In 1492, Columbus sailed the ocean blue.

There are many holidays throughout the year that school’s observe with a day off. Sometimes that day away from school and what it honors passes right by the student body without fully understanding what it celebrates. Don’t let Columbus Day be one of those holidays. Instead, set aside time to explore- like Columbus him self would have done.

Who Was Christopher Columbus?

Columbus was from Genoa, Italy, born in 1451. His father was a wool merchant and weaver. Historical accounts of his life say he may have started his journeys at sea at the young age of 13.

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For almost 10 years preceding the famous 1492 voyage, Columbus plotted and pleaded for money to search for a new route to China. He was turned down numerous times because his math of 2,400 miles seemed improbable. (Student activity: How far is it from Spain to China?) Instead, King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella agreed to let Columbus charter 3 ships, The Nina, The Pinta, and Santa Maria, to discover new territories for Spain.

Myth Busters

If your students like to solve a mystery, Columbus may serve as a great subject. The myth that Columbus discovered America can be as vague as an urban legend. Debunk the myth by mapping Columbus’ exact route and timeline of his explorations.

Nautical Discovery

Columbus is a great segue way into the history of ships. Explore the different types of ships Columbus sailed. The Nina and the Pinta were small caravels, while the Santa Maria was much larger. Students can find out the functional parts of the ships and draw them based on their measurements,

Videos

Videos are a great way to get students really interested in the history of Columbus. Check your library to reserve these resources or order them to use year after year. The Magnificent Voyage of Christopher Columbus recounts the history of Columbus’ first Atlantic crossing, as a modern-day crew retraces Columbus’ course, sailing replicas of his fleet. The Biography of Christopher Columbus goes far beyond his first voyage and humanizes the legend, “the determined explorer died a broken man, stripped of his rightful glory, titles and money.” In a 1949 classic, Christopher Columbus battles mutiny, exhaustion, and desperation on his way to the new world.

Columbus in the Classroom

Many books can help introduce Columbus to your students. For younger students grades 1-3, try A Picture Book of Christopher Columbus. For more independent readers, try the Step-into-reading series Christopher Columbus. For older students, more mature topics: Christopher Columbus and the Afrikan Holocaust: Slavery and the Rise of European Capitalism or The Conquest of Paradise.

Sample Lesson Plan

The Two Sides of Columbus: This lesson gives the measurements of Columbus’ fleet and suggests an activity to draw one of Columbus’ ships to actual scale.

Discussion

If you want to find more ideas about how to teach Columbus, join our discussion to share lessons and web resources.