The Age of Exploration and Colonization: A Writing Adventure for Your Homeschool

When you think about the years between 1400 and 1700 AD, it almost feels like opening a book filled with maps, unanswered questions, and brave travelers stepping into the unknown. This era—often called the Age of Exploration and Colonization—was a turning point in world history. Kingdoms rose to power, new trade routes were formed, and cultures collided in ways that shaped the world our children live in today.

For many homeschool families, this time period is both exciting and overwhelming. There’s so much to unpack: courage and curiosity, but also hardship, injustice, and difficult truths. Writing about this era helps our kids process it all in healthy, thoughtful ways. And when we guide them gently—through the lens of faith—we help them grow as both writers and world-changers.

Let’s explore how writing prompts can bring this chapter of history to life for your children.

Why Use Writing Prompts From This Time Period?

Writing prompts rooted in history do something magical: they allow children to step inside the story rather than simply read about it. This is especially powerful when learning about the Age of Exploration.

Here’s why prompts work so well in this era:

• They build empathy. Your kids can imagine what life was like for sailors on stormy seas, families in new colonies, or indigenous communities facing unfamiliar visitors.
• They spark curiosity. When kids write from different perspectives, they naturally want to learn more about ships, trade, cultures, geography, and major explorers.
• They encourage critical thinking. This time period is complex. Writing helps students wrestle with the good, the bad, and the lasting effects of exploration.
• They nurture confidence. Kids often surprise themselves when they create something thoughtful from a historical moment.
• They help you integrate faith. Writing opens the door to heart conversations—trusting God in the unknown, treating others with dignity, and understanding moral choices.

All of this together helps history feel like a living, breathing part of their homeschool day rather than just another chapter they “have to get through.”

Five Fresh Writing Prompts for the Age of Exploration

Here are five fresh prompts designed to help your children explore this era with imagination, reflection, and depth:

1. Write a journal entry as a young cabin boy or girl on their very first voyage, describing the moment the ship leaves the safety of the harbor. What fears and hopes fill their heart?
2. Imagine you are an indigenous teenager watching unfamiliar ships arrive near your community’s shoreline. Describe what you see, hear, and feel—and what questions run through your mind.
3. Choose one famous explorer and write a letter they might have sent home to a loved one after months at sea. What challenges would they share? What victories?
4. Write from the viewpoint of a mapmaker who has just received reports of a new land. How does it feel to redraw the edges of the world based on someone else’s risky journey?
5. Imagine you are a child living in one of the early colonies. Describe a day in your life—what chores you do, what dangers you face, and how it feels to be so far from “home.”

These prompts help your children explore history through imagination while grounding them in real-world experiences and emotions.

How to Adapt These Prompts for Younger and Older Students

Every child connects with history differently, and writing prompts can easily stretch to fit the needs of your learners.

For Younger Students (K–5th)

• Let them dictate instead of write.
• Encourage shorter responses—3–5 sentences is enough.
• Provide sentence starters (“I see…,” “I feel…,” “I imagine…”).
• Include illustrations! Drawing helps them process what they’re learning.

For Older Students (6th–12th)

• Ask them to add historical details based on research.
• Encourage longer narrative pieces or mini-essays.
• Challenge them to explore multiple perspectives.
• Invite them to make moral or faith-based reflections about the choices people faced in this era.

Small adjustments go a long way in helping your kids feel successful at any level.

Tips for Using These Prompts in Your Homeschool

Writing prompts are simple by design, but a few intentional habits can make them truly transformative.

• Let them write freely. Don’t worry about grammar or structure during the first draft. The goal is expression and engagement.
• Use them alongside your history lessons. These prompts pair beautifully with read-alouds, documentaries, map work, or history journals.
• Discuss before writing. A short conversation helps kids build confidence and imagination before they put pencil to paper.
• Bring Scripture into the moment. Verses about courage, justice, honesty, and compassion fit naturally into this era.
• Celebrate finished work. Read their writing aloud over lunch, add it to a binder, or hang it on the wall. Confidence grows when their words matter.

A gentle, consistent rhythm turns writing prompts into a treasured part of your homeschool day.

Want the Full Set of Writing Prompts?

If these prompts bless your homeschool, I’d love to send you even more.

You can sign up to receive 20 days of writing prompts by email—totally free. Each day delivers a new, thoughtful prompt right to your inbox, perfect for weaving into your history lessons.

Or, if you prefer everything neatly packaged, you can grab the PDF version with the complete set of prompts—ready to print and use anytime for only $7.

Both options help your children grow as writers while exploring this powerful moment in world history.

Final Thoughts

The Age of Exploration and Colonization is more than dates and discoveries—it’s a chance for our kids to understand bravery, choices, consequences, and compassion. When we help them write their way through history, we give them a safe space to think deeply, ask big questions, and see God’s hand at work even in complex times.

I hope these prompts encourage meaningful conversations in your home and give your children the confidence to express their thoughts with courage and clarity. Happy writing, friend—and may this season of learning be full of wonder and grace.

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