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Thematic Units…Thematic Units…
from The MAILBOX® magazine
It’s a New World,It’s a New World, WhatbetterwaytoteachstudentsaboutChristopherCo-lumbusthantotransportthembackintimeto1492?Andthisfact-filledclassplaywilldojustthat!Onthefollowingpagesyou’llfindbackgroundinformation,suggestionsforeasy-to-makepropsandinvi-tations,andaninstructionalraplikescriptwithplentyofkidappeal—justwhatyouneedtocreateashowstoppingsocial-studiesproduction.
idea contributed by Michele Morin
Seaworthy LiteratureA Picture Book of
Christopher Columbus WrittenbyDavidA.Adler
IllustratedbyJohnandAlexandraWallnerHolidayHouse,Inc.;1992
Christopher ColumbusWrittenbyStephenKrenskyIllustratedbyNormanGreen
RandomHouseBooksforYoungReaders,1991
In 1492WrittenbyJeanMarzollo
IllustratedbySteveBjörkmanScholasticInc.,1994
Background Information
A Famous Voyage OnAugust3,1492,ColumbussetsailfortheIndieswithabout90crewmembersandthreeships—theNiña, Pinta,andSanta María(whichhecap-tained).Columbus’sfewnavigationaltoolsincludedaquadrantfordeterminingtheship’sposition,acompassforplottingtheship’scourse,andahalf-hourglassformeasuringtime.Afteraboutamonthatsea,thecrewgrewanxiousandbegandoubtingColumbus’splan.Then,onOctober12—morethantenweekssincetheysetsail—theshipslandedonaCaribbeanislandthatColumbusnamedSan Salvador.ColumbusnamedtheislandersIndiansbe-causehethoughthe’dreachedtheIndies.Columbusandhiscrewtradedbellsandbeadsfortheislanders’parrotsandcotton.
Homecoming Afteradifficultvoyagehome,Co-lumbuswasgreetedinSpainwithahero’swelcome.HewasnamedtheAdmiraloftheOceanSea.ItwasnotuntilyearslaterthatpeoplerealizedColumbusdidnotreachtheIndies.
The Plan Intheearly1480s,thePortuguesewereanxioustodiscoveraquickroutetotheIndies(nowIndia,China,Japan,andtheEastIndies)wheregold,silk,gems,andspiceshadbeendiscovered.Columbusthoughtthatheknewsucharoute.HepresentedhisplantothekingofPortugal,buttheplanwasrejectedbecauseitwasbelievedthelengthofthejourneyhadbeenunderestimated.AboutthreeyearslaterColumbuspresentedhisplantoKingFerdinandandQueenIsabellaofSpain,whowereatthattimeunabletofinancesuchanex-pedition.OverthenextseveralyearsColumbus’splanwasconsideredandre-jectedinSpain,England,andFrance.Then,in1492,afteralmosttenyearsofwaiting,Columbus’splansuddenlyreceivedroyalapprovalinSpain.
Early Years ChristopherColumbuswasborninItaly.Beingtheoldestoffivechildren,itwasexpectedthathewouldgrowuptobeawoolweaverlikehisfather.ButChristopherdreamedofsailingtofarawayplaces.Christopher’sfirstdocument-edvoyagewasinthemid-1470saboardatradingship.By1476hehadsettledinPortugalwithhisbrotherwhodrewandsoldmapsforaliving.Accordingtolegend,Columbus’smovetoPortugalwaspropelledbyapirateattackatsea.HesupposedlyswamashoreinPortugalanddecidedtostay!
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Columbus!Columbus!It’s a New World,It’s a New World,Play Preparations
Beforeintroducingtheplay,tellstudentsaboutChristopherColum-busandhismostfamousvoyage.Theinformationandliteraturesug-gestionsonpage4willbehelpful.Nextdistributestudentcopiesofpages6and7.Assigneachchildapartintheplayandenlistyouryoungsters’helpwiththepropsandinvitationsdescribedbelow.Tofurtherenhanceyourproduction,haveeachyoungstermemorizeadifferentfactaboutChristopherColumbus.Then,attheconclusionoftheplay,askeachchildtostepforwardandsharehisfactwiththeaudience.Concludethefestivitiesbyservingyourchoiceofseaworthyrefreshments!
Invitations Completeacopyoftheinvitationonpage8;thenduplicatestudentcopiesandafewextrasonwhitepaper.Astudentcolorstheborderofaninvitation;thenhecutsouttheinvitationandmountsitona4”x9”rectangleofgrayconstructionpaper.Whentheglueisdry,herollstheproject(keepingtheinvitationtotheinside)andtiesitwithalengthofrib-bon.Ifdesired,prepareandusetheextrainvitationstoinviteneighboringclassestoarehearsaloranaddi-tionalshowingoftheplay.
Props Askeachstudenttoberesponsiblefortheprop(s)neededforhisrole.Columbus
• Hat Duplicatethehatpatternonpage8ontobrownconstructionpaper. Cutouttheshape.Tapeorstapleabrownpaperhatbandtothecutout; thentapeawhitefeathernearthefrontofthehat.(Seetheillustrationon page6.)
• Scroll (optional) Mountthescriptongraypaper.Rollthepaper,keeping thescriptinside,andtieitwithribbon.Columbusunrollsthescrollatthe beginningoftheplayandreadshislines.
King or Queen• Crown Traceatemplateliketheoneshownona4”x18”stripofyellow
constructionpaper.Cutouttheshape;thensizetheresultingcrownand trimoffextralength.Useglueandglittertodecoratethecrownasdesired; thenstapleortapetheends.
Crew Member• CapAknitorwoolencap.• Beads Craftorpaperbeadsfortrading.
Islander• ParrotUsemarkers,crayons,and/orpaintstodecorateawhiteconstruc-
tion-papercopyoftheparrotpatternonpage9.Cutoutandtapethe parrottoacraftstick.
Cue-Card Holder • SignAposter-boardsignthatreads“EVERYONE.”
CharactersChristopher Columbusa strong
reader and an understudy (if desired)Kings and queens four or more Ship’s crew unlimited numberIslanders unlimited numberCue-card holder one—perhaps a
parent or an uppergrade volunteer
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It’s a New World,
Columbus!(Ifdesired,interjectaraplikerhythm
intothescript.)
Columbus: I’mgladtomeetyou!MynameisChristopherC. That“C”isforColumbusandIcomefromItaly. NowmyfatherwasaweaverandhethoughtIwouldbe, ButwhatIreallywantedwastosailthesea.
Cue Card
Everyone: It’saNewWorld,Columbus!Go,ChristopherC.! You’reabraveexplorer!Sailfastandfree!
Columbus: Becauseofashipwreck,Ileftmyhometown; IfloatedtoPortugalratherthandrown. SincebrotherBartlivedthere,Iwasn’tdown. Weopenedamapshoptohelpfolksgetaround.
Speakingofround—weknewtheearthwasn’tflat. Withnoedgestofallfrom,youcouldn’tgosplat! Therewasgoldtotheeast,makingpeoplerichcats. Isaid,“Gowesttothegold!”Andthatwasthat!
Cue Card
Everyone: It’saNewWorld,Columbus!Go,ChristopherC.! You’reabraveexplorer!Sailfastandfree!
Kings and Queens: Sailwesttogoeast?
Columbus: Thekingsandqueensreplied. FromPortugaltoSpain—everyonesighed!
Kings and Queens: Sailwesttogoeast?
Columbus: Theywerefittobetied!
Kings and Queens: Sailwesttogoeast?
Columbus: TheyallthoughtIlied. Itdidn’tlookgoodforme,I’msureyou’vebeentold. ButQueenIsabella,well,shewantedthatgold. SosheandFerdinand,in1492, Gavememoney,90men,andthreeshipstoo.
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Cue Card
Everyone: It’saNewWorld,Columbus!Go,ChristopherC.! You’reabraveexplorer!Sailfastandfree!
Columbus: TheNiña,thePinta,andtheSanta Maríasailed.
Crew: Wesailed,andwesailed,andwesailed,andwesailed!
Columbus: Ithoughtmycrewwasgoingtohavemejailed…
Crew: Becausewesailed,andwesailed,andwesailed,andwesailed!
Columbus: After71daysonthehighlonesomeseas, Wethoughtwesawland;thenweknewwesawtrees! OnOctober12wewereallreallypleased. WeweresurewehadlandedintheEastIndies!
Cue Card
Everyone: It’saNewWorld,Columbus!Go,ChristopherC.! You’reabraveexplorer!Sailfastandfree!
Islanders: Somebeadsforourparrots?
Columbus: Man,whatagreatdeal! MycrewandtheIslanderstradedwithzeal!
Islanders: Somebeadsforourparrots?
Columbus: Butwherewasallthegold Thatwe’dfindintheIndies?(Orsowe’dbeentold!)
Well,thepeopleofSpainthoughttheparrotswereswell. TheylikedallthestuffandsaidI’ddonewell. But… LookingatthemapsYOURstoresnowsell, IwasreallysouthofFlorida.WHOOPS!Don’ttell!
Cue Card
Everyone: It’saNewWorld,Columbus!Go,ChristopherC.! You’reabraveexplorer!Sailfastandfree!
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Patterns
Hear Ye!
Hear Ye!
You are
hereby
invited to
attend our
class play,
“It’s a
New World,
Columbus!”
on
___________,day
____________date
at
___________.time
InvitationUsewith“Invitations”onpage5.
Columbus Hat Usewith“Props:Columbus”onpage5.
©TheEducationCenter,Inc.
©TheEducationCenter,Inc.• Early America•Primary •TEC3235
