Greg here! I hope everyone is doing well!
Over the past few weeks, Becky and I invested some time in creating a new Columbus activity set for 1st - 3rd graders. Surprisingly, there are over 466 Christopher Columbus resources on TPT for 1st and 2nd grade alone.
Over the past few weeks, Becky and I invested some time in creating a new Columbus activity set for 1st - 3rd graders. Surprisingly, there are over 466 Christopher Columbus resources on TPT for 1st and 2nd grade alone.
When developing the activities, we kept two things in mind: 1. age appropriateness and 2. rigorous historical thinking. I turned to the newly developed historical thinking skills set forth by the College Board for AP US History to help build my framework.
The result is a set of activities that target some of the same skills I reinforce with students in 10th and 11th grade. For example, the craftivity (highlighted in the top photo) asks students to utilize an adjective to describe Columbus's voyage. Students are then required to back up their "conclusion" with two reasons. This is a simplified version of skill 6: historical argumentation. This approach will pay dividends in the students' writing and discussion skills.
The sequencing activity (seen below) reinforces the basic components of chronological reasoning (skill 1).
The sequencing activity (seen below) reinforces the basic components of chronological reasoning (skill 1).
And the "What's your view?" activity requires students to synthesize (skill 9) the information to draw and write about a perspective of the voyage. Although guidance will probably be necessary, students will have fun thinking about an event from a different standpoint. Let their creativity run wild but also help build a context of the realities of the situation.
There are also several primary sources in the document (with accompanying questions) that supports multiple perspectives of the voyage (skill 7 - appropriate use of historical evidence).
I am convinced that good social studies skills are simply good critical thinking skills. These activities provide foundational historical thinking skills that will help students in both ELA and future social studies classes. Ultimately, we need to create engaging opportunities for students to understand that social studies is relevant and interesting.
Best.
Greg
I am convinced that good social studies skills are simply good critical thinking skills. These activities provide foundational historical thinking skills that will help students in both ELA and future social studies classes. Ultimately, we need to create engaging opportunities for students to understand that social studies is relevant and interesting.
Best.
Greg
