JUAN PONCE DE LEONBy Emma Hindt

JUAN PONCE DE LEON WAS A YOUNG SAILOR FOR CHRISTOPHER COLUMBUS IN

HIS SECOND VOYAGE TO THE NEW WORLD.

IN 1506 JUAN PONCE DE LEON EXPLORED AN ISLAND CALLED BORINQUEN ( MODERN DAY PUERTO RICO. )

KING FERDINAND FROM SPAIN SPONSORED JUAN PONCE DE LEON’S JOURNEY.

PONCE DE LEON SET OUT TO FIND “THE FOUNTAIN OF YOUTH” IN 1513.

AFTER ONE MONTH OF SAILING HE FOUND AN ISLAND WITH PALM TREES, SWEET SMELLING

FLOWERS, AND BEAUTIFUL BIRDS.

IN 1521 PONCE DE LEON STARTED A SETTLEMENT IN FLORIDA.

JUAN PONCE DE LEON AND HIS TWO-HUNDRED MEN THAT WERE ON HIS SHIP WERE ATTACKED

AND PONCE DE LEON WAS SHOT WITH A ARROW.

PONCE DE LEON SOON DIED AFTER HIS RETURN TO CUBA.

JUAN PONCE DE LEON NEVER KNEW THAT FLORIDA WAS NOT AN ISLAND BUT WAS PART

OF A VAST CONTINENT.

BIBLIOGRAPHY:SOCIAL STUDIES ALIVE! PALO ALTO, CA:

TEACHERS’CURRICULUM INSTITUTE, 2010. 61.