teaching resource

The Age of Exploration - Hernando de Soto Reading Passage

  • Updated

    Updated:  21 Sep 2023

Learn about Hernando De Soto and his worldly explorations with a printable reading passage and comprehension questions.

  • Editable

    Editable:  Google Slides

  • Non-Editable

    Non-Editable:  PDF

  • Pages

    Pages:  4 Pages

  • Curriculum
  • Grades

    Grades:  4 - 6

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teaching resource

The Age of Exploration - Hernando de Soto Reading Passage

  • Updated

    Updated:  21 Sep 2023

Learn about Hernando De Soto and his worldly explorations with a printable reading passage and comprehension questions.

  • Editable

    Editable:  Google Slides

  • Non-Editable

    Non-Editable:  PDF

  • Pages

    Pages:  4 Pages

  • Curriculum
  • Grades

    Grades:  4 - 6

Learn about Hernando De Soto and his worldly explorations with a printable reading passage and comprehension questions.

Looking for Hernando De Soto Worksheets?

If so, you’re in the right place! We have created an easy-to-use Hernando de Soto reading passage and comprehension questions. Use this passage to blend reading and Social Studies concepts or assessment over nonfiction reading skills. 

Hernando de Soto’s Accomplishments in History

While researching content to make this famous explorers resource, we discovered quite a few fun facts about Hernando de Soto, like

  • Hernando de Soto is best known for conquering the Aztec Empire. His bold and brave personality is something that drove his fighting spirit. 
  • He was a forceful leader.
  • He is also remembered as the first European to see and cross the Mississippi River. 
  • His explorations of the United States led to further discoveries of land in the Midwest.

Differentiate Your Age of Discovery Lesson Plans

In addition to independent student work time, use this worksheet as an activity for:

  • Guided reading groups
  • Lesson warm-up
  • Lesson wrap-up
  • Fast finishers 
  • Homework assignment
  • Whole-class review (via smartboard)

For struggling readers, try the following:

  • Provide read-aloud accommodations.
  • Allow students to partner read the passage and complete the comprehension check together.
  • Pre-teach the vocabulary words related to the passage before reading. 
  • Build background before completing by viewing videos and images or discussing prior knowledge on the topic.

For fast finishers, enhance their learning by trying the following:

  • Encourage students to read further and make a timeline of the significant events during De Soto’s travels.
  • Have students read additional texts or watch videos about Hernando De Soto
  • Encourage students to continue their exploration of history with informative writing prompts for third grade and up.

Print and Build Your World Explorer Lesson Plans

Use the dropdown icon on the Download button to choose between the PDF or Google Slides version of this resource. 

Because this resource includes an answer sheet, we recommend you print one copy of the entire file. Then, make photocopies of the blank worksheet for students to complete. 

To save paper, we suggest printing this 2-page worksheet double-sided.

Additionally, project the worksheet onto a screen and work through it as a class by having students record their answers in their notebooks. 


This resource was created by Katy Blevins, a teacher in Georgia and Teach Starter Collaborator.

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