The Walking Classroom

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Vasco da Gama

Today’s Walking Classroom focuses on another famous Portuguese explorer, Vasco da Gama. Da Gama is best known for finding a sea route from Europe to India. The route that da Gama discovered was important because it opened up Indian Ocean trade and established Portugal as a powerful trade partner in the East Indies.

Health Message: Vitamin C and scurvy
Character Value: Strengths and weaknesses

Click for Standards Alignment

Common Core

L–Language | SL–Speaking and Listening | RI–Reading: Informational | RL–Reading: Literature | W–Writing | RH–6-8 Literacy in History/Social Studies | RST–6-8 Literacy in Science & Technical Subjects Elementary School:
RI.3.1, RI.3.2, RI.3.3, SL.3.1, SL.3.4
RI.4.1, RI.4.2, RI.4.3, SL.4.1, SL.4.4
RI.5.1, RI.5.2, RI.5.3, SL.5.1, SL.5.4
Middle School:
RI.6.1, RI.6.2, RI.6.3, SL.6.1, SL.6.4
RI.7.1, RI.7.2, RI.7.3, SL.7.1, SL.7.4
RI.8.1, RI.8.2, RI.8.3, SL.8.1, SL.8.4
RH.6-8.4

Supplemental Resource Links and Downloads

Quiz: (Make sure you're already logged into your Gmail account, then click to copy this Google form to your Google Drive. Quiz keys are here.)
Vasco da Gama Google Quiz https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1bFToQAnM2_20cdi6KlHgLsR7yNAdvQbGxXdCOfh1WMs/copy

Slide Deck:
Vasco da Gama Slide Deck https://thewalkingclassroom.box.com/s/i7w4j84gt240v3di4f8k7ssurubzzt79

Related Videos:


Vasco da Gama – Mini Biography
3:25

Shares biography of Vasca da Gama, who was commissioned by the Portuguese king to find a maritime route to the East.


Drifting with the Ice: Life on an Arctic Expedition
2:15

Recounts a five-month expedition drifting through the Arctic.

Additional Resources:


Vasco da Gama Voyage to India
Virtual Field Trip

Watch an animation of da Gama’s voyage.


Vasco da Gama Quiz
Online Activity

Take a short quiz about da Gama’s life and voyage from the Ducksters Education Site.


Vasco da Gama Biography
Multi-Day Project

Read this biography of da Gama from Encyclopedia Britannica, and write a paragraph or short essay explaining his importance in history.


Vasco da Gama Word Search
Printable or Worksheet

Search for terms relating to Vasco da Gama.

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