Fifth Grade Explorer Report

Name: _____________________________ #_______________

All hands on deck! Get ready to create a top quality report about explorers as we learn about
the Age of Exploration! You will need to research information carefully, type or write your
report neatly, and do your best work. This project will count towards a social studies AND an
ELA grade.

!!WARNING!! This report will be worked on at school and at home, so ALWAYS keep notes in
your B.O.B.C.A.T.T. in your backpack and NEVER leave them at home. KEEP TRACK OF THIS
PACKET; you will turn it in with your final paper.

Make sure that the work you produce is written using ________________________________
____________________________________________________. DO NOT COPY exact phrases
or sentences from the internet! I want an original report written by you, and not a copied
report from the sources you use. This report is to be ____________________________
created and NOT ______________________________ generated. Parents/guardians may help
you by checking for spelling, punctuation and flow but they should not tell you what to
write, give you words to write, or conduct research for you.

The project has two parts, a written report and an oral presentation. You will be given a grade
in _____________ and in _______________________ for the entire project.

Schedule of due dates:

It is important to follow the due date schedule below to help ensure you can complete all the
work on time. Completion grades will be given for each separate due date to encourage you to
stay on track!
DUE DATE

Component Due

Completion

All research notes

Title page and background information (introduction) ROUGH DRAFT
Title page and background information FINAL DRAFT
Flag and events of explorers life (body) ROUGH DRAFT
Flag and events of explorers life FINAL DRAFT
Map of explorers route and outcome of voyage (conclusion) ROUGH
DRAFT
Map of explorers rout and outcome of voyage FINAL DRAFT
Bibliography and presentation notes ROUGH DRAFT
Bibliography and presentation notes FINAL DRAFT
Presentation

By signing the line below, I, ____________________________, understand that I

am responsible for writing my report, I am to bring my materials to class every
day, and the dates my work is due. I have shown this packet to my family and
asked them to sign to indicate I have explained the project to them.
Student Signature:_______________________________________ Date:________________
Parents/Guardians, please sign below to acknowledge that you have thoroughly read
this packet and understand the requirements, due dates and criteria for this project.
Please help your student by guiding them, assisting with research, and helping them
stay on schedule, but do not tell them what to write, draw pictures for them, etc. Thank
you for your cooperation in this matter.

Parent/Guardian signature:_______________________________

Fifth Grade Explorer Report Guidelines

COVER: Must include the explorers name in a larger font (20-50 pt) in the center lower half of
page. Your name below the title in a smaller font (10-16 pt). A hand drawn picture of your
explorer should be drawn above the title.
REPORT: Complete sentences with depth of information. Use the included Explorer Report
Notes to help guide your research.
FLAG: The flag must measure 8.5 by 11 (standard size of a sheet of paper). You are to draw
and color this yourself. Please do not print a picture of your flag.
MAP: Use colored pencils (no crayons or markers) to color continents and to indicate the route
taken by your explorer. Continents and oceans should be labeled with a black pen, and all
arears of your map should be colored. Be sure that your labels are written clearly and neatly.
BIBLIOGRAPHY: You must use a minimum of three resources for your research. One of the
resources MUST be a book! A bibliography information sheet has been included in your packet
to help you format your bibliography properly.
ORAL PRESENTATION: Your oral presentation needs to be 2-4 minutes long. You need to use
good public speaking posture and eye contact, speak with appropriate speed and volume, and
only use notecards for reference (do not read to your audience from your note cards!).
You must include these items in your presentation:
A picture of your explorer and his name
Explorers birthdate and death date
Country he sailed for
Tell why explorer was important, where he explored and any discoveries made or
treasures found
One interesting fact you learned about your explorer

Additional Information: If you choose to type your report, the fonts you may use are:
Calibri, Times New Roman, or Arial. The report itself needs to be in 10 or 12 pt font.
Your drawings are not graded for making an exact replica of your explorer! You need to try
your best and give your 100% with your drawing! Drawings must be done by hand.

By signing the line below, I, ____________________________, understand the guidelines

and expectations I am to follow for this project.

Fifth Grade Explorer Report Rubric

Name: _____________________________ #_______________

Social Studies:
CATEGORY

Date
turned in

Title Page (proper formatting, all components present)

Flag (neatness, accuracy)
Route Map (neatness, accuracy)
Bibliography (at least 3 sources, followed format)
Academic Professionalism (feedback implemented, deadlines met, neat writing, clean pages)
TOTAL:

Student selfassessment
/4
/4
/4
/4
/4
/20

Teacher
assessment
/4
/4
/4
/4
/4
/20

Writing
CATEGORY

Date
turned in

Organization and Flow

Content: Topic Development and Support
Focus
Language Use
Conventions
Academic vocabulary
Academic Professionalism (feedback implemented, neat writing, clean pages)
TOTAL:

Student selfassessment
/4
/4
/4
/4
/4
/4
/4
/28

Speaking
CATEGORY
Ba Basic information (explorer name, birthdate, where he was born, death date, country sailed for)
Why explorer was important
Places explored
Discoveries
Interesting fact
Stayed within time limit (4 minutes)
Strong public speaking voice
Posture (public speaking posture, eye contact with audience)
Appropriate use of notes (used to help keep place, not reading to audience)
TOTAL:

Teacher
assessment

/36

Teacher
assessment

/28

EXPLORER REPORT NOTES

Use these notes sheets to collect information about the explorer. Use the back of the
sheets if you need more room.
_____________________________________________________________
(Name of explorer)

BACKGROUND INFORMATION (Introduction Paragraph)

Date of birth: _________________________ Date of death: ____________________
Birthplace: ____________________________________________________________
Country explorer represented: ____________________________________________
Years during which explorer traveled: _______________________________________
Name of ship or ships (if available): ________________________________________
What was the explorers goal? ____________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________
EVENTS OF EXPLORERS LIFE (Middle Paragraphs)
From early life, during voyage or travels, through end of life. Remember to
include dates whenever possible.
Event #1: _____________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________
Event #2: _____________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________

Event #3: _____________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________
Event #4: _____________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________
Event #5: _____________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________
Event #6: _____________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________
Event #7: _____________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________
Event #8: _____________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________
(If there are more events, use the back of these sheets or another sheet of paper.)

OUTCOME OF THE VOYAGE OR TRAVELS (Conclusion Paragraph)

Did the explorer accomplish his goal or what he set out do? _____________________
_____________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________
What did he gain for himself or the country he represented?
_____________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________
How was he treated on his return to his country?
_____________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________

Bibliography Information
A bibliography lists, in alphabetical order, the books and materials you
have used in your report. Please use the appropriate formats shown below.
If you are typing your report, remember to leave one space after periods,
commas, and colons.
BOOKS
Author (last name, first name). Title. City (where the book was published):
Publisher, copyright date.
Examples:
Rowling, J. K. Harry Potter and the Sorcerers Stone. New York: Arthur
A. Levine Books, 1997.
Sachar, Louis. Holes. New York: Scholastic Inc., 1998.
INTERNET ARTICLES
Name of website. http://www.websiteaddress.com, date.
Examples:
Enchanted Learning. http://www.enchantedlearning.com/explorers/page/c/
columbus.shtml, 2010.
ThinkQuest. http://library.thinkquest.org/J002678F/de_soto.htm, 2010.

ENCYCLOPEDIAS / REFERENCE BOOKS

Article Title. Title of the Reference Book. Edition. Date published.
Example:
Flying Fish. World Book Encyclopedia. 2nd ed. 1993.
MAGAZINES
Author (last name, first name). Title of Article. Title of Magazine Date
(day month year): Page numbers of the article.
Examples:
Bay, Marianne. Something Fishy Going Up. At Sea 7 June 1992: 3435.
Redding, Marcia. Two Stars Are Born. ZooNooz July 2000: 28-31.
PAMPHLETS
Author (last name, first name). Title. City (where the pamphlet was
published): Publisher, copyright date.
Example:
Wang, C. Fish in Flight. San Diego: Marine Research Bureau, 1989.

Fifth Grade Explorer Presentation Notes

Name: _____________________________ #_______________
ORAL PRESENTATION NOTES: Use this section to ensure you gather all the materials and
information necessary for your oral presentation. Use the boxes to check off the work as you
finish it.
A hand drawn picture of your explorer
Explorers name:_____________________________________________________
Explorers birthdate:___________________________________________
Explorers death date:__________________________________________
Where he was born:____________________________________________
Country he sailed for:___________________________________________
Tell why explorer was important:_____________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
Where he explored:________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
Discoveries made or treasures found:_________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
One interesting fact you learned about your explorer:____________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________