Christopher Columbus: Friend? Foe?
On October 12th, Christopher Columbus Day is celebrated as a national holiday. Christopher Columbus has been commemorated in hundreds or thousands of ways across North America and South America. He has roads named in his honor, buildings, cities, and our nation’s capital. Does he deserve these honors? After all he did find the new world for Europeans. Who would then have any issues with this man’s accomplishments? Many people overlook the fact that there were already people living on this continent. Many people were taught all of the good that Columbus brought but overlook the whole truth of his actions and voyage of discovery.
Our school motto and one of the things we value at Imagodei Academy is redeeming education through a Biblical Worldview. With this discovery lesson, we want to give our students and their families an opportunity to take a closer look at history and analyze historical accounts through a Biblical Worldview to determine whether Christopher Columbus’s actions deem him as a friend, foe, neither or both to Native Americans.
This activity is available with age-appropriate material for all Imagodei Academy students to participate in with their families to help generate discussion and learning.
For Grades K-2: A list of children’s books about Christopher Columbus will be provided for you to read with your student and engage in discussion as to whether Christopher Columbus’s actions deem him as a friend, foe, neither or both to Native Americans. Students can create a poster, drawing, short writing, or video sharing their findings that can be share on our social media outlets and school website with your release and permission.
For Grades 3-12: Students will read Encounter by Jane Yolen, excerpts from Christopher Columbus’s Journal on the native peoples he encountered, and a letter to the King and Queen of Spain about the Taino Indians. Parents are invited to read the material as well and in engage in discussion as to whether Christopher Columbus’s actions deem him as a friend, foe, neither or both to Native Americans. Students can create a poster, slide presentation, short writing, or video sharing their findings that can be share on our social media outlets and school website with your release and permission.
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