Christopher Columbus. The Highlights of Homeschooling History Literature Unit Study. Sample file

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1 The Highlights of Homeschooling History Literature Unit Study Christopher Columbus Created by Teresa Ives Lilly Sold by

2 INTRODUCTION This history/literature study guide is created to use in three week sessions. Each unit contains a historical story, a daily journal question and one other daily activity. These activities are: Bible Verse Activities Vocabulary Skills Interpretation Skills Sequencing Poetry Skills Drawing Craft Activity Map Skills Comprehension Skills Cause and Effect Skills Encyclopedia Skills Creative Writing Science Activity Report Writing We suggest the student read the story in it s completion before beginning the study guide. One skill area a day will allow the unit to be completed in three weeks. Your children can learn History and Literature skills at the same time. Look ahead, because you may need to collect some items for the Science or Art projects.

3 The Most Famous Voyage All I needed was the rulers of Spain to finance this trip, Christoper Columbus remembered as he prepared the three large ships, The Nina, The Pinta and The Santa Maria, for their journey. Queen Isabella and King Ferdinand have finally agreed to help me, he smiled as he watched the ships being loaded with supplies. It was August 3, I m sure I can find a new and faster route from Spain to the far East by traveling west, Columbus promised the royal couple. I will bring back gold, jewels, spices and many other wonders! You may sail right off the edge of the world, people told him because they still thought that the world was flat, but Columbus knew that the world was round. He never thought that there would be any other land or continents between Spain and the Far East. He didn t know about North America or South America as we call them today. Columbus planned on keeping a log of events for the Royal family. In addition it was his desire to make new navigational charts of the sea and the land. Columbus had waited many years for the Queen and King to give him the money for the voyage. He never gave up hope though. He spent his time studying maps, charts and any navigational papers he could find. Unlike many others who were afraid of the unknown ocean, Columbus was anxious to see what was beyond the horizon. He wasn t frightened of the tales people told of great sea monsters that ate ships.

4 When he finally had the money Columbus gathered his crew and began to get the three ships ready for the journey. The men had agreed to go on the journey, but many of them were afraid. The trip won t take long, he promised the crew. He never expected just leaving land would be so difficult and take so much time. The Pinta had to be repaired before the true adventure could even begin. The men were frightened about the journey and seeing a volcano erupt on the island of Tenerife, where the repairs to the Pinta were being made, terrified the men. Could this be an omen? the men asked. Columbus assured the men that he had seen a volcano before and they shouldn t be afraid. Finally, on September 6, 1492, the real quest began. All the men became more frightened as soon as they couldn t see land anymore. I ve read everything I can about Geography, History and Travel. I ve studied the stars. I know we are headed in the right direction, he told the crew. Even when they all cringed in fear at seeing still another amazing natural sight ( a meteorite ) on September 15, Columbus still sailed on. Columbus was not very frightened because along the way there were always signs of land nearby. The men saw porpoises, a dove and a whole blanket of weeds floating on the oceans surface. These all indicated land. As the sea calmed, Columbus was sure that land could not be far off. Even then, the men continued to be afraid. As the sandglass was turned over and over again, the men became restless. By September 24, the men began to think about mutiny. Only God can help us now, Columbus wrote.

5 Columbus remembered how he had promised the Queen to go to the land of India and determine what needed to be done there to convert the people of India to Christianity. God will have to protect me, Columbus decided. Finally, on September 25, when the men were just about to turn against Columbus, Martin, the Captain of the Pinta, thought he spotted land. Unfortunately though, this was only his imagination. So the journey continued on. No one trusted their own eyes anymore. It seemed like land was always just miles away. When they thought they saw land, it always proved to be clouds on the horizon. Finally, on October 11,1492, Columbus was sure that the signs indicated land was near. I can see a light in the distance, Columbus said to himself during the evening as he looked towards the west. Is this a sign from God? he asked, or just my own imagination? Soon the land sighting was confirmed when the Pinta fired it s cannon at 2 o clock in the morning. They too had seen the land. Everyone was excited. When they reached land, Columbus named it San Salvador. He prayed with the men to thank God for their safety. The people in San Salvador rowed boats out to the ship. The crew had never seen men like these before. I will call them Indians, Columbus said, since this must be India. Columbus was sure that he had reached the islands of the Indies close to China. He had really found what we know today as the Bahamas.

6 Columbus and his crew stayed for some time with the people of San Salvador. Then he remembered that he had promised to take gold to the Queen. He had not found gold on this island, so Columbus and his ships set sail again. They had many adventures, and did find many precious and unique things on other islands. Finally, on March 15, 1493, Columbus returned to Spain. He had many splendid things to show the King and Queen. Sadly though, he had even forced some of the Indians to return with him. The King and Queen were happy to see Columbus return. On March 18, 1493, they gave him great honors. Columbus did not understand that he had not really found the Indies. He did not know that what he had found was the island near the great continents. Columbus did return to the Americas later in life. When we remember Columbus today we remember the doors he opened for many explorers and other people who would follow. Fear of falling off the side of the world, was replaced by curiosity and thirst to find new lands. Columbus continued to give all the glory and honor of his journeys to the one and only true God!

7 Daily Journal Questions Here are journal questions for each day. Write the answers on another paper or in a journal book. 1. If you could go on a boat trip, where would you go and why? 2. If you had been on the Nina, Pinta or Santa Maria, what would you have liked to have seen and why? 3. Do you think you would have liked to have been a sailor working for Columbus and why? 4. Knowing yourself, would you have turned against Captain Columbus? 5. Do you see yourself as a great adventurer and why? 6. Tell about a trip you went on once when something unexpected happened. 7. Is there something you have studied, you would like to know more about when you are older? 8. Would you rather travel in the United States or go to other countries, and why? 9. Have you ever been in a situation when others did not agree with you? What did you do? 10. If you had been one of the crew who reached San Salvador, would you have wanted to stay or return to Spain? 11. What is the most unique thing you have ever seen? ( meteorite? Volcano) Tell about it. 12. Would you have taken one of the Indians back to Spain with you to show the King? Why? 13. Do you think there were any other Christians with Columbus? 14. What do you think was the most important thing Columbus found? 15. What should Columbus have done after returning to Spain?

8 Bible Verse Activity Columbus believed he was going to find India to help convert the people there to Christianity. How does this desire reflect the command given in the New Testament? Go into all the world and preach the Good News to all creation... Mark 16:15 Copy the Bible verse here in your best handwriting. Find other verses in the Bible that tell us to tell others about God. Write them here.

9 Vocabulary voyage log royal volcano sail sandglass meteorite horizon Indian continent route convert Write each word and it s definition:

10 Word Search V E R O U T E H E E N O G M N S L O A T A R L A Q A A R J I I Y S C Y D C I C R D L L O A O R Z L O N O R S C N V O H E I G X T U W O N D T S S A L G D N A S E C O N T I N E N T M J K D T R E V N O C CONTINENT CONVERT HORIZON INDIAN LOG METEORITE ROUTE ROYAL SAIL SANDGLASS VOLCANO VOYAGE