Mater Amabilis™

Level 3 & 4 Geography: History of Exploration

Time Requirements

Level 3 Year 1 -2x/week for 20-30 minutes.

Level 3 Year 2 and Level 4 – 2x/week for 30-40 minutes.

Key Texts

A Book of Discovery by M. B. Synge (also often available free online at sites like Project Gutenberg)

Note: The book has also been republished in an updated edition, though that one is harder to find. The plans below are based on the Yesterday’s Classics edition, which may also be purchased on the publisher’s website. 

The book is a challenge for most first year Level 3 students, but it is a challenge we have found worthwhile. In many ways, the earliest chapters are the most difficult. The lesson plans below move very slowly in the beginning to give the student time to adjust. By the end of the third year, students are usually reading and narrating it quite well, even at a much faster pace.

Recommended resource:

Mater Amabilis: A Study Guide for A Book of Discovery – This study guide is designed to be printed double-sided as a consumable for the student.

Mapping activities using the study guide precede reading assignments. Students will use an atlas, globe, or other resource to complete the mapping activity. Keep the map open while reading the assigned pages. The student may want to reference the map while narrating the reading. Narrations at this level may be oral or written.

Endurance: Shackleton’s Incredible Voyage by Alfred Lansing (Level 4 only)

Note: If the student has already read Endurance, these are excellent alternatives:

Lesson Plans

Level 3 Year 1

Term 1

Week 1
  1. Study Guide – Read “Before You Begin” and label the map for Chapter I: A Little Old World.
  2. Review your map for today’s chapter.
    Chapter I: A Little Old World, pp. 1-4 (stop before last paragraph “…the mighty life-giving Nile.”)

Week 2

  1. Review your map for today’s chapter.
    Chapter I: A Little Old World, pp. 4-8  (from “But we must not linger…”).
  2. Study Guide for Chapter II: Early Mariners.

Week 3

  1. Review your map for today’s chapter.
    Chapter II: Early Mariners, pp. 9-12 (to “‘…the heaven and the earth asunder.”)
  2. Review your map for today’s chapter.
    Chapter II: Early Mariners, pp. 12-17 (from “The whole delightful story…”).

Week 4

  1. Study Guide for Chapter III: Is the World Flat.
  2. Review your map for today’s chapter.
    Chapter III: Is the World Flat?, pp. 18-20 (to  “…No man had seen that thing in Syria or in Egypt.”)

Week 5

  1. Review your map for today’s chapter.
    Chapter III: Is the World Flat?, pp. 20-24 (from “A year and a half hand now…”).
  2. Catch-up

Week 6

  1. Study Guide for Chapter IV: Herodotus the Traveler.
  2. Review your map for today’s chapter.
    Chapter IV: Herodotus the Traveler, pp. 25-28 (to  “…two thousand three hundred years old.”)

Week 7

  1. Review your map for today’s chapter.
    Chapter IV: Herodotus the Traveler, pp. 28-33 (from “Herodotus makes some astounding…”).
  2. Study Guide for Chapter V: Alexander the Great Explores India.

Week 8

  1. Review your map for today’s chapter.
    Chapter V: Alexander the Great Explores India, pp. 34-37 (to  “…and his army passed to the other side.”)
  2. Review your map for today’s chapter.
    Chapter V: Alexander the Great Explores India, pp. 37-41 (from  “Porus, the ruler…” to  “…under the burning Easter Sun.”).

Week 9

  1. Review your map for today’s chapter.
    Chapter V: Alexander the Great Explores India, pp. 41-45 (from  “Our story is one of discovery…”).
  2. Catch-up

Week 10

  1. Study Guide for Chapter VI: Pytheas Finds the British Isles.
  2. Review your map for today’s chapter.
    Chapter VI: Pytheas Finds the British Isles, pp. 46-48 (to “Fortunate Islands, as they were called.”)

Week 11

  1. Review your map for today’s chapter.
    Chapter VI: Pytheas Finds the British Isles, pp. 48-51 (from “Leaving the Tin Islands…”).
  2. Catch-up

Week 12

Catch-up / Exams

Term 2

Week 13
  1. Study Guide for Chapter VII: Julius Caesar as Explorer.
  2. This is the last time we’ll remind you to review your map. Continue to do so each day before the assigned reading.
    Chapter VII: Julius Caesar as Explorer, pp. 52-54 (to  “…victory lay with the Romans.”).

Week 14

  1. Chapter VII: Julius Caesar as Explorer, pp. 54-57 (from  “The whole of Gaul…”)
  2. Study Guide for Chapter VIII: Strabo’s Geography.

Week 15

  1. Chapter VIII: Strabo’s Geography, pp. 58-60 (to  “…and the traveller after truth.”).
  2. Chapter VIII: Strabo’s Geography, pp. 60-63 (from  “He begins his book with…”).

Week 16

  1. Study Guide for Chapter IX: The Roman Empire and Pliny.
  2. Chapter IX: The Roman Empire and Pliny, pp. 64-65 (to  “…convenient for sails and swift with oars.”)

Week 17

  1. Chapter IX: The Roman Empire and Pliny, pp. 66-69 (from  “The Roman troops were…”).
  2. Study Guide for Chapter X: Ptolemy’s Maps.

Week 18

  1. Chapter X: Ptolemy’s Maps, pp. 70-72 (whole chapter).
  2. Catch-up

Week 19

  1. Study Guide for Chapter XI: Pilgrim Travellers.
  2. Chapter XI: Pilgrim Travellers, pp. 73-76 (to “…and she was but one of many.”)

Week 20

  1. Chapter XI: Pilgrim Travellers, pp. 76-78 (from “Sylvia of Aquitaine…”). 
  2. Study Guide for Chapter XII: Irish Explorers.

Week 21

  1. Chapter XII: Irish Explorers, pp. 79-81 (to “as mysterious as the island of Thule.”)
  2. Chapter XII: Irish Explorers, pp. 81-83 (from “Here is the old story…”).

Week 22

  1. Study Guide for Chapter XIII: After Mohammed
  2. Chapter XIII: After Mohammed, pp. 84-85 (to “…even now shifting to Bagdad.”)

Week 23

  1.  Chapter XIII: After Mohammed, pp. 86-88 (from “But before turning to…”).
  2. Catch-up

Week 24

Catch-up / Exams

Term 3

Week 25
  1. Study Guide for Chapter XIV: The Vikings Sail the Northern Seas.
  2. Chapter XIV: The Vikings Sail the Northern Seas, pp. 89-90 (to “…already sighted to the west.”)

Week 26

  1. Chapter XIV: The Vikings Sail the Northern Seas, pp. 91-93 (from “It was in the year 1000…”).
  2. Study Guide for Chapter XV: Arab Wayfarers.

Week 27

  1. Chapter XV: Arab Wayfarers, pp. 94-98 (to “…and set sail for Bagdad—the Abode of Peace.”)
  2. Chapter XV: Arab Wayfarers, pp. 98-101 (from “But the spirit of unrest was upon him…”).

Week 28

  1. Study Guide for Chapter XVI: Travellers to the East.
  2. Chapter XVI: Travellers to the East, pp. 102-104 (to  “…who really did reach Tartary.)

Week 29

  1. Chapter XVI: Travellers to the East, pp. 105-108 (from  “This Carpini, or Friar John…”).
  2. Study Guide for Chapter XVII: Marco Polo.

Week 30

  1. Chapter XVII: Marco Polo, pp. 109-114 (to  “…to this far-eastern city of Cathay.”)
  2. Chapter XVII: Marco Polo, pp. 114-120 (from  “But greater even than Pekin…”).

Week 31

  1. Catch-up
  2. Study Guide for Chapter XVIII: The End of Mediaeval Exploration.

Week 32

  1. Chapter XVIII: The End of Mediaeval Exploration, pp. 121-124 (to  “…higher officials reside with their wives.”)
  2. Chapter XVIII: The End of Mediaeval Exploration, pp. 124-127 (from “The time of the voyage came…”).

Week 33

  1. Study Guide for Chapter XIX: Medieval Maps (just a paragraph to read and consider).
    Chapter XIX: Medieval Maps, pp. 128-133 (whole chapter).
  2. Study Guide for Chapter XX: Prince Henry of Portugal.

Week 34

  1. Chapter XX: Prince Henry of Portugal, pp. 134-136 (to  “…appear on an Italian map of 1851.”)
  2. Chapter XX: Prince Henry of Portugal, pp. 137-141 (from  “The story of this first discovery…” to “…from the pages of history.”)

Week 35

  1. Chapter XX: Prince Henry of Portugal, pp. 141-144 (from  “And now we come to the last…”).
  2. Catch-up

Week 36

Catch-up / Exams

Level 3 Year 2

Term 1

Week 1
  1. Study Guide for Chapter XXI: Bartholomew Diaz Reaches the Stormy Cape.
  2. Chapter XXII: Bartholomew Diaz Reaches the Stormy Cape, pp. 145-146 (to “…rounding of the Cape of Storms.”)

Week 2

  1. Chapter XXI: Bartholomew Diaz Reaches the Stormy Cape, pp. 146-149 (from “The expedition set sail…”).
  2. Study Guide for Chapter XXII: Christopher Columbus.

Week 3

  1. Chapter XXII: Christopher Columbus, pp. 150-156 (to “…still more important in its results.”)
  2. Chapter XXII: Christopher Columbus, pp. 156-159 (from “But Columbus thought he had…”).

Week 4

  1. Study Guide for Chapter XXIII: A Great New World.
  2. Chapter XXIII: A Great New World, pp. 160-167 (whole chapter).

Week 5

  1. Study Guide for Chapter XXIV: Vasco da Gama Reaches India.
  2. Chapter XXIV: Vasco da Gama Reaches India, pp. 168-175 (whole chapter).

Week 6

  1. Catch-up
  2. Study Guide for Chapter XXV: Discovery of the Spice Islands.

Week 7

  1. Chapter XXV: Discovery of the Spice Islands, pp. 176-184 (whole chapter).
  2. Study Guide for Chapter XXVI: Balboa Sees the Pacific Ocean.
    Chapter XXVI: Balboa Sees the Pacific Ocean, pp. 185-189 (whole chapter).

Week 8

  1. Study Guide for Chapter XXVII: Magellan Sails Round the World.
  2. Chapter XXVII: Magellan Sails Round the World, pp. 190-194 (to “…a bucket of water at each sitting.”)

Week 9

  1. Chapter XXVII: Magellan Sails Round the World, pp. 194-200 (from “With the return of spring weather…”).
  2. Study Guide for Chapter XXVIII: Cortes Explores and Conquers Mexico.
    Chapter XXVIII: Cortes Explores and Conquers Mexico, pp. 201-205 (to “…and wonderful plumes of green feathers.”)

Week 10

  1. Chapter XXVIII: Cortes Explores and Conquers Mexico, pp. 205-209 (from “The man who had sailed across…”).
    Optional book: The Sad Night: The Story of an Aztec Victory and a Spanish Loss by Sally Schofer Mathews.
  2. Study Guide for Chapter XXIX: Explorers in South America.
    Chapter XXIX: Explorers in South America, pp. 210-214 (to “…the Children of the Sun indeed.”)

Week 11

  1. Chapter XXIX: Explorers in South America, pp. 214-217 (from “A year later these Children…”).
  2. Study Guide for Chapter XXX: Cabot Sails to Newfoundland.
    Chapter XXX: Cabot Sails to Newfoundland, pp. 218-221 (whole chapter).

Week 12

Catch-up / Exams

Term 2

Week 13
  1. Study Guide for Chapter XXXI: Jacques Cartier Explores Canada.
  2. Chapter XXXI: Jacques Cartier Explores Canada, pp. 222-227 (whole chapter).

Week 14

  1. Study Guide for Chapter XXXII: Search for a North-East Passage.
  2. Chapter XXXII: Search for a North-East Passage, pp. 228-236 (whole chapter).

Week 15

  1. Study Guide for Chapter XXXIII: Martin Frobisher Searches for a North-West Passage.
    Chapter XXXIII: Martin Frobisher Searches for a North-West Passage, pp. 237-240 (whole chapter).
  2. Study Guide for Chapter XXXIV: Drake’s Famous Voyage Around the World.

Week 16

  1. Chapter XXXIV: Drake’s Famous Voyage Around the World, pp. 241-247 (to “…and hoped to find a western entrance.”)
  2. Chapter XXXIV: Drake’s Famous Voyage Around the World, pp. 247-251 (from “As they approached the Arctic…”).

Week 17

  1. Study Guide for Chapter XXXV: Davis Strait.
    Chapter XXXV: Davis Strait, pp. 252-257 (whole chapter).
  2. Study Guide for Chapter XXXVI: Barents Sails to Spitzbergen.
    Chapter XXXVI: Barents Sails to Spitzbergen, pp. 258-260 (to “…three and a half months’ absence.”)

Week 18

  1. Chapter XXXVI: Barents Sails to Spitzbergen, pp. 261-265 (from “His reports of Nova Zembla encouraged…”).
  2. Catch-up

Week 19

  1. Study Guide for Chapter XXXVII: Hudson Finds His Bay.
  2. Chapter XXXVII: Hudson Finds His Bay, pp. 266-272 (whole chapter).

Week 20

  1. Study Guide for Chapter XXXVIII: Baffin Finds His Bay.
    Chapter XXXVIII: Baffin Finds His Bay, pp. 273-276 (whole chapter).
  2. Study Guide for Chapter XXXIX: Sir Walter Raleigh Searches for El Dorado.
    Chapter XXXIX: Sir Walter Raleigh Searches for El Dorado, pp. 277-281 (whole chapter).

Week 21

  1. Study Guide for Chapter XL: Champlain Discovers Lake Ontario.
    Chapter XL: Champlain Discovers Lake Ontario, pp. 282-287 (whole chapter).
  2. Study Guide for Chapter XLI: Early Discoverers of Australia.

Week 22

  1. Chapter XLI: Early Discoverers of Australia, pp. 288-293 (whole chapter).
  2. Study Guide for Chapter XLII: Tasman Finds Tasmania.
    Chapter XLII: Tasman Finds Tasmania, pp. 294-297 (whole chapter).

Week 23

  1. Study Guide for Chapter XLIII: Dampier Discovers His Strait.
  2. Chapter XLIII: Dampier Discovers His Strait, pp. 298-303 (whole chapter).

Week 24

Catch-up / Exams

Term 3

Week 25
  1. Study Guide for Chapter XLIV: Behring Finds His Strait.
  2. Chapter XLIV: Behring Finds His Strait, pp. 304-309 (whole chapter).

Week 26

  1. Study Guide for Chapter XLV: Cook Discovers New Zealand.
  2. Chapter XLV: Cook Discovers New Zealand, pp. 310-319 (whole chapter).

Week 27

  1. Study Guide for Chapter XLVI: Cook’s Third Voyage and Death.
  2. Chapter XLVI: Cook’s Third Voyage and Death, pp. 320-328 (whole chapter).

Week 28

  1. Study Guide for Chapter XLVII: Bruce’s Travels in Abyssinia.
  2. Chapter XLVII: Bruce’s Travels in Abyssinia, pp. 329-336 (whole chapter).

Week 29

  1. Study Guide for Chapter XLVIII: Mungo Park and the Niger. 
  2. Chapter XLVIII: Mungo Park and the Niger, pp. 337-345 (whole chapter).

Week 30

  1. Catch-up
  2. Study Guide for Chapter XLIX: Vancouver Discovers His Island.

Week 31

  1. Chapter XLIX: Vancouver Discovers His Island, pp. 346-350 (whole chapter).
  2. Study Guide for Chapter L: Mackenzie and His River.
    Chapter L: Mackenzie and His River, pp. 351-352 (whole chapter).

Week 32

  1. Study Guide for Chapter LI: Parry Discovers Lancaster Sound.
  2. Chapter LI: Parry Discovers Lancaster Sound, pp. 353-359 (whole chapter).

Week 33

  1. Study Guide for Chapter LII: The Frozen North.
  2. Chapter LII: The Frozen North, pp. 360-364 (to “…recovering their health and strength and spirits.”)

Week 34

  1. Chapter LII: The Frozen North, pp. 364-368 (from “When they returned to England…”).
  2. Study Guide for Chapter LIII: Franklin’s Land Journey to the North.
    Chapter LIII: Franklin’s Land Journey to the North, pp. 369-373 (whole chapter).

Week 35

  1. Study Guide for Chapter LIV: Parry’s Polar Voyage.
    Chapter LIV: Parry’s Polar Voyage, pp. 374-376 (whole chapter).
  2. Catch-up

Week 36

Catch-up / Exams

Level 4

Note: At this level, A Book of Discovery (BOD) is read once a week and Endurance is read once a week. Both should be read and narrated.

Term 1 

Week 1
  1. BOD – Study Guide for Chapter LV: The Search for Timbuktu.
  2. Endurance – Find and examine the maps (The Endurance Expedition and The Drift of the Endurance).
    Read the Preface and Chapter 1 (Part I).

Week 2

  1.  BOD – Chapter LV: The Search for Timbuktu, pp. 377-383 (whole chapter).
  2. Endurance – Part I Chapter 2.

Week 3

  1. BOD – Study Guide for Chapter LVI: Richard and John Lander Discover the Mouth of the Niger.
    Chapter LVI: Richard and John Lander Discover the Mouth of the Niger, pp. 384-387 (whole chapter).
  2. Endurance – Part I Chapter 3.

Week 4

  1. BOD – Study Guide for Chapter LVII: Ross Discovers the North Magnetic Pole.
    Chapter LVII: Ross Discovers the North Magnetic Pole, pp. 388-392 (to “…for many a long year to come.”)
  2. Endurance – Part I Chapter 4.

Week 5

  1. BOD – Chapter LVII: Ross Discovers the North Magnetic Pole, pp. 392-395 (from “By the end of August…”).
  2. Endurance – Part I Chapter 5.

Week 6

  1. BOD – Study Guide for Chapter LVIII: Flinders Names Australia.
  2. Catch-up

Week 7

  1. BOD – Chapter LVIII: Flinders Names Australia, pp. 396-403 (whole chapter).
  2. Endurance – Part I Chapter 6.

Week 8

  1. BOD – Study Guide for Chapter LIX: Sturt’s Discoveries in Australia. 
  2. Endurance – Part I Chapter 7 and Chapter 8.

Week 9

  1. BOD – Chapter LIX: Sturt’s Discoveries in Australia, pp. 404-411 (whole chapter).
  2. Endurance – Part II Chapter 1 and Chapter 2.

Week 10

  1. BOD – Study Guide for Chapter LX: Ross Makes Discoveries in the Antarctic Seas.
    Chapter LX: Ross Makes Discoveries in the Antarctic Seas, pp. 412-413 (whole chapter).
  2. Endurance – Part II Chapter 3 and Chapter 4.

Week 11

  1. Catch-up
  2. Endurance – Part II Chapter 5.

Week 12

Catch-up / Exams

Term 2

Week 13
  1. BOD – Study Guide for Chapter LXI: Franklin Discovers the North-West Passage.
  2. Endurance – Part II Chapter 6.

Week 14

  1. BOD – Chapter LXI: Franklin Discovers the North-West Passage, pp. 416-418 (to “sent out by Lady Franklin.”)
  2. Endurance – Part III Chapter 1.

Week 15

  1. BOD – Chapter LXI: Franklin Discovers the North-West Passage, pp. 418-423 (from “On the morning of 16th August…”).
  2. Endurance – Part III Chapter 2.

Week 16

  1. BOD – Study Guide for Chapter LXII: David Livingstone.
    Chapter LXII: David Livingstone, pp. 424-426 (to “…singing of birds.”)
  2. Endurance – Part III Chapter 3 and Chapter 4.

Week 17

  1. BOD – Chapter LXII: David Livingstone, pp. 426-432 (from “On 6th January…”).
  2. Catch-up

Week 18

  1. BOD – Study Guide for Chapter LXIII: Burton and Speke in Central Africa, 1856.
    Chapter LXIII: Burton and Speke in Central Africa, 1856, pp. 433-438 (whole chapter).
  2. Endurance – Part III Chapter 5 and Chapter 6.

Week 19

  1. BOD – Study Guide for Chapter LXIV: Livingstone Traces Lake Shirwa and Nyassa.
  2. Endurance – Part IV Chapter 1.

Week 20

  1. BOD – Chapter LXIV: Livingstone Traces Lake Shirwa and Nyassa, pp. 439-442 (whole chapter).
  2. Endurance – Part IV Chapter 2.

Week 21

  1. BOD – Study Guide for Chapter LXV: Expedition to Victoria Nyanza.
    Chapter LXV: Expedition to Victoria Nyanza, pp. 443-449 (whole chapter).
  2. Endurance – Part IV Chapter 3.

Week 22

  1. BOD – Study Guide for Chapter LXVI: Baker Finds Albert Nyanza.
    Chapter LXVI: Baker Finds Albert Nyanza, pp. 450-455 (whole chapter).
  2. Endurance – Part IV Chapter 4.

Week 23

  1. Catch-up
  2. Endurance – Part IV Chapter 5 and Part V Chapter 1.

Week 24

Catch-up / Exams

Term 3

Week 25
  1. BOD – Study Guide for Chapter LXVII: Livingstone’s Last Journey.
    Chapter LXVII: Livingstone’s Last Journey, pp. 456-465 (whole chapter).
  2. Endurance – Part V Chapter 2.

Week 26

  1. BOD – Study Guide for Chapter LXVIII: Through the Dark Continent.
    Chapter LXVIII: Through the Dark Continent, pp. 466-470 (to “…They were saved.”)
  2. Endurance – Part V Chapter 3 and Chapter 4.

Week 27

  1. BOD – Chapter LXVIII: Through the Dark Continent pp. 470-478 (from “On 6th May…”).
  2. Endurance – Part V Chapter 5 and Chapter 6.

Week 28

  1. BOD – Study Guide for Chapter LXIX: Nordenskiold Accomplishes the North-East Passage.
  2. Endurance – Part VI Chapter 1 and Chapter 2.

Week 29

  1. BOD – Chapter LXIX: Nordenskiold Accomplishes the North-East Passage, pp. 479-488 (whole chapter).
  2. Endurance – Part VI Chapter 3 and Chapter 4.

Week 30

  1. BOD – Study Guide for Chapter LXX: The Exploration of Tibet.
  2. Catch-up

Week 31

  1. BOD – Chapter LXX: The Exploration of Tibet, pp. 489-497 (whole chapter) 
  2. Endurance – Part VI Chapter 5.

Week 32

  1. BOD – Study Guide for Chapter LXXI: Nanen Reaches the Farthest North.
  2. Endurance – Part VI Chapter 6.

Week 33

  1. BOD – Chapter LXXI: Nanen Reaches the Farthest North, pp. 498-505 (whole chapter)
  2. Endurance – Part VII Chapter 1.

Week 34

  1. BOD – Study Guide for Chapter LXXII: Peary Reaches the North Pole, 1909.
    Chapter LXXII: Peary Reaches the North Pole, 1909, pp. 506-511 (whole chapter).
  2. Endurance – Part VII Chapter 2.

Week 35

  1. BOD – Study Guide for Chapter LXXIII: The Quest for the South Pole.
    Chapter LXXIII: The Quest for the South Pole, pp. 512-521 (whole chapter)
  2. Endurance – Part VII Chapter 3 and Epilogue.

Week 36

Catch-up / Exams

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