Over the past few years Columbus' place in the history of the United States has been disputed. Regarded a hero by the European conquerors of the 15th Century, Columbus was not a hero to the Native Americans already living in the New World. Despite the politics of the situation, Columbus' feat was a major event in the history of the world. I like to teach a short unit about Columbus to my English language learners so that they understand what they see and hear around them on Columbus Day.

Lesson Topic

Columbus Sails to the New World

Grade/Proficiency Level

Grades 2-3 advanced beginner to intermediate ESL; Grades 4-8 beginning ESL

TESOL Goal and Standard

Goal 2, Standard 2 - To use English to achieve academically in all content areas: Students will be able to use English to obtain, process, contruct, and provide subject matter information in spoken and written form.

Goal 3, Standard 1 - To use English in socially and culturally appropriate ways: Students will use the appropriate language variety, register, and genre according to audience, purpose, and setting.

Content Concepts/Skills

Understanding explorers; developing map skills

Materials

Book about Columbus; Map of World; PDF files

Vocabulary

Indies,explore, ship, Nina, Pinta, Santa Maris, Espanola,

Instructional Sequence

Columbus Day is an excellent opportunity to teach your English language learners (ELLs) basic place names on a world map or globe in English. It also helps build a foundation for future units on Thanksgiving.

1. Teach the vocabulary of the Columbus using a simple book with lots of pictures. If necessary, tell the story in your own words. I use "Christopher Columbus" by Carol Greene.

2. Have advanced beginning or intermediate ESL students read the Columbus Fact Sheet. Review the story using the Columbus Story Star.

3. Have students track Columbus' first voyage. You can find colored maps at The Columbus Navigation Homepage.

4. Download free Columbus Day Activities at Family Education Columbus Day Printables.

5. Have intermediate students explore the controversy over Columbus. Read "Examining the Reputation of Christopher Columbus" and discuss content with students.

Activities for Beginners

After you have paraphrased the story for your beginning students, have them try one of the following activities:

• Find Columbus Day links at Family Education.
• Complete the Columbus Noun Activity. This gives you an opportunity to talk about parts of speech within the context of a content lesson with beginners and advanced beginners in grades 3-8.
• Build content area vocabulary with the Columbus Puzzle.Give your students as much practice as possible with new vocabulary.
• Download mazes and puzzles from TeacherVision.com.

© 1998-2007 Judie Haynes, www.everythingESL.net