Global Voyage Open Response

Ferdinand Magellan organized an ambitious expedition that became the first voyage to travel completely around the world, although he did not survive to finish it himself. This passage introduces students to Magellan’s early life in Portugal, his experience as a sailor, and his plan to reach the Spice Islands by sailing west across the Atlantic Ocean.

This worksheet follows the expedition through dangerous storms, a difficult passage around South America, and the enormous Pacific Ocean before reaching the Philippines. Readers learn about Magellan’s death in battle and how Juan Sebastián Elcano eventually led the remaining sailors back to Spain. Students practice following a sequence of events, recognizing the risks faced by early explorers, and understanding how the expedition provided important evidence about the size and geography of the world.