WebQuest

What's the Controversy
about Christopher Columbus?
A WebQuest for Elementary Social Studies Methods
Designed by Barbara B. Levin
Barbara_Levin@uncg.edu

Introduction

Your principal has asked that your grade level team prepare a presentation for the next PTA meeting on the controversy about the celebration of Columbus Day. You will only have a brief time to research this controversy because the meeting is scheduled for later this afternoon!

The Task

Your team will need to find information about the issues and various perspectives surrounding this controversy. Everyone needs to understand the pros and cons of the controversy in order to decide what and how to teach about Christopher Columbus at your grade level. The PTA will decide if you can teach about Columbus in October based on the information you gather and present. In order to make a good presentation you will need to analyze and decide what your students should understand about Christopher Columbus and the controversy surrounding him.

Your presentation to the PTA can take any one of the following formats:

A PowerPoint presentation
A role play to present various sides of the controversy
A Venn diagram or another graphic organizer
A mock trial of Columbus
???

The Process

First, you will need to brainstorm with your grade level team what you think the Columbus Controversy is all about. What do you already know about it? Perhaps you might like to print out a KWL chart to use or develop a concept map to help you begin your quest.

Second, you will want to divide up the resources listed below and work in pairs to find out everything you can about the Columbus Controversy. You might want to print out and use a Venn diagram or some other type of graphic organizer to keep track of the information you find.

Third, at a designated time you will need to get back together with your grade level group to share your search results and discuss your findings about the issues and various perspectives you learned about surrounding Christopher Columbus and the celebration of Columbus Day.

Fourth, you will need to decide what information is important to share in your presentation to the PTA and then select a method for your presentation. You must be sure to present both sides of the controversy, and everyone in the group must have a role in your presentation.

Fifth, as part of your presentation you will also need to make specific recommendations about what students in your grade level should learn about Columbus and the controversy surrounding him.

Finally, everyone in your group will need to print out and complete an Individual Analysis of what they learned from participating in this WebQuest. Each person should also use the Evaluation Rubric to assess their performance on this project.

WWW Resources

WHAT DO YOU KNOW ABOUT COLUMBUS?

1. Here is a timeline to study. Be sure to click on at least 2-3 of the voayges ot read more.
http://www.columbusnavigation.com/cctl.shtml
or
http://www.mariner.org/educationalad/ageofex/columbus.php

2. Christopher Columbus by Thomas C. Tirado
Everyone should skim this long article for background on Columbus and his voyages
http://muweb.millersville.edu/~columbus/columbus.html

3. Christopher Columbus and the Spanish Empire from Univ. of Calgary
http://www.acs.ucalgary.ca/applied_history/tutor/eurvoya/columbus.html

4. Encyclopedia article from Encarta abot Columbus. Be sure to click on at least 2-3 of the voayges ot read more.
http://encarta.msn.com/encyclopedia_761568472/Columbus_Christopher.html

THE CONTROVERSY:

1. Thirty Million...and Counting by Ignacio Gonzalez
Everyone should read this first as an introduction to the Columbus Controversy http://www.azteca.net/aztec/literat/Columbus.html

2. Columbus and the Destruction of Native Peoples by Keith Pickering
Everyone should read this for another perspective to the Columbus Controversy
http://www.columbusnavigation.com/destruct.shtml

MYTHS ABOUT COLUMBUS

1. Myths about Columbus by Joseph M. Laufer
http://muweb.millersville.edu/~columbus/data/art/LAUFER02.ART

2. Christopher Columbus: Man and myth
http://www.ibiblio.org/expo/1492.exhibit/c-Columbus/columbus.html

PRIMARY SOURCES (translated): Read at least one of these primary source documents.

1. Christopher Columbus: Extracts from Journal
(Read at least the October entries)
http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/source/columbus1.html

2. The Columbus letter translation
http://www.usm.maine.edu/~maps/columbus/translation.html

3. 1494 Letter to the King and Queen of Spain
http://odur.let.rug.nl/~usa/D/1400-1500/columbus/brf94.htm

4. Privileges & Perogatives Granted to Columbus in 1492 by the King & Queen of Spain
http://www.yale.edu/lawweb/avalon/colum.htm

MORE ABOUT CHRISTOPHER COLUMBUS

Links to much more Information about Columbus
http://www.columbusnavigation.com/

Evaluation

**Evaluation Rubric: Use this rubric to do your self-evaluation**
	1 Beginning	2 Developing	3 Accomplished	4 Exemplary
Use of Research	Accessed some of the web resources	Accessed most of the web resources	Accessed all of the web resources	Accessed all of the web resources and located and used additional resources
Validity of Information	Most of issues surrounding Columbus Controversy uncovered but not all portrayed accurately	Most of issues surrounding Columbus Controversy uncovered and most portrayed accurately	All issues surrounding Columbus Controversy uncovered and all portrayed accurately	All issues surrounding Columbus Controversy portrayed in detail showing a deep of understanding
Presentation	Most of the group members participated. Position could not be understood clearly. Few comments were correct or not all connected to the Columbus Controversy.	All of the group members participated. Position could be understood, although not stated at the opening. Most comments were correct and connected to the Columbus Controversy.	All of the group members participated equally. Opening statement very clearly stated position. All comments were corrent and all connected to the Columbus Controversy.	All of the group members participated equally and supported each other. Opening statement clearly stated position in a thought-provoking and/or interesting manner. All comments were corrent, intriguing, and all connected to the Columbus Controversy.
Group Work	Group members worked alone. Time allotment was used poorly. Group lacked organization and strategy use was absent.	Group members worked together most of the time. Time allotment was used adequately. Organization and strategy use was uneven.	Group members worked together throughout the project. Time allotment was used to good advantage. Organization and strategy use evident in presentation.	Group very cohesive and supportive. Time used effectively. Organization and strategy use evident during research process and project presentation.

Conclusion: You have probably learned a lot about the controversy surrounding Christopher Columbus as a result of your research and presentation - maybe more than you ever wanted to know! Whatever you think your students should know about this controversy is up to your professional judgment but at least you are making an educated and informed decision. If you would like to have your students try a WebQuest or find some age appropriate materials about Columbus, then explore these links:

WEBQUESTS for Students:

Dr. Alice Christie's Matrix of WebQuests - Written by her Students:
http://www.west.asu.edu/achristie/wqmatrix.html

Click on "Find WebQuests" to search for good examples of Webquests. Is there one about Columbus for children?
http://webquest.org

A ThinkQuest about Columbus:
http://library.thinkquest.org/5150/html/homep.html

MATERIALS for children:

Materials to aid stidying about Columbus for Children:
http://www.enchantedlearning.com/explorers/page/c/columbus.shtml

What Columbus and his crew probably ate on their voyages:
http://www.castellobanfi.com/features/story_3.html

References & Credits

For good children's literature about Christopher Columbus, try these titles:

For ages 4-8 year olds:
A Picture Book of Christopher Columbus by David Adler
Columbus Day by Vicki Liestman and Rick Hanson (Illustrator)
Follow the Dream by Peter Sis

For 9-12 year olds:
If You Were There in 1492 by Barbara Brenner
Pedro's Journal: A Voyage with Christopher Columbus
by Pam Conrad and Peter Koeppen (Illustrator)
Where do you think you're going, Christopher Columbus?
by Jean Fritz and Margot Tomes (Illustrator)
Encounter by Jane Yolen and David Shannon (Illustrator)

CREDITS:

All graphics are compliments of Microsoft Clip Gallery Live:
http://cgl.microsoft.com/clipgallerylive/default.asp

The format for this Webquest is compliments of The WebQuest Page maintained by Bernie Dodge at San Diego State University:
http://webquest.sdsu.edu/webquest.html

The Many Faces of Christopher Columbus graphic and an explanation are from:
http://commfaculty.fullerton.edu/lester/writings/admiral.html

Last updated on May 28.2006. Based on a template from The WebQuest Page