Oops, teacher buddies! Columbus Day 2010 sneaked up on me. I really missed the boat for generating some Columbus Day teaching ideas! Sorry about that. (And I’m sorry about the terrible pun too! Sometimes I just can’t help myself. 🙂 )
Wait a minute! Today is the federal holiday (in the United States) on which Christopher Columbus is honored, but October 12 is the actual anniversary of Columbus’s arrival in the New World. We still have one day left!
So is Columbus Day on your teaching calendar? I don’t believe there’s any doubt that Columbus arrived on October 12, 1492 (even though some dispute whether he really was the first to discover America). I’m not interested in controversy here; what I’m really wanting to know is how you approach Columbus Day in your classroom. Do you have a favorite idea to share?
Thanks, matey!
Diane
We make ships in a bottle. Using blue construction paper and cutting it into the shape of a bottle, we add waves with sharpies and design our boats. We then cover them with saran wrap giving a glass effect.
Yes…I have the kids make boats out of tin foil and see whose boat will hold the most teddy bears(plastic ones).before sinking! They wear their “sailor” hats and do water colors of Columbus’s ships/Atlantic Ocean,too.
It’s a fun afternoon…if you don’t mind a little water!
I teach second grade and I read several Read Alouds to them on Christopher Columbus/Columbus day and then we discuss what it may have been like to be a mate on one of his ships that was out to sea for so long. Then I have them pretend that they are one of the shipmates and ask them to write a letter to a loved one at home explaining what it is like living on the ship during the long voyage.
Thanks so much for sharing your ideas!