It is important to confront the history of Columbus and the devastating impact his conquests had on the Indigenous Peoples of the Caribbean. With this in mind, introduce students to both the positive effects of the Columbian exchange as well as the negative. Teachers can use primary source accounts (such as the writings of Bartolome de Las Casas, a Spanish priest on Columbus’ journeys, and Columbus’ own diary). History should be studied from different perspectives to produce an accurate account of events that occurred and their impact today. This will help students develop important critical thinking skills.
In this activity, students will create a poster that describes the life and accomplishments of Christopher Columbus and includes the impact he had on the Indigenous peoples of the Caribbean. They should be encouraged to focus more on the latter half of his life and his interactions in the Caribbean rather than his early life.
You can find more poster templates to add to the assignment so students can have a variety to choose from, or they can start from scratch with the poster layout.
(These instructions are completely customizable. After clicking "Copy Activity", update the instructions on the Edit Tab of the assignment.)
Due Date:
Objective: Research the life ofColumbus and his impact on the Caribbean people. Create a poster to show what you've learned.
Student Instructions:
Requirements: Include name, birth and death dates, impact on society, and any other information you think is important.