Christopher Columbus: hero or villain? Prepare class members for the debate with activities that asks them to think critically about how history is reported.

Concepts

historical analysis, christopher columbus, columbus day, compare and contrast, compare and contrast texts

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Additional Tags

social studies

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Instructional Ideas

• Have groups examine a variety of primary and secondary resources, including various textbooks and news reports, and compare and contrast the information found therein
• Ask individuals to craft an argumentative essay on Columbus Day celebrations using information from their research

Classroom Considerations

• While links are not provided to the referenced materials, the two activities model for learners the importance of comparing and contrasting multiple primary and secondary sources of information about historical events

Pros

• The packet includes two different versions of the story of Christopher Columbus

Cons

• No link is provided to the referenced Historical Thinking Introduction Video

Common Core

RH.11-12.2 RH.11-12.6 RH.11-12.7 WHST.11-12.2.a