In 1595, Elizabethan explorer Sir Walter Raleigh set sail for South America, hoping to discover El Dorado, the legendary city of gold.
The epic voyage took nearly two months.
Now the Serious Explorers, a team of children from the UK, are following in the footsteps of Sir Walter Raleigh to find out about the challenges he faced, and the amazing landscapes he discovered.
The children learn that four hundred years ago, navigating across the oceans took great skill using special tools like an astrolabe.
For the Serious Explorers, using the latest satellite navigation tools makes navigation easier.
Life on board a ship in Raleigh's day was hard and dangerous.
The sailors spent many weeks at sea, lived in incredibly cramped conditions and risked dying from diseases such as scurvy.
The Serious Explorers spent just four days at sea but spotting land is a welcome sight for them too.
This clip is from the series Seriously Raleigh.
Teacher Notes
Before watching the clip, children could be shown images of ships from the 16th century.
They could be asked to compare and contrast the difference between ships, from Sir Walter Raleigh’s time to ships of the present.
They could think of the dangers and hazards that the crew of the ships from hundreds of years ago may have faced.
Children could look at the route that Sir Walter Raleigh travelled and then plan a modern day expedition.
They could decide on how they would get there, taking into account the mode of transport.
The children could then compare and contrast the comfort of the journey in addition to the time taken to complete it.
They could create a modern day explorer’s pack of equipment and then compare this to the equipment that was available to Sir Walter Raleigh.
As a Literacy link, the children could write a diary entry, describing what it was like to be part of the voyage in the 16th century.
Curriculum Notes
This clip is suitable for teaching Geography at KS2 and KS3 Level in England, Wales and Northern Ireland and at 2nd and 3rd Level in Scotland.
More from Seriously Raleigh:
Expedition safety. video
The Serious Explorers must learn how to stay safe whilst retracing Raleigh's route to Guyana.
Expedition to Guyana - endangered animals in the rainforest. video
The explorers meet the region's most endangered animals, the caiman and the harpy eagle.
Expedition to Guyana - exploring Mount Roraima. video
The Serious Explorers have come to Mount Roraima to relive the legend of Raleigh.
Expedition to Guyana - life in the rainforest. video
The Serious Explorers take a look at the rainforest in Guyana, a place that has hardly changed since Raleigh’s day.
Expedition to Guyana - Mount Roraima (no narration) video
Extraordinary and stunning views of the imposing and magnificent Mount Roraima. Aerial views capture the magnificence of the mountain.
Expedition to Guyana - planning an expedition. video
The Serious Explorers have taken almost a year to plan an expedition to recreate his journey. We see their planning process.
Expedition to Guyana - recreating Sir Walter Raleigh's search for El Dorado. video
The Serious Explorers team try out gold panning whilst following in Raleigh’s footsteps.
Expedition to Guyana - rivers and waterfalls (no narration) video
Views of the rivers running through the rainforest of Guyana and a glimpse into the ways in which the rivers support Guyana's rainforest communities.
Expedition to Guyana - spending a night in the rainforest. video
The Serious Explorers spend a night in the Guyana rainforest. The UK adventurers learn to make shelters and set animal traps.
Expedition to Guyana - the Makushi tribespeople. video
The explorers join in a traditional Makushi celebration and go hunting with the tribesmen, relying on their help.
Expedition to Guyana - transportation for local tribespeople. video
The Serious Explorers try using traditional canoes like the ones Raleigh’s team would have used over four hundred years ago.
