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Christopher Columbus Unit Plan

Social Studies SOL 1.3: The student will discuss the lives of people associated with Presidents
Day, Columbus Day, and the events of Independence Day (Fourth of July).
Social Studies SOL 1.4: The student will develop map skills by
a) recognizing basic map symbols, including references to land, water, cities, and roads;
b) using cardinal directions on maps;
c) identifying the shapes of the United States and Virginia on maps and globes;
Day 1
SS SOLS: 1.3
Objective: The students will acknowledge the importance of Christopher Columbus.
Terms to know:
holiday: A day on which something or someone is honored or remembered
Columbus Day: This is a day to remember Christopher Columbus, who is given credit for
discovering America. It is observed in October.
Blooms: Knowledge
Materials:
United Streaming video
Picture of Columbus
Procedures:
1. Begin by asking students what they already know about Christopher Columbus.
2. Tell them soon we will have a holiday to celebrate Christopher Columbus.
a. Define holiday: a day on which something or someone is honored or remembered
3. Watch the United Streaming video to provoke students thinking about why Columbus is
so important that we have a whole day to celebrate him.
4. Discuss what the students learned through watching the video and why Columbus is
significant.
Assessment: Class discussion
Differentiation: Visual and auditory learning styles are accommodated
through this lesson.
Extension: Engage in a discussion about what else the students wish to learn about Columbus.
Be sure to incorporate the students wishes into the rest of the unit.
Day 2
SS SOLS: 1.3

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Objective: The students will explore a map to better understand Columbuss journey.
Terms to know:
map: A drawing that shows what places look like from above and where they are located
symbol: A picture or thing that stands for something else
cardinal directions: the directions of north, east, south, and west
Blooms: Knowledge
Materials:
Columbuss Trip worksheet
Meet the Characters handout
Crayons
Document camera
Columbus song
Columbus picture book
Procedures:
1. Complete the Columbuss Trip worksheet as a whole class. Model the instruction using
the document camera.
2. Read Meet the Characters and discuss the importance of each person.
Assessment: Columbuss Trip worksheet and class discussion
Differentiation:
For students who need extra help, the teacher, teachers assistant, or myself will be
available to scaffold their learning.
Visual and auditory learning styles are accommodated through this lesson.
Extension: Sing the Columbus song to the tune of The Farmer in the Dell and/or read a
Columbus picture book.
Days 3 & 4
SS SOLS: 1.3, 1.4
Objective: The students will identify the important components of Columbuss story.

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Blooms: Knowledge
Materials:
Christopher Columbus cutout
All About Christopher Columbus booklet
Construction paper
Toilet paper rolls
Scissors
Glue and hot glue
Tape
Markers, crayons, and other coloring utensils
Procedures:
1. Have students complete the All About Christopher Columbus booklet.
2. Let students cut out their Christopher Columbus.
3. The students will glue together and decorate their Columbus. (An adult will hot glue the
toilet paper roll.)
Assessment: All About Christopher Columbus booklet
Differentiation: The types of questions asked in the booklet range from
multiple-choice to color the appropriate number to short answer in order to
accommodate the ability level of all students.
A Columbus picture book will be read to students who finish early.
Day 4 (Journals)
SS SOLS: 1.3
English SOLS: 1.12, 1.13
Objective: The students will write three sentences about Christopher Columbus.
Blooms: Knowledge
Materials:
Journal response sheet
Pencil
Columbus heads west with his three ships coloring page
Crayons
Procedures:
1. Students will complete three sentences that describe what they have learned about
Columbus. Students may also draw pictures in order to communicate their understanding.
2. When finished, the students must see an adult (Me, Miss Grim, or Mrs. Medina) and
explain what they wrote.

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Assessment: Journal response
Differentiation:
Students who finish early will color the picture on the back of their journal response.
Students who are struggling to complete three sentences may draw a picture or verbally
explain their thoughts on what they have learned about Columbus.
Extension: Watch the video: Mel-O-Toons: Christopher Columbus.
Day 5
SS SOLS: 1.3
Objectives: Students will display their knowledge of Columbus by
highlighting important information and by drawing pictures that depict their
learning.
Blooms: Application
Materials:
Students mind notebooks
SS SOL 1.3 summary card
Picture of Christopher Columbus
Glue
Highlighters
Pencils
Crayons, coloring pencils, etc.
Procedures:
1. Have students get out their mind notebooks, turn to the next clean two pages, and write
the date at the top. The students will number these pages and add Columbus Day to the
table of contents.
2. Students will glue the SS SOL 1.3 summary card on the right page.
3. As a class, we will highlight and discuss important information from this SOL. (We will
only work with paragraph 2.)
4. On the left page, the students will draw a line to divide the page in half. On the bottom
half, the students will glue a picture of Christopher Columbus and draw a picture that
depicts something they learned about him.
5. The students will show and explain their work before turning their notebooks in.
Assessment: The students drawings will serve as an assessment piece.
Differentiation: Students will be able to explain their drawings and/or
words.
Extension: Read a Columbus picture book.

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If there is time:
Sink or float
http://lessonplanspage.com/sciencesinkfloatk1-htm/

Rhyming poem during reading groups

http://lessonplanspage.com/lasscolumbusdayrhymingin1492poemk1-

htm/
Childrens Literature:
Christopher Columbus by Stephen Krensky
Where Do You Think Youre Going, Christopher Columbus? by Jean Fritz
A Picture Book of Christopher Columbus by David Adler
You Wouldnt Want to Sail with Christopher Columbus by Macdonald
Young Christopher Columbus: Discoverer of New Worlds by Carpenter
Three Ships for Columbus by Spencer