Grace Struiksma

When I used The People vs. Columbus last year, the students were absolutely energized! The students had a great desire to prepare strong, convincing arguments as we put Columbus on trial. Every student in the class was engaged, which really says something about the strength of the lesson! Even the more quiet and shy students were able to take part and enjoy becoming involved. Students commented that they had never thought of Columbus and his exploration from the various perspectives before participating in this lesson activity. Many students also commented how much fun it was, and that they wanted to do something like this again in the future. I appreciate how this lesson enabled the students to develop communication, collaboration and critical thinking skills, which are essential in today’s world. I teach in an International Baccalaureate School, and examining events and ideas from multiple perspectives is the key to understanding other cultures and becoming internationally-minded. Thank you so much for sharing engaging activities and lesson plans for students.