European explorers come to North America searching for land and wealth. Those who landed in present-day New York found established societies of Native Americans and a rich source of trade. The books in this kit describe the discoveries of key figures in North American exploration. Giovanni da Verrazano explored the coast from North Carolina to New York Harbor. Samuel de Champlain arrived in Canada and explored the area around what came to be known as Lake Champlain. Henry Hudson sailed north from New York Harbor along what we now call the Hudson River. Adriaen Block built the first Dutch settlement on Manhattan Island and sailed around Long Island. These explorers helped to shape New York, drawing new settlers with their own traditions to the area to live alongside the Native Americans. (class set of books/teacher's guide/12 map trancparencies/ map activities blackline masters/big book with guide).