructions
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Teacher Setup Guide
How It Works:
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Print & Place: Post the 10 reading cards around the classroom or use them as learning stations.
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Read & Respond: Students read each card and answer a comprehension question, unlocking one letter per correct answer.
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Decode the Phrase: When all questions are solved, students crack the secret message.
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Adapt & Use: Works as a solo task, partner project, or small-group activity.
Why Teachers & Parents Love It:
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Makes the Age of Exploration interactive and approachable
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Strengthens world history understanding alongside literacy skills
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Completely no-prep—just print and use
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Encourages movement, collaboration, and curiosity
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Perfect for classrooms, homeschools, or enrichment
Key Topics Covered:
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Christopher Columbus, Vasco da Gama, Ferdinand Magellan, Henry Hudson, Jacques Cartier
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Motivations: God, Gold, and Glory
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Old World vs. New World encounters
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Colonization, trade, and European expansion
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Navigation tools & sailing routes
Perfect For:
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World History & Early Explorers Units
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Cross-curricular Social Studies + ELA Lessons
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Homeschool Unit Studies
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Sub Plans, Review Activities, or Independent Work
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Literacy Centers and Station Rotations
✨ This printable scavenger hunt transforms the Age of Exploration into an inquiry-based adventure. Students won’t just memorize facts—they’ll actively connect ideas, work toward a challenge, and leave with a deeper understanding of this turning point in world history.
Terms of Use
Please note: Purchase of this product is for Personal and Classroom Use ONLY
Not for Commercial Use. Purchase of this product entitles you the right to reproduce the pages in limited quantities for single classroom use only. Copying any part of the product and placing it on the internet in any form (including a personal or classroom website) is strictly forbidden and is a violation of the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA). Copyright: Quest Schooling LLC.
After purchase you will receive a link to download the PDF file. All pages are included in the file and can be printed in black and white for immediate use.
Any or all of the pages in the PDF file can be printed and used for students across a wide range of ages/skills, or collaboratively with kids of different ages.
For example, younger kids may focus more on the design and drink recipes for the stand while older kids may also include the business plan and profit margin aspects of the project.
Depending on your student’s needs, there are several pages of scaffolding information, including vocabulary, facts, reading list, weblinks. Scaffolding can be done at any stage throughout the project as needed.
Frequently Asked Questions
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All projects are digital download pdf files. They can be printed in gray scale or black and white and are ready for your student to use.
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No, the projects are flexible and can be adapted to your student's grade and skill level. Each project includes a list of student activities. you can review them and decide which pages work for your student.
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In project based learning, each student completes both the project activities and a final project. I always offer a choice of final projects to provide differentiation and give students of different skills enough options.
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Most projects include a rubric to help you assess your students work and give your student an opportunity to assess their own work. However, each student's project will be unique to them and be a reflection of their knowledge and skill set. There is no one 'right answer' to a project. The success of a project is largely in the process of doing the project.