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Columbus Day
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Columbus Day
1492 Letter
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Columbus Day
Activities
Table of Contents

Puzzles

Coloring

Analogies

Alliteration

Onomatopoeia

Columbus Day
Hard Tack

Library Hunt

People

Vocabulary/Places

Research/Discussion

Re-enactments

Word Power






Columbus Day
a riddle wrapped in a mystery inside an enigma
(paraphrase of Winston Churchill's comment on Columbus)

 

 

 

Puzzles

   Columbus Day Younger Students Word Search PDF File
   Columbus Day Older Students Word Search PDF File
   Columbus Day Younger Students Maze PDF File
   Columbus Day Older Students Maze PDF File

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Coloring Pages

 
Color PDF File Print it !
Color PDF File Print it !
Color PDF File Print it !
Color PDF File Print it !

 

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Columbus Day Analogies

Complete the following analogies.  For analogy help, click here.


Pilgrim is to Thanksgiving as Columbus is to .

1776 is to Independence Day as 1492 is to .

Mayflower is to Pilgrim as Santa Maria is to .

George III is to Founding Fathers as Isabella is to .

Seek is to find as hunt is to .

Give up is to persistence as cowardice is to .

Constancy is to loyalty as steadfast is to .

Explorer is to expedition as sailer is to .

Betrayal is to treason as criminal is to .

Write is to diary as journal is to .

Ferdinand is to king as Isabella is to .

Isabella is to Spain as Columbus is to .

Briney is to salt water as lake is to .

 

Click here for Columbus Day Analogy Answers

 

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Columbus Day Alliteration

Alliteration is a lot of fun and great for long car rides.  For alliteration help, click here.

Example:
Kindly careful crafty Christopher Columbus carried cajoling caretakers.
The peaceful penitent peppery Piñta passengers paraded pretty parrots.

Do your own Columbus Day Alliteration for Isabella, Ferdinand, navigator, explorer, traveller, courage, persistent


Hint:

If you have difficulty creating alliteration phrases, try the formula below ...

______

______

______

______

______

______

______

Adjective

Adjective

Adjective

Noun

Verb

Adjective
/ Adverb

Noun

 

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Columbus Onomatopoeia Activities

Remember:  Onomatopoeia = Words that imitate sounds or sounds that are linked with objects. In short, literary sound effects.
(from Greek = name-making)

Pronounced:  on-o-mat-o-PEE-a

Quick ... what sound ...

What sound do you hear on when waves hit the shore?
What sound is heard when seagulls fly around a ship?
What sound do you hear when sailors are chuckling at a joke?
What sound is heard when the wind hits a ship's sails?

Columbus Day Analogy Answers
Pilgrim is to Thanksgiving as Columbus is to
Columbus Day; 1776 is to Independence Day as 1492 is to Columbus Day; Mayflower is to Pilgrim as Santa Maria is to Columbus; George III is to Founding Fathers as Isabella is to Christopher Columbus; Seek is to find as hunt is to locate; Give up is to persistence as cowardice is to courage; Constancy is to loyalty as steadfast is to trustworthy; Explorer is to expedition as sailor is to sail; Betrayal is to treason as criminal is to mutiny; Write is to diary as journal is to ship's log; Ferdinand to king as Isabella is to queen; Isabella is to Spain as Columbus is to New World; Briney is to salt water as lake is to fresh water.

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Columbus Day Make Hardtack!

This is similar to what they may have eaten on board one of Columbus' ships. We know that these ingrediants were available on board and that hardtack was standard fare at sea.

Ship's Biscuit

Makes about 16 3-inch round biscuits

About 3 cups flour, 1 Tablespoon salt, 1 cup water

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. In a 2-quart bowl, mix three cups flour and the salt. Add water and stir until it becomes too difficult to continue. Knead dough in bowl with hand, adding more flour to make it very dry.

Press, pull and roll out the dough until it is 1/2 inch thick. Cut out biscuits with a 3 in. round cutter. Holding each biscuit in hand, punch 16 holes through it with an 8 penny nail being careful not to hurt yourself. Place biscuits on an ungreased baking sheet and bake 30 minutes until crisp, dry, and lightly browned. Cool before storing in a closed container.

 

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Library Scavenger Hunt (Keep a log on your Scavenger Hunt like Columbus!)

1. Explore the differences and similarities in ships and sailing techniques used in the 1400s and 1500s.
2. What tools were used in navigation?
3. What was life like on a ship if you were a captain? sailor?
4. What would you eat on ship if you were a captain? sailor?
5. How were sails made? How did the sailors repair damage to sails during a voyage?

 

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People to Learn About when studying Christopher Columbus
1. Marco Polo
2. King Ferdinand (A different twist to learn about this man is to watch the first video in the BBC's The Six Wives of Henry VIII series. Serious questions arise as to the character of Ferdinand when watching the video on Catherine of Aragon)
3. Queen Isabella
4. Pinzon Brothers
5. Amerigo Vespucci

 

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Vocabulary & Places
mariner
navigation
dead reckoning
Atlantic Ocean
Spain
Palos (Spain)
Canary Islands
Bahamas
The Indies (area of eastern Asia -- China, Japan, India and Myanmar --- Myanmar was formerly called Burma)
Cipangu (the name for Japan during the time of Columbus)
Cathay (the name for China during the time of Columbus)
Quinsay (a great city in China now called Hangzhou)

*Navigational Glossary (fun way to learn new ship board terms!)

 

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Research/Discussion Questions

1) What were Columbus' primary and secondary reasons to explore? (Hint: there are two primary reasons from a Christian worldview) Why were Europeans trying to find a water route to China?
2) Was Columbus the first European to "discover" America? Why did God allow Columbus' discovery to have such an impact on the world and not that of other discoverers?
3) What would you need to do to prepare for a sea expedition during the time of Columbus?
4) Name Columbus' three ships. What kind of ships were they?
5) What problems did Columbus' have in preparing for this expedition?
6) We are not really sure where Columbus actually landed. However, many have guessed a particular place. What is the name of this place today? Locate it on a map.
7) What was the first thing Columbus did when he stepped on shore?
8) How did the Spaniards and Indians treat gold?
9) How did Spain initially treat Columbus on his return?
10) What happened to the 39 Spaniards left in the New World?
11) How many voyages did Columbus take to the New World?

 

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Costuming for Re-enactments in the Homeschool

mid-15th Century and late 15th Century For those that are skilled, you may be able to make such costumes for your home scholars. However, for those that do not quite understand the mysteries of a needle and thread, check out yard sales to find those treasures that would work for costuming

 

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Columbus Day Word Power (Anagrams)

 

 

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Request:  Does anybody have any special activites (craft, academic, or otherwise) for Columbus Day?
If so, e-mail us your ideas by clicking

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