WHAT DID COLOMBUS SAY?

Overview:

This lesson allows students to read what Christopher Columbus wrote about the land and people he “discovered.”

Objectives:

1. Students will read and analyze two primary source documents written by Christopher Columbus.

 

 

 

  

Grade Level: 7-9

Time: 1-2 Days

Subjects: American History, Geography, Latin American History

Required Materials

1. “Columbus’s Letter” taken from Columbus and the Age of Discovery:  Activity Guide. Boston:  1992. WGBH Educational Foundation. p.21 (Excerpted from The Journal of Christopher Columbus, translated by Cecil Jane.)

2. Translator Cards for Columbus’s Letter

3. “For the Love of Gold” taken from Rethinking Columbus. Portland:  1991. Rethinking Schools Ltd. P.81 (Excerpted from The Journal of Christopher Columbus, translated by Cecil Jane.)

4. Worksheet of questions – What did Columbus say?

 

Optional Technologies:

 
     

Suggested Procedure:

1.      Assign a “translator” for each paragraph of Columbus’s Letter. Hand out Translator Cards to appropriate individual.

2.      Read Columbus’s Letter out loud, pausing after each paragraph for the translator to sum up what Columbus is saying in the paragraph – translator cards will help the student with vocabulary, but the student will be responsible for majority of translation.

3.      As a class, discuss what was said in the letter.

a.       What did Columbus take possession of?

b.      Who did Columbus say he was taking this in the name of? Why would he do this?

c.       Do you see any points where it seems Columbus may be exaggerating? Why would he do this?

d.      What does Columbus’s goal seem to be in writing this letter?

e.       What does Columbus say about the natives? What do you think about this?

f.        How does religion play a part in Columbus’s letter? Where does Columbus refer to Christianity? Why do you think this is?

 

4.      Have students read “For the Love of Gold” on their own. After reading, students should answer “What did Columbus Say” questions.

5.      Discuss student responses to questions.

 

Suggested Assessment:  Collect and score “What did Columbus Say” Worksheet based on thoughtfulness of responses.

Credits

Lindsay Gaida, Eden Prairie Central Middle School
This lesson was produced during the Eisenhower Professional Development Geography Summer Institute, 2002, Macalester College, Saint Paul, Minnesota USA. Also funded in part by the Minnesota Alliance for Geographic Education.