In my 8th grade history class, it is not an exaggeration to say during the People vs. Columbus activity is the most engaged my students are all year. Real, conceptual learning and content retention happens during the block.
Related Resources
The People vs. Columbus, et al.
Teaching Activity. By Bill Bigelow with contributions from members of the Taíno Community. Rethinking Schools. 13 pages.
A trial role play asks students to determine who is responsible for the death of millions of Taínos on the island of Hispaniola in the late 15th century.
‘The People vs. Columbus’ Trial Featured on BackStory
The Rethinking Schools role play The People vs. Columbus et al. was featured on the Back Story Radio show 1492: Columbus in Memory. The producers visited the class of U.S. history teacher Julian Hipkins in Washington, D.C. as part of their show to examine the way Columbus’s representation has changed throughout the years. You can… Read more »
Abolish Columbus Day
Did you see the good news out of Seattle this past week? First the school board, then the city council, voted to replace Columbus Day with Indigenous Peoples’ Day. It’s a sign that more and more people want to learn—and teach—the truth about our history.
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