Famous Explorers interactive worksheet - Free Printable

Let’s match each explorer to the correct description by thinking about what each person is famous for.

1. Edmund Hillary – He was a New Zealand mountaineer who, along with Tenzing Norgay, was the first to reach the top of Mount Everest in 1953.
→ So he matches: *“The first person to reach the peak of Mount Everest.”*

2. Vasco da Gama – A Portuguese explorer who sailed around Africa and reached India in 1498. He was the first European to do so by sea.
→ Matches: *“The first Portuguese to reach India by sailing around Africa.”*

3. Christopher Columbus – An Italian explorer who sailed for Spain and landed in the Americas in 1492. His voyages started widespread European colonization of the New World.
→ Matches: *“He started the trend of colonization of the New World.”*

4. Leif Erikson – A Norse (Viking) explorer who is believed to have reached North America (specifically Newfoundland, Canada) around the year 1000 — almost 500 years before Columbus.
→ Matches: *“He arrived at North America before Columbus did.”*

5. Ferdinand Magellan – A Portuguese explorer who led the first expedition to sail all the way around the world (though he died during the voyage). He was the first Portuguese to attempt this.
→ Matches: *“The first Portuguese who sailed around the world.”*

6. Roald Amundsen – A Norwegian explorer who was the first to reach the South Pole in 1911.
→ Matches: *“The first person to reach South Pole.”*

7. Neil Armstrong – An American astronaut who was the first human to walk on the Moon in 1969. He was one of two people on that mission (the other was Buzz Aldrin).
→ Matches: *“one of the two who first landed on the moon.”*

8. Jacques Cousteau – A French naval officer and oceanographer who invented the Aqua-Lung and explored the deep sea. He made documentaries about underwater life.
→ Matches: *“He was passionate about deep sea exploration.”*

9. James Cook – A British explorer who mapped much of the Pacific Ocean, including Australia and New Zealand. He also traveled far south into Antarctic waters.
→ Matches: *“A British who travelled to the south of the Antarctic circle.”*

10. Marco Polo – An Italian merchant and traveler who journeyed to Asia (China, specifically) in the 13th century and wrote about his experiences in “The Travels of Marco Polo.”
→ Matches: *“an Italian who wrote about his travels to the Far East.”*

Now let’s list them clearly as pairs:

- Edmund Hillary → The first person to reach the peak of Mount Everest.
- Vasco da Gama → The first Portuguese to reach India by sailing around Africa.
- Christopher Columbus → He started the trend of colonization of the New World.
- Leif Erikson → He arrived at North America before Columbus did.
- Ferdinand Magellan → The first Portuguese who sailed around the world.
- Roald Amundsen → The first person to reach South Pole.
- Neil Armstrong → one of the two who first landed on the moon.
- Jacques Cousteau → He was passionate about deep sea exploration.
- James Cook → A British who travelled to the south of the Antarctic circle.
- Marco Polo → an Italian who wrote about his travels to the Far East.

Final Answer:
Edmund Hillary — The first person to reach the peak of Mount Everest.
Vasco da Gama — The first Portuguese to reach India by sailing around Africa.
Christopher Columbus — He started the trend of colonization of the New World.
Leif Erikson — He arrived at North America before Columbus did.
Ferdinand Magellan — The first Portuguese who sailed around the world.
Roald Amundsen — The first person to reach South Pole.
Neil Armstrong — one of the two who first landed on the moon.
Jacques Cousteau — He was passionate about deep sea exploration.
James Cook — A British who travelled to the south of the Antarctic circle.
Marco Polo — an Italian who wrote about his travels to the Far East.