As part of the Age of Discovery block, the 7th grade studied the West's fascination with silks and spices from China and India. Countries with coastlines like Portugal, Spain, and Italy seized the opportunity to fulfill the demand for new trade markets. Explorers began to seek sea routes to the East rather than overland routes. The students each chose an explorer to research. The project included a written and oral report and a board game that showed their explorer's journey.