Lesson Plan Columbus

LESSON PLAN: YOU ARE THERE...
DURATION: 2-3 classes
GRADE RANGE: Grade 6-12
Turning students into news reporters is a very effective and enjoyable class project. This is also a great way to assess your student's understanding of this period.
Reporting is often subjective. Any set of events can be interpreted differently, it looked at from the vantage point if different participants and/or spectators. Take this opportunity to assign your students various roles on which to report their discoveries.
REPORTING ON CHRISTOPHER COLUMBUS' VOYAGE:
Assign one student group to report as if they were on board one of the Columbus' ships. The student second group should report from the perspective of Columbus himself. Assign the third team to report from the perspective of the Native Americans. The fourth team should be assigned to report on the Spaniards perspective of Columbus' departure and return.
Primary Sources:
Columbus "Discovers" America- 1491
Voyage of Columbus as he described it
The final news reports could be in the form of a printed newspaper or a series of video podcasts.