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Columbus Day

October 9, 2016 by Jodi 4 Comments

We are usually on Fall Break during Columbus Day, but this year Fall Break is pushed back a week.  So, tomorrow we will be learning about Christopher Columbus and taking our annual Columbus Voyage through the school.

Students take a Columbus Day Voyage throughout the school.I truly like to put the focus on learning new vocabulary during this voyage instead of focusing completely on Columbus.  I absolutely understand that Columbus Day is controversial in many ways, so for my first graders, I put the main focus on the idea of being an explorer.  We discuss the meaning of the words voyage, explore, discover, explorer, trade, etc.

We have done this a couple of different ways throughout the years.  We started off years ago by having the students in different classrooms be the Native Americans, and the first graders be the explorers to the “new world.”  Our first graders would trade their trinkets (gold, mirrors, beads, etc.) with the Natives.  One year, we had a LOT of 1st graders, so we decided to do all of the trading in the same room.  This year, we will be placing the items in different locations through the school, so we can “voyage” through the school and do our trading.

Students take a Columbus Day Voyage throughout the school.We start off by passing out our Columbus Voyage packets, their bag of trinkets to trade (beads, jewels, gold painted rocks, etc.) and their snack bags of dried meat, fish, and crackers (beef jerky sticks, Goldfish and saltine crackers) for the long voyage.  I explain to the students that the people on the ship had to ration their food and not eat it all at once.

Students take a Columbus Day Voyage throughout the school.Then, we start our voyage.  We read about our first trade item, and the students choose a trinket to trade.  Then, we travel to the first location on our map.  The students trade their trinket for the item from the Natives.

Students take a Columbus Day Voyage throughout the school.We trade for all types of items that the explorers traded for with the Native Americans (popcorn, spices, feathers, shells, etc.).

Students take a Columbus Day Voyage throughout the school.After we make each trade, we learn about the item in our booklets, and then write about our learning.

Students take a Columbus Day Voyage throughout the school.It’s a fun day, and the students love it.

Students take a Columbus Day Voyage throughout the school.At some point during the day, we also complete these Columbus Day Booklets to add to our learning.

Columbus Day Booklet from Fun in FirstColumbus Day Booklet from Fun in FirstI’m looking forward to another Columbus Voyage tomorrow.

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Filed Under: Fall, Science/Social Studies Tagged With: Columbus Day

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Comments

  1. Rochelle Selbach says

    October 11, 2016 at 2:21 am

    Hi – I love your ideas – how can I get a copy of your Columbus day booklet as well as the secret code sheet that is show below your booklet???
    Thank you
    Rochelle
    (I recently returned to first grade after teaching third grade for 5 years)

    Reply
    • Jodi says

      October 11, 2016 at 10:57 am

      I link is in the post, or you could click on the picture. Here is the direct link: https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Columbus-Day-Book-343456

      Reply
      • Rochelle says

        October 12, 2016 at 10:49 am

        Thank you. That worked!!

        Reply
  2. Tammie says

    October 15, 2016 at 10:59 am

    These are amazing ideas! I don’t and can’t celebrate Columbus Day for conscientious reasons HOWEVER I’d love to incorporate these ideas into Thanksgiving activities. Thanks so much for sharing!

    Reply

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