TOOLS OF EXPLORATION Resources from the Maritime Museum Interactive Explorer Routes Map via:
Cross-Staff Big Ideas Old as 400 BCE Sailors used in the early 1500s Used for astrology Measured altitude of stars Reads angles to convert to latitude
Astrolabe Big Ideas Old as 10 th century (900s) Line up with ocean and sun to make measurements Hard to get accurate reading Helped navigate via celestial bodies (using the stars/sun) Helped stay on course & find their location
Compass Big Ideas “Modern” compasses developed in 1200s Widely used by the 1300s Uses magnetic north pole to show direction Helps explorers to navigate – even in the dark or in heavy fog
Quadrant Big Ideas First use documented in mid 1400s Called that because it’s ¼ of a circle Measured height of a building or mountain Easy to use
Traverse Board Big Ideas Considered one of the “first computers” Developed early 1500s Used to record direction traveling, and how fast Set up to track points on compass
Maps Big Ideas Both used and created on voyages Various styles of maps Show rocky shores and safe ports Can even shoe where winds blow and how ocean currents flow
Ships Big Ideas Every explorer had one! Various types of ships but all had… Sails 3 + masts More than one deck
Tools & Explorer Project You need to share information about at least 4 tools in your project. Here’s what to include: Hand drawn pictures of each tool Name neatly labeled 2 or more interesting facts about each tool