Kathryn Cates

Every year on student evaluations many students point to The People vs. Columbus role play as one of their favorite projects. After the trial, it is clear that students’ sense of this history is completely changed. Students often question why we celebrate Columbus Day and why he is seen as a hero. Throughout the year, as we move through U.S. history, students come back to the trial and talk about what happened and what they learned in relation to the Constitution, slavery, and manifest destiny.