I can’t believe Columbus Day is already next week. Although, I am excited to have a three-day weekend! Returning after a long weekend can makes for the Mondayest Tuesday ever. This year, I wanted to find some new activities to honor Christopher Columbus. I really hit the jackpot with all of these FREE activities.
To kick off the day, I will read In 1492 by Jean Marzollo. Click HERE to order it on Amazon. If you don’t have time to order the book and it is unavailable in your school’s library, click HERE for a read aloud video on YouTube. It provides some background knowledge for students as they complete Columbus Day activities.
For morning work, I had students complete THIS Christopher Columbus word building activity by Learning with a Smile. Students use the letters in “Christopher Columbus” to form as many words as possible, such as shore.
I always try to plan a buddy activity with a younger classroom after having a Monday off. It breaks up the day and we can celebrate the holiday together. We are partnering up with our first grade buddy class to read and write about Christopher Columbus. I created a collection of Columbus Day books on Epic! which I shared with my students. Epic! is an amazing online library that is the Netflix of books for children. The students will pick one book to read aloud to their partner. Then, each partnership will complete THIS “If I Discovered America” writing craftivity from Wild About Firsties.
During math, students will complete the 1492 math challenge and Christopher Columbus math riddle created by Adventures in Teaching. Click HERE for these math activities and additional literacy tasks.
Students will complete THIS Columbus Day Webquest from Mrs. Tech. It has QR Codes for students to scan to learn more about Christopher Columbus. The websites will provide them with the research needed to answer the questions on the worksheet.
Map skills will be reviewed during social studies with THIS Columbus Day Map Skills freebie from Creatively Crazy with Learning. It reviews cardinal directions, compass rose, intermediate directions, using a letter/grid system, and symbols.
Here are some other FREE Columbus Day activities to check out.
Columbus Day No Prep Printables by Sheila Melton
Activities include:
- ABC Order
- Label the Picture
- Graphic Organizer
- Christopher Columbus Was/Had/Wanted
- Build the Sentence
- “If I were an explorer…” writing prompt
Columbus Day Interactive Pop Up Book by Coffman’s Creative Classroom
- Ideas of introducing the topic
- Links to videos and a Nearpod presentation
- Tic-Tac-Toe Board of presentation ideas
Students learn more about Christopher Columbus as they read and complete this interactive mini-book.
Paper Boat Races
Use paper to create your own Nina and Pinta and then hold boat races to see whose boat is the fastest.
Spy Glass Telescope from Busy Bee Kids Crafts
Have students channel their inner explorer by creating a spy glass telescope.
Columbus Day Printable Worksheets from ABC Teach
In case you need any extra fillers, ABC Teach has some free printable worksheets including a word search and crossword puzzle.
What do you do in your classroom to honor Christopher Columbus?
