an explorer is a person who travels to a place they have never been before

early boats were hollow because they had an empty space inside them

a canoe is a narrow boat that is used with a paddle

Early explorers and their boats

History

In ‘Significant explorers: how has seafaring changed over time?’ pupils develop their chronological framework, studying a theme that introduced change and continuity across a long time span. In ‘Significant rulers from the past: what can their stories tell us?’ they continue to develop chronological understanding whilst being introduced to various substantive concepts that relate to ruling.

In ‘Traditional stories: what do they tell us about the distant past?’ pupils moved to the distant past in order to start building their chronological framework by hearing traditional historical stories. In ‘Significant explorers: how has seafaring changed over time?’ pupils develop this framework further by studying a theme that introduces change and continuity across a long time span.

Significant explorers: How has seafaring changed over time?

a seafarer is a person who often travels by sea

when people navigate, they control where their boat is going

a sail is a large piece of cloth attached to a boat that uses the wind to help the boat move

How Polynesian explorers travelled and navigated

a galley is large, low ship with a sail and many oars

an oar is a long pole with a flat end, used for moving a boat

the people who push and pull the oars on a boat are oarsmen

a ship used for fighting is known as a warship

Seafaring in the early Mediterranean world

the Vikings were seafarers from Northern Europe

a longboat was a strong, narrow boat used by the Vikings

a shield is a large piece of wood or metal with a handle at the back that is used for protection and defence

a raid is when a place is attacked and items are stolen

The Vikings and their longboats

an archaeologist digs up and studies objects from the past

evidence is something that proves an idea or fact to be true

the stars are balls of gas in space that give off light and heat

a port is a place where boats load and unload, and trade happens

Viking navigation and expansion

an admiral is a person in charge of many ships and sailors

a person who often explores new places by sea is a seafarer

a stele is a large piece of carved rock showing a story or information

The incredible voyages of Zheng He

a Chinese ship with sails and a rudder was called a junk

a rudder is a flat moveable piece of wood at the back of a boat that can help it change direction

to navigate means to find a way from one place to another

a compass is a tool used for navigating that always points north

Chinese innovation in seafaring

the Atlantic Ocean is the ocean between Europe and the Americas

the Americas are the continents of North and South America

the continent to the east of Europe is called Asia

the Pacific Ocean is the ocean between the Americas and Asia

William Adams' journey to Japan

a ship's sails are held up and controlled by ropes known as rigging

sailors used a tool called an astrolabe to work out how far north or south they were

a lead line is a length of rope with a piece of lead attached to it

Seafaring 450 years ago

the ships and boats a country uses for fighting are known as the Navy

the Northwest Passage is a northern sea route between the Atlantic and the Pacific oceans

John Franklin's lost expedition

a steamship is a ship that uses a steam engine to help it move

a propeller is something that spins in the water to move a ship forward

a sextant is a measuring tool that measures the distance between two points

a chronometer is like a watch, it measures the passage of time

Seafaring 150 years ago

something uses steam power when it uses a steam engine to heat water to create steam and movement

if someone is present at an event, they witness it

Significant explorers: How has seafaring changed over time?

William Adams and John Franklin

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These lessons will be removed by end of Summer Term 2025.