Christopher Columbus
What was Christopher Columbus?
A fantastic animation to introduce your class to Christopher Columbus.
It explores his journey into the unknown, the ships he got from the King of Spain and discovering new lands.
It also explore the impact the discoveries had and how some people view him as a hero and others say his discoveries caused misery – a good discussion activity.
Four Voyages - Animation
An animation of Christopher Columbus life and voyages. This video will answer various questions:
What are the 4 voyages of Columbus?
Where did Christopher Columbus go on his four voyages?
How many miles did Christopher Columbus Travel?
Where did Christopher Columbus go on his second voyage?
What is Columbus’s Nationality?
and many more
Differentiated Comprehension
A comprehension relating to Christopher Columbus. It explores who Columbus was, when he lived and the common misconception of ‘Discovering America’.
Santa Maria
An interactive image showing the Santa Maria and introduces your class to bitesize chunks of information regarding the Italian navigator.
Comprehension
This is a comprehension worksheet about the history of Columbus Day that in celebrated in America.
Note: Look out for the American spelling of Organised.
Columbus Day, which is on the second Monday of October, remembers Christopher Columbus’ arrival to the Americas on October 12, 1492. This holiday is controversial because the European settlement in the Americas led to the demise of the history and culture of the indigenous peoples.
Voyages Map
This is a map highlighting the journeys of Christopher Columbus. In 1492, he sailed from Europe to America. He and his sailors crossed the Atlantic Ocean, not knowing where they would land. It was a voyage into the unknown.
Activity
A fantastic interactive resource that encourages your class to place the events into order and learn some more facts.
Timeline and Information
A super bank of information that explores everything your children need to know about Columbus on chronological order. The resource could be used as a referral point for the children to pick information from.
More Information
What did Columbus want to do?
In the 15th and 16th centuries, the Europeans wanted to find sea routes to the East. Columbus wanted to find a new route to the Far East, to India, China, Japan and the Spice Islands. If he could reach these lands, he would be able to bring back rich cargoes of silks and spices. Columbus knew that the world was round and realised that by sailing west, instead of east around the coast of Africa, as other explorers at the time were doing, he would still reach the East and the rich Spice Islands.
Click the image to read more.
Video - Did Columbus Discover America?
Columbus is well-known for ‘discovering’ America. This video explores the truth…
The explorer Christopher Columbus made four trips across the Atlantic Ocean from Spain: in 1492, 1493, 1498 and 1502. He was determined to find a direct water route west from Europe to Asia, but he never did. Instead, he accidentally stumbled upon the Americas. Though he did not really “discover” the New World–millions of people already lived there–his journeys marked the beginning of centuries of trans-Atlantic conquest and colonization.