Everyone:
"IN 1492"
In fourteen hundred ninety-two
Columbus sailed the ocean blue.
He had three ships and left from Spain;
He sailed through sunshine, wind and rain.
He sailed by night; he sailed by day;
He used the stars to find his way.
A compass also helped him know
How to find the way to go.
Ninety sailors were on board;
Some men worked while others snored.
Then the workers went to sleep;
And others watched the ocean deep.
Day after day they looked for land;
They dreamed of trees and rocks and sand.
October 12 their dream came true,
You never saw a happier crew!
"Indians! Indians!" Columbus cried;
His heart was filled with joyful pride.
But "India" the land was not;
It was the Bahamas, and it was hot.
The Arakawa natives were very nice;
They gave the sailors food and spice.
Columbus sailed on to find some gold
To bring back home, as he'd been told.
He made the trip again and again,
Trading gold to bring to Spain.
The first American? No, not quite.
But Columbus was brave, and he was bright.
In fourteen hundred ninety-two
Columbus sailed the ocean blue.
He had three ships and left from Spain;
He sailed through sunshine, wind and rain.
He sailed by night; he sailed by day;
He used the stars to find his way.
A compass also helped him know
How to find the way to go.
Ninety sailors were on board;
Some men worked while others snored.
Then the workers went to sleep;
And others watched the ocean deep.
Day after day they looked for land;
They dreamed of trees and rocks and sand.
October 12 their dream came true,
You never saw a happier crew!
"Indians! Indians!" Columbus cried;
His heart was filled with joyful pride.
But "India" the land was not;
It was the Bahamas, and it was hot.
The Arakawa natives were very nice;
They gave the sailors food and spice.
Columbus sailed on to find some gold
To bring back home, as he'd been told.
He made the trip again and again,
Trading gold to bring to Spain.
The first American? No, not quite.
But Columbus was brave, and he was bright.
Columbus Day, a day that, believe it or not, is steeped in controversy. From kids making floats that resemble the boats Columbus took from Spain to America. Is it a day that we should celebrate? It might depend on who "we" are. If we are celebrating as Americans, celebrating today as the discovery of America, then it holds a different connotation that if celebrate as members of a global society and world economy, and look at today as the beginning of what we see the world as today. Before the "discovery" everything from cuisine to the economy to world demographics were different.
Try to avoid the "all or nothing" approach to history. Columbus had his personal flaws, just like you and me. We weren't there to see how he acted. We will never get to hear him speak to his crew about the natives, or their ways of life. Columbus deserves at least some credit, I'm just not sure what exactly it is.
Modern World History
Quick-write:
- What's going on in this picture?
- What do you see that makes you say that?
- What more can you find?
- (Picture to come soon)
Objectives:
- Revisit the daily structure of the class.
- Analyze the creation of the holiday of Columbus Day in the United States of America.
- Reflect on your term-1 performance in this class.
AP World History
Quick-write:
- What's going on in this picture?
- What do you see that makes you say that?
- What more can you find?
- (Picture to come soon)
Objectives:
- Revisit the daily structure of the class.
- Analyze the creation of the holiday of Columbus Day in the United States of America.
- Reflect on your term-1 performance in this class.
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