Ferdinand Magellan and His First Voyage Around the World

For those who have forgotten their elementary school lessons on Magellan, he's the Portuguese navigator who set sail from Spain in 1519 with the intention of sailing around the world. Magellan planned to make for the Spice Islands by sailing west, then continuing on that heading until he returned to Spain (believing that circumnavigating the globe would be a quicker way to reach the Spice Islands). He seriously underestimated the size of the Pacific Ocean, of course, which is why his scheme makes no sense to us today. Aimed at elementary school children grades 2-5 (although it could possibly even work with 6th and 7th graders), this short program recounts Magellan's famous voyage in words and pictures in a very competent manner that should hold students' attention. The historical accuracy of the narrative is excellent and the script writer, aware of the negative impact of the Age of Exploration on many indigenous peoples, has wisely not portrayed this era as some sort of glorious exercise in manifest destiny and Christian ascendancy. The video is accompanied by a teacher's guide, quizzes and a vocabulary guide. Recommended for those looking for a more specific treatment than what's found in The Golden Age of Exploration (VL-9/97). Aud: E, I, J. (P. Van Vleck)