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Year 1 - History

William Adams' journey to Japan

William Adams and John Franklin

Unit Summary

This unit on explorers and seafaring gives students a clear sense of change over time, highlighting technological, economic, and cultural shifts. It covers the sea's role in trade and exploration and explores material culture, craftsmanship, and the influence of seafaring on language and art.

Lesson Summary

You will learn to describe William Adams' journey to Japan.

Key Notes

  • William Adams was an English sailor who went on many long voyages about 200 years after Zheng He.
  • Adams wanted to follow in the footsteps of other explorers and travel to Asia.
  • Adams sailed across the Atlantic to the Americas with five ships, before crossing the Pacific with only two.
  • On the voyage a huge storm sunk one of Adam's boats and he arrived in Japan with just one boat and a very sickly crew.
  • Adam's voyage took over two years and he chose to stay in Japan, working with a local leader to build ships.

Vocabulary To Learn

  • 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
  • Pacific Ocean: the Pacific Ocean is the ocean between the Americas and Asia

Common Mistakes To Avoid

  • When looking at a 2D map of the world, pupils may think that there are two Pacific oceans.

3 Quick Questions (With Answers)

1. Summarise this historical learning in two key ideas.

William Adams was an English sailor who went on many long voyages about 200 years after Zheng He. Adams wanted to follow in the footsteps of other explorers and travel to Asia.

2. Define this history term and explain why it matters in this topic. 'Atlantic Ocean'

the Atlantic Ocean is the ocean between Europe and the Americas.

3. Correct this common history misconception using evidence language.

Mistake: When looking at a 2D map of the world, pupils may think that there are two Pacific oceans. Correction: The Pacific Ocean is the biggest ocean on earth. We can see on a globe that it is one large body of water between the Americas and Asia.

More Lessons In This Unit

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