Columbus Day brings up a lot of hard questions in my 7th grade social studies classes. The People vs. Columbus lesson provides an avenue to open that conversation up with students.
Related Resources
Teaching Activities (Free)
The People vs. Columbus, et al.
Teaching Activity. By Bill Bigelow with contributions from members of the Taíno Community. Rethinking Schools. 13 pages.
A trial role play asks students to determine who is responsible for the death of millions of Taínos on the island of Hispaniola in the late 15th century.
Articles
Christopher Columbus: No Monuments for Murderers
Article. By Bill Bigelow. If We Knew Our History series.
As the debate about taking down statues and monuments grows, we also need to challenge the fundamental structures of ownership, power, and privilege that have given us such a skewed constellation of heroes and holidays.
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