John Cabot's journeys across the Atlantic
I can describe the journeys of John Cabot.
John Cabot's journeys across the Atlantic
I can describe the journeys of John Cabot.
These resources will be removed by end of Summer Term 2025.
Lesson details
Key learning points
- Shortly after Zheng He's voyages, an Italian navigator and explorer called John Cabot was living in Bristol.
- He was sent by the English king, Henry VII, to find a shorter route to Asia, and to claim new lands for England.
- He tried to sail across the Atlantic but bad weather, food shortages and arguments with his crew meant he failed.
- He tried again the next year with a small ship, 'The Matthew', and a crew of just 18, reaching what is now Canada.
- The next year, the king sent Cabot on another trip to try and reach even further; Cabot and his ships never returned.
Keywords
Atlantic Ocean - the Atlantic Ocean is the ocean between Europe and the Americas
Americas - the Americas are the continents of North and South America
Asia - the continent to the east of Europe is called Asia
Common misconception
Pupils might find it confusing that John Cabot sounds like a very English name yet he was Italian.
John Cabot is the English version of the name he was born as, Giovanni Caboto. He lived in England for so long he was known by John Cabot.
To help you plan your year 1 history lesson on: John Cabot's journeys across the Atlantic, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your year 1 history lesson on: John Cabot's journeys across the Atlantic, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs.
The starter quiz will activate and check your pupils' prior knowledge, with versions available both with and without answers in PDF format.
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The assessment exit quiz will test your pupils' understanding of the key learning points.
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Explore more key stage 1 history lessons from the John Cabot and Brunel unit, dive into the full secondary history curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.
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