1. describe that an explorer is someone who goes looking for new places.

2. verbally list places they can explore.

3. make a class book entitled "If I Were an Explorer, I Would . . ."

Description of lesson/activity:

Activity 1

1. Introduce this lesson by reading a poem about an explorer such as "Columbus Day," by Myra Cohn Livingston, found in Celebrations (New York: Holiday House, 1985)

2. Ask children to express their ideas describing an explorer. Create a language experience chart by recording children's responses under the heading, "What Is an Explorer?"

Activity 2

1. Review the language experience chart developed in Activity 1 entitled, "What Is an Explorer?"

2. Pose this question to the children: "If we were explorers, what places could we explore?" Follow that discussion by asking, "What would you do if you were an explorer?"

3. Explain to the children that together they will create a class book called "If I Were an Explorer, I Would . . ." Ask the children how they would finish this sentence. Write each child's idea on a separate piece of drawing paper. When all ideas have been recorded have the children draw a picture to illustrate their idea. Compile all the pages into a class book to be shared.