Primary Source Analysis, Christopher Columbus: A Deeper Dive

Stop lecturing about history and help your students engage with it! They will use the highest levels of thinking in this challenging but engaging activity as they dive a little deeper into the truth behind Columbus's explorations.

This is a primary source analysis where students will use nine documents to determine if Christopher Columbus was a pioneer or a tyrant. These engaging documents include primary and secondary sources about the explorer. Students will analyze paintings, illustrations, letters, journal entries, reports, and news articles that share a variety of opinions about Columbus and who he was. Each document is fairly short, the longest being a page, and so are very manageable for students. Depending on the length of your class periods, this activity could take up to two days.

I have multiple primary source sets in my shop modeled exactly the same way so if you have had success with my Aztec/Cortes (https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Aztec-Primary-Source-Analysis-3375476) , Squanto/Plymouth (https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Squanto-Wrath-of-God-or-gift-from-God-4137740), or Captain Preston/Boston Massacre (https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Captain-Preston-Guilty-or-Innocent-Primary-Source-Analysis-4342511) resource, this set is designed the same way and will help your students continue to build on those skills as the year progresses. If this set works well for you, consider continuing to develop these skills with your students by purchasing another set. Check back regularly to see if I have added more!

A PowerPoint is included to help you be successful as well as a packet for you that includes a key and tips in order to simplify your lesson planning and help you make the most out of this teaching tool in the least amount of time. Please let me know if you have any questions or would like to see a sample: applepieresources@gmail.com