1) Juan Ponce De Leon was a Spanish explorer born in 1460 in Santervas, Spain who dreamed of becoming a knight as a young boy. 2) He gained experience exploring with Christopher Columbus on his second voyage to the New World and fighting in the war to retake Granada for Spain. 3) In 1513, while searching for the Fountain of Youth, he discovered Florida and explored the Gulf Stream, though he ultimately did not find the Fountain of Youth and died in 1521 in Cuba after being shot by an arrow.

1. Juan Ponce De Leon By Madison K. Mrs.Young 5th Grade February 5, 2009

2. Early Life Juan Ponce De Leon was born in Santervas, Spain in 1460. Leon sent messages into royal court as a young boy. Being the youngest boy in the family, Ponce De Leon dreamed of becoming a knight. Juan’s family sent him to another house to train him to become a knight.

3. Previous Experience Ponce De Lean got educated for his masteries in fighting, manners, and religion. Leon had fought in the war to retake Granada, Spain. Ponce De Leon also had experience from the journey he had took on Christopher Columbus’s second voyage to the New World.

4. Exploration Leon stayed in Puerto Rico on the second journey to the New World. Hearing about the Fountain of Youth he set out to search for it. Ponce De Leon and his men encountered the Calusa Indians who were unfriendly and drove them out of their land. They ended up not finding the Fountain of Youth.

5. Results While searching for the Fountain of Youth, Ponce De Leon discovered a little island that he named Borinquen in 1506. Leon also noticed the Gulf Stream in the Atlantic Ocean. Although, Juan Ponce De Leon is known for his discovery of Florida in April 1513.

6. Conclusion Ponce De Leon died July 1521 in Cuba after he encountered the Calusa Indians again and got shot with an arrow. Leon is remembered today for his quest to search for the Fountain of Youth.

7. Bibliography “ Enchanted Learning.” www.enchantedlearning.com/explorers/page/d/deleon.shtml , 2009 “ Think Quest.” www.library.thinkquest.org/J002678F/ponce_de_leon.html , 2009 “ Notable Biographies.” www.notablebiographies.com/Pe-Pu/Ponce-de-le-n-Juan.html , 2009 “ Ima Heroes.” www.imaheros.com/readingprogram/explponcedeleon.html , 2009 “ Biography.com.” www.biography.com/search/article.do?id=9444105 , 2009