Explorers and Their Journeys is a free printable Grade 3 to Grade 5 social studies worksheet on where explorers went and what followed, aligned to C3 Framework indicator D2.His.3.3-5. It prints 2 questions with an answer key on its own sheet of paper, in 25 versions that each ask different questions, so no two students in the class work from the same page. Print it from the browser or download it as a PDF — no account, no email.
Set 12 of 25 · the same problems every time you open this link.
Set 1 has all 25 in a single PDF. All 25 sets ask different questions.
Explorers and Their Journeys
D2.His.3.3-5
NameDate
Draw a line from each explorer to the journey he made.
1.Draw a line from each one to its match.
Christopher Columbus, 1492, for Spain
René-Robert Cavelier, Sieur de La Salle, 1682
Samuel de Champlain, 1608
Hernando de Soto, 1539–1542
A.Reached islands in the Caribbean, which he thought were near Asia
B.Went down the Mississippi and claimed its lands for France as Louisiana
C.Founded Quebec, the first lasting town of New France
D.Led soldiers through the Southeast, harming many towns on the way
2.Draw a line from each one to its match.
Juan Ponce de León, 1513
Álvar Núñez Cabeza de Vaca, 1528–1536
Juan Rodríguez Cabrillo, 1542
Francisco Vázquez de Coronado, 1540–1542
A.Landed in Florida and claimed it for Spain
B.Sailed along the coast of California for Spain
C.Searched the Southwest and the Plains for cities of gold
D.Shipwrecked on the Gulf Coast, then spent about eight years making his way across the Southwest to Mexico
LessonPrint · D2.His.3.3-5 · Set 12 · free to copy for classroom use
Answer key — Explorers and Their Journeys
Set 12. Prints on its own sheet.
1.1. Christopher Columbus, 1492, for Spain — A (Reached islands in the Caribbean, which he thought were near Asia) 2. René-Robert Cavelier, Sieur de La Salle, 1682 — B (Went down the Mississippi and claimed its lands for France as Louisiana) 3. Samuel de Champlain, 1608 — C (Founded Quebec, the first lasting town of New France) 4. Hernando de Soto, 1539–1542 — D (Led soldiers through the Southeast, harming many towns on the way)
2.1. Juan Ponce de León, 1513 — A (Landed in Florida and claimed it for Spain) 2. Álvar Núñez Cabeza de Vaca, 1528–1536 — D (Shipwrecked on the Gulf Coast, then spent about eight years making his way across the Southwest to Mexico) 3. Juan Rodríguez Cabrillo, 1542 — B (Sailed along the coast of California for Spain) 4. Francisco Vázquez de Coronado, 1540–1542 — C (Searched the Southwest and the Plains for cities of gold)
Last reviewed 2026-09-05. Aligned to D2.His.3.3-5 of the C3 Framework for Social Studies State Standards.