Who is who? ( European Explorers) - ESL worksheet by you_per7 - Free Printable

Let's solve the "Who is who?" puzzle by matching each historical explorer to their correct description and image.

We have 9 portraits, each with a "Who is who?" label, and 9 descriptions. We need to match them correctly based on the clues provided.

---

Step-by-step Matching:

#### 1. (1451–1557) a French explorer made two important journeys to Canada.
- This refers to Jacques Cartier.
- He was a French navigator who explored the St. Lawrence River and claimed parts of Canada for France.
- Match: Top-left portrait.

#### 2. (1567–1635) a French explorer and the first governor of French Canada. He explored much of what is now Nova Scotia and established Quebec in 1608.
- This is Samuel de Champlain.
- He founded Quebec City and was instrumental in early French colonization.
- Match: Top-center portrait.

#### 3. (1451–1506) an Italian sailor and explorer who is traditionally thought of as the first European to discover America, in 1492. He arrived in America by accident when he was trying to find a new way to Asia by sailing west from Spain.
- This is Christopher Columbus.
- He sailed under the Spanish flag and reached the Americas in 1492.
- Match: Top-right portrait.

#### 4. (1500–42) a Spanish explorer who discovered the Mississippi River.
- This is Hernando de Soto.
- He led an expedition through the southeastern United States and discovered the Mississippi River in 1541.
- Match: Middle-left portrait.

#### 5. (1469–1524) a Portuguese sailor and explorer who was the first European to discover the way to India by sea.
- This is Vasco da Gama.
- He reached India by sailing around the Cape of Good Hope in 1498.
- Match: Center portrait.

#### 6. (1475–1519) a Spanish explorer who led the first lasting European town in South America, in Panama, in 1510. In 1513 he crossed the Isthmus of Panama and was the first European to discover the Pacific Ocean, which he then claimed, along with all the coasts it touched, for Spain.
- This is Vasco Núñez de Balboa.
- He crossed the Isthmus of Panama and became the first European to see the Pacific Ocean from the Americas.
- Match: Middle-right portrait.

#### 7. (1565–1611) an English sailor and explorer who made several attempts to find the Northeast Passage (=along the northern coast of Russia) and the Northwest Passage (=along the northern coast of Canada).
- This is Martin Frobisher.
- He led expeditions searching for the Northwest Passage.
- Match: Bottom-left portrait.

#### 8. (10th century AD) an explorer from Norway, who was probably the first European to discover America. He landed in Newfoundland in the late 10th century.
- This is Leif Erikson.
- Norse explorer, son of Erik the Red, who reached North America (Vinland) around 1000 AD.
- Match: Bottom-center portrait.

#### 9. (?1480–1521) a Portuguese sailor generally considered to be the first person to sail all around the world.
- This is Ferdinand Magellan.
- Though he died in the Philippines, his expedition was the first to circumnavigate the globe.
- Match: Bottom-right portrait.

---

✔ Final Matching:

| Portrait | Description | Name |
|--------|-------------|------|
| Top-left | (1451–1557) French explorer, two journeys to Canada | Jacques Cartier |
| Top-center | (1567–1635) First governor of French Canada, founded Quebec | Samuel de Champlain |
| Top-right | (1451–1506) Italian sailor, first European to reach America (1492) | Christopher Columbus |
| Middle-left | (1500–42) Spanish explorer, discovered Mississippi River | Hernando de Soto |
| Center | (1469–1524) Portuguese, first to reach India by sea | Vasco da Gama |
| Middle-right | (1475–1519) Spanish, discovered Pacific Ocean, founded Panama settlement | Vasco Núñez de Balboa |
| Bottom-left | (1565–1611) English, searched for Northeast and Northwest Passages | Martin Frobisher |
| Bottom-center | (10th century) Norse explorer, first European to reach America | Leif Erikson |
| Bottom-right | (?1480–1521) Portuguese, first to sail around the world | Ferdinand Magellan |

---

🔍 Summary of Key Facts:

- Columbus: Discovered America by accident in 1492.
- Vasco da Gama: Opened sea route to India.
- Magellan: Led the first circumnavigation.
- Balboa: First European to see the Pacific from America.
- Leif Erikson: Pre-Columbian discovery of America.
- Cartier & Champlain: French explorers of Canada.
- De Soto: Found the Mississippi.
- Frobisher: Searched for Arctic passages.

---

✔ Answer: Match each portrait with the corresponding name based on the above table.

Let me know if you'd like this formatted as a printable solution sheet!