In 1886 explorer Robert Peary traveled to Greenland for the U.S. Navy. Before his journey, no one knew Greenland's size or shape. On Peary's first trips, he explored Greenland, mapping parts of it. 

When Peary returned to the United States, he went to a businessman to sell some furs. There he met Matthew Henson, an African American mechanic, builder and navigator. When Peary went to Nicaragua on a Navy mission ,Henson went with him. When that job was over, the two headed to the Arctic. 

Henson and Peary set sail for Greenland. When they landed, Henson built a house for their base camp. Peary and his men set out to explore the land by dog sledge . Henson was injured and had to stay at the base. While there, he made friends with the Inuit, the native people. 

In 1895 Henson, Peary and Hugh Lee went out on another dog sledge journey. This time, they found Greenland's northernmost point. They now knew that the North Pole lay under the frozen Arctic Ocean. Peary had hoped to cross the ice. but the group ran out of food and returned to base camp. In the years that followed, Peary and Henson tried several times to reach the North Pole, but each time they failed. On one trip, Peary's feet froze, and he lost his toes . 

Peary and Henson planned last trip when Peary was 53 years old. They started across the sea ice from Ellesmere Island, which is located north of Canada. The temperature dropped as low as--51 degrees Celsius. The explores' cheeks froze , and they suffered snow blindness from the sun's glare. They experienced high winds and storms, and they also faced a hidden danger. Under the frozen ocean were powerful currents . The ice moved and broke apart leaving open water, called leads. Twice Peary fell into leads. But eventually he and Henson became the first persons to reach the North Pole.
Who traveled to Greenland?
What did he do in Greenland?
What did Peary sell to the US?
Who did he meet?
Who was Mr. Henson?
Where did he head to?
Who set sail for Greenland?
Where did they set out to explore?
Why did Henson have to stay on base?
Who were the Inuit?
In what year did they go out on another journey?
What did they find this time?
The North pole is frozen under what?
Peary hoped to do what?
What froze on one trip?
What happened because of this?
The last trip was planned when?
Where did it begin?
Located where?
How low did the temperature drop?
Robert Peary
Robert Peary
he explored Greenland, mapping parts of it
he explored Greenland, mapping parts of it. 
some furs
some furs
Matthew Henson
Matthew Henson
African American mechanic, builder and navigator
African American mechanic, builder and navigator
the Arctic
the Arctic
Henson and Peary
Henson and Peary
the land by dog sledge
 the land by dog sledge
Henson was injured
Henson was injured
the native people
the native people
In 1895
In 1895
Greenland's northernmost point
 Greenland's northernmost point
Arctic Ocean
Arctic Ocean
to cross the ice
 to cross the ice
Peary's feet
Peary's feet 
he lost his toes
he lost his toes
when Peary was 53 years old
when Peary was 53 years old
across the sea ice from Ellesmere Island
across the sea ice from Ellesmere Island
north of Canada
north of Canada
51 degrees Celsius
51 degrees Celsius