Captain’s Duties – Vasco da Gama
You are Vasco da Gama, a Portuguese gentleman of the court, and navigator.  You have been chosen by King Emmanuel to lead a special expedition to India.

Task 1
Ensure that your crew members are looking after their duties on board ship.  When your journey is done, you will be presenting all information to King Emmanuel and his court, in the form of a power point, map, and captain’s log reading.  You need to meet with your crew regularly to ensure that all task work is complete.  You are expected to photocopy your crew’s map and your captain’s log for each member of the court. 

Task 2
Use the antiqued paper (Michelle, please link to a scrolled page or old looking paper image istock image # 6468599) and handwriting script to write a detailed captain’s log about your journey to the new world.  Research your journey and history, by attending the School of Navigation. (Michelle, please link) Start your journal by describing the factors that motivated you and your country to explore.  What role did your monarch or government play in your exploration?  What aspects of Renaissance worldview made it possible for you to go on this journey?  Describe the details of your journey.  In what ways are your discoveries in the new world part of an expansionist worldview?  (1-2 pages or 200-400 words) Photocopy your captain’s log to hand out to the class. (For an example of an actual captain’s log, find the Christopher Columbus journal link in the School of Navigation)

Crew - Navigation Assistants’ Duties
Your role is to help the captain to make your journey a success.  You will work as a team as cartographers, and assistants to the captain.  You may work together to complete the tasks, or divide them up.  Your ship captain will help you to decide who will accomplish the tasks. 

Task 1- Chart
Investigate Portugal’s role in the Age of Exploration by attending the School of Navigation.  Use your textbook and the websites in the School of Navigation to complete the chart (Michelle, please link to The Age of Exploration- Analyze the Explorations of the Countries -Portugal chart)Photocopy your chart for your monarch and their court. (each class member)

Task 2- Map
Print off a copy of the world map. (Michelle, please link to a full page image of world map –istock photo #2107847).  Carefully draw, color, and label the location of your country on the map in black felt.  Using a black line, draw in your current voyage (Vasco da Gama’s) on the map.  Write da Gama’s name along the line.  Add additional lines for another Portuguese explorer – Bartholomew Diaz.  Write his name along the line representing his exploration route.  Photocopy your map for your monarch and his court. (each class member.)

Task 3 –
Your captain has asked to find out about the latest and greatest navigational equipment available in your time.  He wants to set out on his journey with the best chance of accomplishing his goal.  Collect information to the Navigation Tools – Age of Exploration chart  (Michelle, please link to the chart )to help him.

Task 4 – Power point
Create a 5-8 slide power point based on your knowledge from the School of Navigation and your journey to the new world. Explain the basics of your voyage and a little history on your captain and one other  Portuguese explorer in your power point. (Bartholomew Diaz)  Also include at least 3 slides on navigation tools in the Renaissance, based on your findings in Task 3.  Present your findings to King Emmanuel and his court.