Grade 4 Exploration:
Discovering Wealth
Dear Excited Explorer,
There are many reasons that lead people to explore. One very important motivation is to increase a person or country's wealth. For centuries explorers have searched the globe for gold, silver, jewels and gems. Precious stones are not the only items that explorers were interested in; spices and natural resources were also extremely valuable to explorers.
Today, your challenge to to explore the school in search of wealth. Remember, wealth is not just money, wealth can also be things that have significant value that you could sell for a lot of money.
Gold/Jewels
Explorers often searched the world for gold and precious jewels. They could take them back to their home country and be rich.
Spices
Spices from China and India were very valuable. The new and interesting flavors could sell for a lot of money.
Natural Resources
Natural resources like wood, stone, and minerals were especially important for Europeans. They were running out of these resources in their own countries. Explorers who found natural resources and brought them back to their home countries could sell them for profit.