Junior Scholars (Ages 9-12): Famous Explorers of History Trivia Word Search

This English explorer searched the icy Canadian Arctic for a Northwest Passage to Asia.

This Spanish explorer led an expedition that took over the Aztec Empire in Mexico.

This French explorer founded a fort that later grew into the city of Detroit, Michigan.

This Portuguese explorer found a sea route from Europe all the way to India.

This Italian traveler spent over 20 years journeying to China along the Silk Road.

This Portuguese explorer landed in Brazil in the year 1500 and claimed it for Portugal.

This Sherpa mountaineer climbed to the top of Mount Everest alongside Edmund Hillary in 1953.

This medieval scholar traveled thousands of miles across Africa and Asia, writing about his journeys.

This English sea captain led the second voyage ever to sail all the way around the world.

This Scottish-Canadian explorer was the first European to cross North America north of Mexico.

This Soviet cosmonaut became the first human to travel into outer space, in 1961.

This French explorer founded the city of Quebec and is called the Father of New France.

This Scottish explorer mapped the Niger River during his travels through West Africa.

This Spanish explorer was the first European to travel the full length of the Amazon River.

This English colonist led the Jamestown settlement and mapped the Chesapeake Bay area.

This French explorer sailed up the St. Lawrence River and claimed land in Canada for France.

This Spanish explorer crossed Panama and became the first European to see the Pacific from the Americas.

This American naval officer's expedition confirmed that Antarctica was truly a continent.

This Norse explorer reached North America around the year 1000, long before Columbus.

This Italian explorer realized the Americas were a new continent, which was later named after him.

This Spanish explorer led the conquest of the Inca Empire high in the Andes Mountains.

This British captain mapped the coasts of New Zealand, Hawaii, and eastern Australia.

This Norwegian explorer led the first team to reach the South Pole, in the year 1911.

This American astronaut walked on the Moon right after Armstrong during the same mission.

This American mountain man explored the Rocky Mountains and discovered key passes for later settlers.

This French-Canadian trader traveled the Mississippi River and recorded what he saw of Native communities.

This Dutch explorer was the first European to see a southern island later named after him, plus New Zealand.

This Spanish explorer searched for a legendary fountain and became the first governor of Puerto Rico.

This British missionary explorer helped map the river basin of the Congo in Africa.

This Portuguese explorer was the first European to sail around the southern tip of Africa.

This American explorer led the first airplane flight over the South Pole, in 1929.

This Danish explorer, working for Russia, mapped the narrow strait between Asia and North America.

This British explorer traced the courses of rivers to help map the Australian outback.

This Chinese admiral led huge fleets that sailed to Southeast Asia and East Africa in the 1400s.

Nicknamed 'The Pathfinder,' this American explorer mapped the Oregon Trail and the Great Basin.

This English explorer gave his name to a river in New York and a huge bay in Canada.

Explorer Verrazzano mapped the Atlantic coast for France; his first name was '_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _.'

Explorer Shackleton led daring Antarctic survival missions; his first name was '_ _ _ _ _ _.'

This Italian sailor's 1492 voyage for Spain led Europeans to the Americas.

This Canadian explorer charted a major British Columbia river that was later named after him.

This New Zealand climber was one of the first two people to reach the top of Mount Everest, in 1953.

Explorer Livingstone searched Africa for the source of the Nile River; his first name was '_ _ _ _ _.'

This English adventurer sailed around the world and captured Spanish treasure ships along the way.

This Spanish navigator finished the trip around the world after his captain died on the voyage.

This American explorer co-led the famous expedition across the American West with Meriwether Lewis.

This Spanish explorer was the first European to cross the mighty Mississippi River.

This American explorer led an expedition through the Louisiana Territory and spotted a famous Colorado peak.

This British naval officer carefully charted the Pacific Northwest coast of North America.

This Portuguese navigator led the first expedition that sailed all the way around the world.

This Italian explorer sailed for England in 1497, reaching the coast of North America.

This English navigator proved Australia was a single continent by sailing all the way around it.

This American pilot was the first woman to fly solo across the Atlantic Ocean.

This American explorer co-led a famous expedition across the Louisiana Territory with William Clark.

This Spanish explorer searched the American Southwest and helped map Arizona and New Mexico.

This American astronaut became the first human to walk on the Moon in 1969.

This American explorer claimed to be the first person to reach the North Pole, in 1909.

This French missionary explored the Mississippi River together with the trader Louis Jolliet.

This French explorer helped invent modern scuba gear and made films about ocean life.