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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Christopher Columbus Jeopardy PowerPoint

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Students engage in a Jeopardy-style PowerPoint presentation on the life of Christopher Columbus. The categories are Columbus, Santa Maria, Nina, Pinta, Parts of a Ship. This excellent resource should lead to a firm understanding of...
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Website
Internet History Sourcebooks Project

Fordham University: Medieval Sourcebook: Christopher Columbus Journal

For Students 9th - 10th
This site from the Fordham University contains excerpts from the journal of Columbus during his voyage of 1492. This is a great site to check out on the subject.
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Lesson Plan
National Endowment for the Humanities

Neh: Edsit Ement: What Was Columbus Thinking

For Teachers 5th - 8th
These lesson plans guide students' thinking about the effects Columbus' journey to the New World had on Native Americans and uses primary sources such as excerpts from Columbus' diary and letters to Queen Isabella and King Ferdinand.
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Website
Other

Ships of Discovery: Columbus's Lost Ships

For Students 5th - 8th
We all know about the Nina, Pinta, and the Santa Maria, but what about the rest of Columbus' ships? He was a busy man after the initial discovery. This site is by a group of archaeologists who try to find historic underwater wrecks....
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Activity
Read Works

Read Works: Sailing the Seas

For Teachers 2nd - 4th
[Free Registration/Login Required] An informational text about the Santa Maria, Christopher Columbus' ship. A question sheet is available to help students build skills in reading comprehension.
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Handout
Wikimedia

Wikipedia: Juan De La Cosa

For Students 9th - 10th
A biography of Juan de la Cosa who sailed with Columbus and owned the Santa Maria. Looks at his voyages and the maps he produced as a cartographer.
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Primary
Mariners' Museum and Park

Mariners' Museum: Education: Christopher Columbus: First Voyage

For Students 9th - 10th
This resource provides information about Christopher Columbus and his voyages.
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Handout
New Advent

Catholic Encyclopedia: Juan De La Cosa

For Students 9th - 10th
A brief biography of Juan de la Cosa who sailed with both Columbus and Vespucci. His famous chart of the world is the oldest representation of the New World. Please note that "The Catholic Encyclopedia," is a historic reference source...
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Activity
Study Languages

Study Spanish: Quezaltenango

For Students 9th - 10th
Online cultural explanation in Spanish and English with a few comprehension questions about Quezaltenango, the second largest city of Guatemala. Great reading selection for beginning and intermediate Spanish students.