The purpose of this lesson is for students to learn who Ponce de León was, why he is an important figure in Florida’s history, and what an explorer is and does.

Creating mental maps are useful tools for clarifying assumptions and comprehension of a given place. This lesson affords students the opportunity to reflect on their own neighborhood and consider how cultural, social, and economic components influence its composition. They will also learn how early Spanish settlers helped to contribute to the cultural, social, and economic dimensions of Florida.

Operation Pedro Pan was the name given to the 22-month clandestine program involving the political exodus of more than 14,000 Cuban children to the United States in the early 1960s. Fearing communist indoctrination and the rumor of patria potestad — the government assuming legal guardianship of their children— Cuban parents sent their unaccompanied (minor) children to the United States.

This lesson addresses the beginning years of the Spanish influence in Ybor City, its current status, and trends for the future.

Students will work in pairs to log facts about the Spanish exploreres and their personal background, sponsors, motives, dates, the route they traveled, and their impact on Florida today. Each pair of students will learn about their Spanish explorer and then will report out through creating a matrix.