An ELL book

THE COLUMBUS DAY BOOK A FLASHBACK FROM TODAY’S CLASSROOM TO CHRISTOPHER COLUMBUS’ BOYHOOD By E. Johnson

© 2008 Etta Johnson

COLUMBUS DAY BULLETIN BOARD THE COLUMBUS DAY BOOK By Etta Johnson

What do you like to read?

©2011 E. Johnson

See “Columbus Day Book Teacher’s Guide” on this website

© 2011 E. Johnson

An ELL book

1492

Timeline 10001988 th

11

2nd century Ptolemy

11001199

12001299

13001399

14001499

15001599

1600 1699

17001799

18001899

19001999

20002999

12th century

13th century

14th century

15th century

16th century

17th century

18th century

19th century

20th century

21st century

century

1451-1506

flashback

2 SPECTRUM SPRINGBOARD BOOKS. Columbus Day Book, © 2011 E. Johnson

An ELL book Contents Chapter 1. At home on Monday…………………………………………………………………….4 Chapter 2. Social Studies class on Tuesday…………………………………………………………5 Chapter 3. Flashback to 1461……………………………………………………………………… 8 Chapter 3Easy. Flashback to 1461……………………………………………………………. Chapter 4. Social Studies class on Wednesday

………………………………………………

Chapter 5. Science class on Wednesday …………………………………………………….. Chapter 6. Flashback to 1463

……………………………………………………………….

Chapter 6 Easy. Flashback to 1463 ……………………………………………………………..

12 14 17 21 24

Chapter 7. Language Arts class on Thursday …………………………………………………… 25 Chapter 8. Math class on Thursday …………………………………………………………… 29 Chapter 9: Flashback to 1465………………………………………………………………….

34

Chapter 9 Easy: Flashback to 1465………………………………………………………….

36

Chapter 10. Language Arts class on Friday …………………………………………………….

38

Chapter 11. Socail Studies class on Friday …………………………………………………….

41

Chapter 12. Language Arts class on Monday ……………………………………………………. 44 Bibliography……………………………………………………………………………………….. 47

3 SPECTRUM SPRINGBOARD BOOKS. Columbus Day Book, © 2011 E. Johnson

An ELL book

Chapter 1: At the park on Monday. Columbus Day is a school holiday. Sam: Do you guys want to go exploring with me? Ben: Sure! What are you going to explore? Sam : Well, there‟s this place over there. See? (points) Ajay: Yeah! It‟s a great day for exploring. It is Columbus Day. Ben: Yeah! No telling what we might discover. Ajay: Just like Columbus! Sam: I wonder if he liked to explore, when he was a kid. Ben: Was he a kid? Ajay: I don‟t know. We can ask our teacher tomorrow.

4 SPECTRUM SPRINGBOARD BOOKS. Columbus Day Book, © 2011 E. Johnson

An ELL book

Chapter 2. Social studies class on Tuesday SOCIAL STUDIES BULLETIN BOARD

Columbus Day 2nd Monday in October

5 SPECTRUM SPRINGBOARD BOOKS. Columbus Day Book, © 2011 E. Johnson

An ELL book

Classroom materials: world map

Teacher: Yesterday was Columbus Day, so today we will talk about Christopher Columbus. Fabio: I just don‟t understand. How did Columbus discover America? Rosa: Don‟t you know? He discovered it on October 12, 1492. Sam: Yeah! He was sailing across the ocean. Milly: He was on the ship. Mark: The Nina, the Pinta and the Santa Maria. Ben: And he called the people Indians. Kit: He thinks they are in India. Teacher: I understand what Fabio means. How did Columbus discover America since it was already here? It was only new to Columbus and his crew. It was new to men from Europe. But the land and people were always there. Fabio: Yes, that makes sense! Sam: What about this Old World – New World thing? What‟s that about? Teacher: Well, Columbus and Europeans only knew about the Old World. That was their world. They had maps of that world. Columbus discovered the New World of the Americas. Jenny: After that they made maps of North and South America, right? Teacher: Yes, Jenny, that is correct. Peter: I heard about a guy called Leif Erickson? He came to America way back before Columbus. Teacher: Yes, it was about the year 1000. Erickson was an explorer from Iceland and Norway. He did come to the North American continent. Look! I‟ll show you on the map. He sailed from Norway. He discovered Newfoundland and Labrador. (points to places on the world map) Dave: In Canada. 6 SPECTRUM SPRINGBOARD BOOKS. Columbus Day Book, © 2011 E. Johnson

An ELL book

Teacher: Yes. He went to places that are now in Canada. Ajay: Well, I have a question. Teacher: What is it, Ajay? Ajay: Did Christopher Columbus like to explore when he was a kid? Teacher: That‟s a good question! It‟s time for a flashback.

7 SPECTRUM SPRINGBOARD BOOKS. Columbus Day Book, © 2011 E. Johnson

An ELL book

Chapter 3. Flashback to 1461 Port of Genoa Seaport City of Genoa 15th century Genoa

8 SPECTRUM SPRINGBOARD BOOKS. Columbus Day Book, © 2011 E. Johnson

An ELL book

horizon

sunset

Young Christopher was watching the sunset. He stood still on the waterfront and stared at the big, red sun. It was disappearing slowly over the horizon. In a few minutes the sun was gone. Now the sky was pink from the sun’s reflected glow.

Ten-year old Christopher was on the waterfront in Genoa. Genoa was a big seaport on the Mediterranean Sea. Ships left Genoa to trade goods in other cities. Ships came to Genoa with goods from other ports. Large and small sailing ships moved up and down with the waves. The tall tower in the Genoa harbor was a guide for ships. “Where does the sun go?” red-haired Christopher asked a sailor. “What happens to the sun when it goes beyond the sea?” “It’s a pretty sight to see the sunset on the sea,” the sailor said. “But where it hides in the night, I do not know. They say it falls off the end of the Earth.” “Thank you, sir,” Christopher said. But he was disappointed with the answer. The captain of a ship walked by. Christopher asked the captain the same question. “Where does the sun go? What happens to the sun when it goes beyond the sea?” “Well, they say our world is round, round as a ball,” the captain answered. “But we sail straight across the sea. So I have no proof for you. I do see the sun go down each night. It goes down behind the water.” “Thank you, sir,” Christopher said. He was still disappointed with the answer. 9 SPECTRUM SPRINGBOARD BOOKS. Columbus Day Book, © 2011 E. Johnson

An ELL book

Then he walked to the street of mapmakers. He went to see a mapmaker there. Christopher asked the mapmaker the same question. “Where does the sun go at night? What happens to the sun when it goes beyond the sea?”

Map maker

The man looked up from the map he was drawing. “That is an excellent question, young man,” he said. “Let me show you something.” The mapmaker put down his pen. He got a fresh orange from a bowl. “Hold this orange in your hand. You now hold the earth!”

Christopher stared at the orange he was holding. “You mean the earth is round like this, sir?” “Yes,” the mapmaker answered. “The earth is round like an orange. I have studied the great Ptolemy. He wrote books about mathematics and geography and astronomy. He said the earth, sun, moon and stars move in circles.” Christopher’s finger traced around the orange. “Then you can go around it this way or that way,” Christopher said. His finger traced a clockwise and then a counterclockwise path. Map of the Old World

10 SPECTRUM SPRINGBOARD BOOKS. Columbus Day Book, © 2011 E. Johnson

An ELL book

“But no ship sails the wrong way,” the mapmaker said. “Ships sail toward the east or north or south. Look here on this map, young man.” He pointed to a map of Europe, Africa and Asia. “This chart shows the land and the sea that we know.” “Thank you, sir,” the boy said. “You have answered my question well.” Christopher was satisfied with the mapmaker’s answer. Now he had something new to think about. “Maybe one day I will sail the other way,” Christopher said quietly. “Maybe one day I will explore the unknown seas.”

11 SPECTRUM SPRINGBOARD BOOKS. Columbus Day Book, © 2011 E. Johnson

An ELL book

Chapter 3E. Flashback to 1461

sunset

Christopher looks at the sun. He is by the sea. The sun is big and red. It goes down. Christopher looks at the sunset. The sky is pink. Christopher is ten years old. He is by the sea in Genoa. It is the Mediterranean Sea. Sailing ships come, go and stop. Genoa is a seaport.

Christopher talks to a sailor. “Where does the sun go at night?” he asks. The sailor says, “I do not know. Maybe it falls off the Earth.” Christopher says, “Thank you, sir.” But he is not happy with the answer. Christopher talks to the captain of a ship. “Where does the sun go at night?” he asks. The captain says, “I do not know. Maybe the Earth is round.” Christopher says, “Thank you, sir.” But he is not happy with the answer.

12 SPECTRUM SPRINGBOARD BOOKS. Columbus Day Book, © 2011 E. Johnson

An ELL book

Christopher walks to a shop. A man makes maps in the shop. Christopher talks to the mapmaker. Christopher asks, “Where does the sun go at night?” The mapmaker gives the boy an orange. He says, “Hold this orange in your hand. You hold the Earth.” Christopher says, “The Earth is round. It is like the orange.” The mapmaker says, “Yes, that is true. It moves in a circle. The earth and sun move in circles.” Christopher is happy with the answer. He says, “People can sail around the Earth. They can sail west or east.” The mapmaker says, “Ships sail east or north or south. Ships do not sail west. Look at the map.” Christopher says, “One day, I will sail west.”

Map of the Old World

13 SPECTRUM SPRINGBOARD BOOKS. Columbus Day Book, © 2011 E. Johnson

An ELL book

Chapter 4. Social Studies class on Wednesday Classroom materials: globe, homework

Teacher: Boys and girls, think about the flashback. Christopher was about your age. What did you learn about him? Fabio: Christopher was curious. He was curious about the sunset. Ben: Christopher wanted to know things about the earth. Kit: He wants to explore. Ajay: Well, he wasn‟t scared to ask questions. Sam: Yeah, he asked different people questions. Jenny: That‟s „cause he didn‟t think their answers were any good. Rosa: But the man that makes maps had a good answer. Teacher: Yes, he did! Milly, please get the globe. Put it on this desk. (points) Milly puts the globe on a desk. Teacher: Boys and girls, look at the globe! Where did Christopher want to explore? Dave, Rosa, Sam and Fabio raise their hands. Teacher: Come and show us, Dave. (Dave turns the globe, and points to North and South America) Teacher: What are those continents? What is that ocean? Everyone: North and South America. The Atlantic Ocean. Teacher: The mapmaker only knew about the Old World. Which continents did he know about? Come and show us, Jenny. Jenny: Europe, of course. (points to Europe on the globe) Dave: And Africa. 14 SPECTRUM SPRINGBOARD BOOKS. Columbus Day Book, © 2011 E. Johnson

An ELL book

Jenny points to Africa. Mark: Asia . Jenny points to Asia. Peter: So is that the Old World? Teacher: Yes. The mapmaker knew about the Old World. That was the known world. Now let‟s find the unknown world. Kit, come and show us the part that was unknown. Kit goes to globe. He points to North and South America. Ben: But that‟s what Christopher wanted to explore. The unknown parts were North and South American. Teacher: You‟re right! Peter? Peter: The Atlantic Ocean too. They only knew about the sea and ocean near them. They didn‟t know how big the Atlantic Ocean is. Teacher: That‟s true! Fabio: It‟s a good thing that Christopher was curious! Teacher: Think about yourself. Are you curious? Curiosity leads to learning and exploring. Some students nod, others shake their heads. Teacher: Now here is your homework. (holds up homework papers) Everyone: An orange! Teacher: Yes, you will write in the orange. Read the directions first. Mark, please, pass out the homework. Mark passes out the homework papers.

15 SPECTRUM SPRINGBOARD BOOKS. Columbus Day Book, © 2011 E. Johnson

An ELL book

Name ____________________________

Date ___________

Chapter 3-4 Homework Directions: Think about the flashback in chapter 3.What did Christopher learn by holding the orange? What was his dream? Write on the orange.

16 SPECTRUM SPRINGBOARD BOOKS. Columbus Day Book, © 2011 E. Johnson

An ELL book

Chapter 5. Science class on Wednesday

SCIENCE BULLETIN BOARD The Earth rotates on its axis. The Earth revolves around the sun.

Questions of the week How often does the Earth make one complete rotation? How often does the Earth make one complete revolution around the sun?

Classroom materials: globe, flashlight, small post-it note, homework

Teacher: Today we will talk about Christopher Columbus‟ experience with the sunset. Jenny: I don‟t understand what happens to the sun. I really don‟t! It has to go somewhere. Peter: Yeah! Why do they say it sets? Why do we call it sunset? Teacher: I think it‟s time for an experiment. We‟ll use the globe instead of Christopher‟s orange. Boys and girls, come over here and sit around the globe! 17 SPECTRUM SPRINGBOARD BOOKS. Columbus Day Book, © 2011 E. Johnson

An ELL book

Everyone sits around the globe. Teacher: What is the globe? It is the _____. Everyone: Earth. Fabio (turns the globe): Here‟s North America! Teacher: Milly, find the United States. (Gives her a sticker) Find where we live. Put this sticker on that place. (Milly puts the sticker on Virginia.) Teacher: Good! Here is a flashlight. Mark, come and get it. (Mark gets the flashlight.) Mark: Can I turn on the light? Teacher: Yes, turn it on now. Stand by the globe. Boys and girls, the light represents the ______. Everyone: Sun! Teacher: Mark, shine the light on our state. Kit, you turn the globe on its axis. Rotate the globe, please. Kit (turns the globe quickly): Hey, this is fun! Dave: Slow down! You‟re going too fast! Ben: Anyway you‟re going the wrong way, Kit! The earth rotates from west to east. Teacher: Ben is right! The Earth‟s rotation on its axis is counter-clockwise. Kit, rotate the globe slowly – slowly! Boys and girls, watch our home sticker! Kit turns the globe slowly. Rosa: It‟s night. The sun is on the other side of the globe. It‟s not on us. Fabio: And now it‟s light again. We can see the sun. Teacher: Yes, now the sun is rising. It‟s sunrise. 18 SPECTRUM SPRINGBOARD BOOKS. Columbus Day Book, © 2011 E. Johnson

An ELL book

Milly: Morning. Sam: But really we should call it earth rotation. The sun never moves. Teacher: Now do you understand Christopher‟s question as he watches the sunrise? Raise your hand. (Everyone raises their hands.) Teacher: Here is your homework. (passes out homework papers) Read the directions. Fabio: Cool! A picture to label. Ajay: Can we read another flashback tomorrow? Teacher: Yes, tomorrow we will learn more about Christopher.

19 SPECTRUM SPRINGBOARD BOOKS. Columbus Day Book, © 2011 E. Johnson

An ELL book

Name ____________________________

Date ___________

Chapter 5 Homework Directions: Think about the globe and flashlight experiment. The globe is the _______. The flashlight is the ___________. Label all the parts of the diagram correctly. sun

earth axis

rotate revolve day

night

Bonus: In which direction does the earth rotate? Draw arrows. In which direction does the earth revolve around the sun? Draw arrows.

20 SPECTRUM SPRINGBOARD BOOKS. Columbus Day Book, © 2011 E. Johnson

An ELL book

Chapter 6. Flashback to 1463 Working with wool

Sheep’s hair is wool.

a bin of raw wool

The apprentice combs clean wool. The master weaver watches.

workroom workshop

yarn

cloth

spinning wheel

loom

The woman is spinning wool into yarn. The man is weaving the yarn into cloth. SPECTRUM SPRINGBOARD BOOKS. Columbus Day Book, © 2011 E. Johnson

21

An ELL book

The workroom was hot and dark and dusty. Christopher was helping his father in the workroom. But he was thinking of the cool sea wind. He was thinking of the blue sky and sailing ships coming and going. Bins of raw wool were in one corner of the workroom. Two apprentices, students, combed clean wool in another part of the room. Christopher’s mother was spinning wool into yarn for weaving. His father was weaving cloth at the great loom. He was a master weaver. Young Christopher helped with small jobs. The workroom was on the ground floor of the family’s tall, narrow house. The house was near a big gate in the city wall. Like other cities of that time, Genoa had stone walls all around it. “Christopher,” his father said. “You will soon become my apprentice.” “But, Father,” Christopher began. “I do not . . . “ “You will learn all about weaving,” his father went on. “In time you will become a master weaver. Then you can follow in my footsteps.” “Father,” Christopher tried again. “I do not wish to upset you. However my dream is not to follow in your footsteps. I have my own dream!” “Your own dream!” his father said angrily. “You are my oldest son. You do not need your own dream. You will become a master weaver. Like me, you will become an important citizen of Genoa.” Christopher dreamed of ships and sailing them across the sea. He had made several short boat trips to nearby ports. He went with his father to buy and sell goods. They bought raw wool and sold finished cloth. Christopher helped and learned about trading goods. He also learned about sailing a boat.

22 SPECTRUM SPRINGBOARD BOOKS. Columbus Day Book, © 2011 E. Johnson

An ELL book

“Father, I can sell the cloth you make,” Christopher said. “I can sail to other cities to sell your excellent cloth.” Christopher’s mother stopped spinning for a minute. “Christopher is very good at bookkeeping and keeping track of money,” she said. “That is true! Young Christopher might be a better salesman than a weaver,” his father said. “And a better sailor than a salesman,” Christopher thought, but did not say aloud. “I can also get the charts we need to sail along the coast,” he said happily. “We need good charts to avoid rocks and sandbanks near the shore.”

23 SPECTRUM SPRINGBOARD BOOKS. Columbus Day Book, © 2011 E. Johnson

An ELL book

house

Chapter 6E. Flashback to 1463

Christopher is in the workroom. The workroom is in his house. The room is hot and dark. It is dusty. Christopher dreams of the sea. He dreams of the cool wind. He dreams of ships.

workroom

There are people in the workroom. There are bins of wool. His father works with wool. His mother works with wool. Two students work with wool. Christopher helps. They make cloth from wool.

Christopher‟s family lives in a tall house. It is in Genoa. The workroom is in the house. Father says, “Christopher! Soon you will be my student. You will work with wool too.” Christopher says. “I do not want to work with wool.” Father says, “Son, you will walk in my footsteps.” Christopher says, “I do not want to walk in your footsteps. I have a dream.” Christopher dreams of ships. He dreams of the sea. He wants to sail ships.

24 SPECTRUM SPRINGBOARD BOOKS. Columbus Day Book, © 2011 E. Johnson

An ELL book

Chapter 7. Language arts class on Thursday LANGUAGE ARTS BULLETIN BOARD THE COLUMBUS DAY BOOK By Etta Johnson

COMPOUND WORDS workroom seashore waterfront footstep salesman bookkeeping sandbank

What do you like to read?

HOMOPHONES see - sea here – hear their – there for – four to – too – two by – buy sail – sale no – know new- knew stair – stare

Classroom materials: board, chalk or marker, homework

Teacher (writes on board): “Follow in your father‟s footsteps”. What does that mean? Fabio: To walk right behind him? Rosa: Do the same as he does. Sam: Christopher‟s father wanted his son to be a weaver. Peter: Just like him. 25 SPECTRUM SPRINGBOARD BOOKS. Columbus Day Book, © 2011 E. Johnson

An ELL book

Teacher: That‟s right. Now let‟s talk about young Christopher‟s world. Let‟s try to imagine the workroom. What was it like? Milly: Hot and dark Ajay: It was dusty too! I bet they sneezed all the time. Kit: I guess the dust was from all the wool. Mark: No light! Jenny: I think there wasn‟t much light in the room. Ben: Well, of course they didn‟t have any electricity. And that means no a.c. too. Sam: Yeah, maybe the windows were real small. Only a little light got in. Dave: Christopher did not like it . . . the workshop. Peter: He wanted to be out in the fresh air. Ajay: Just like me . . . in language arts class! Just kidding! Teacher: It‟s a good thing you‟re kidding, Ajay! Now let‟s talk about Christopher‟s dream. Did he want to be a master weaver? Everyone: No! Teacher: Did he want to be a salesman? Did he want to buy and sell goods? Everyone: No! Teacher: What was his dream? Rosa: To be a sailor. Ben: To be an explorer. Sam: To explore the world. Kit: To be on the sea. Mark: To sail and sail and sail.

26 SPECTRUM SPRINGBOARD BOOKS. Columbus Day Book, © 2011 E. Johnson

An ELL book

Teacher: You are all correct! Now think about yourself. What is your dream? Think about what you want to do when you grow up. Everyone thinks. Teacher: Here is your homework. (holds up homework papers) Everyone: A footstep! Teacher: Yes, you will write in the footstep. Read the directions first. Kit, please, pass out the homework. Kit passes out the homework papers.

27 SPECTRUM SPRINGBOARD BOOKS. Columbus Day Book, © 2011 E. Johnson

An ELL book

Name ____________________________

Date ___________

Chapter 6-7 Homework Directions: Think about the flashback in chapter 6. What did Christopher learn by talking to his father? If he walked in his father‟s footsteps, what would he be? What was his dream? Write on the footstep.

28 SPECTRUM SPRINGBOARD BOOKS. Columbus Day Book, © 2011 E. Johnson

An ELL book

Chapter 8. Math class on Thursday

MATH BULLETIN BOARD Operations add - addition subtract - subtract multiply multiplication divide - division

Is the Earth a circle or a sphere?

COMPOUND WORDS workroom seashore waterfront footstep salesman bookkeeping sandbank istopher Columbus Classroom materials: board, chalk or marker, homework born discovered America 1451 1492

died 1506

Teacher: What famous person are you studying in social studies and language arts? Everyone: Christopher Columbus! Teacher: Look at the chart on the bulletin board, please. Ajay, what year was Christopher born? Ajay: 1951. 29 SPECTRUM SPRINGBOARD BOOKS. Columbus Day Book, © 2011 E. Johnson

An ELL book

Everyone: No! 1451. Teacher: Mark, write 1451 on the board. Mark writes 1451 on the board. Teacher: What year did Columbus discover America? Ajay? Ajay: 1942 (laughs) Everyone: No! 1492. Teacher: Milly, write 1492 on the board. Milly writes 1492 on the board. Teacher: Here‟s the problem. How old was Christopher Columbus when he discovered America? Do we add, subtract, multiply or divide? Think! (pause) Raise your hands, if we need to add. Milly, Sam, Ben and Kit raise their hands. Teacher: Raise your hands, if we need to subtract. Mark, Peter, Jenny, Ajay, Rosa and Dave raise their hands. Teacher: That is correct. We need to subtract. Which date is on top? Which date do we subtract from? Fabio: But I think we need to multiply. Teacher: All right, Fabio. Which number s will you multiply? Fabio: Uh, uh. I‟m not sure. Teacher: That‟s because, you need to subtract, not multiply. Dave: Subtract 1451 from 1492. Peter: We must subtract the smaller number from the larger number. Rosa: The difference is the answer. Ben (raises his hand): I got it! 30 SPECTRUM SPRINGBOARD BOOKS. Columbus Day Book, © 2011 E. Johnson

An ELL book

Teacher: Put your calculator away, Ben. Go to the board. Show us how to solve the problem. Ben (writes the problem on the board): 1492 minus 1451 equals 141. Sam: No, it‟s not! It‟s 41. Kit: It‟s easy! 92 minus 51. Jenny: How could Columbus be one hundred and forty-one years old? Teacher: How old was Christopher Columbus when he discovered America? Everyone: Forty-one! Teacher: Now here are some more Columbus story problems for homework. Everyone: Oh, no! Teacher: Oh, yes! I think you will like these problems. Dave, please, pass out the homework. Dave passes out the homework papers.

31 SPECTRUM SPRINGBOARD BOOKS. Columbus Day Book, © 2011 E. Johnson

An ELL book

Name __________________________

Date ____________

Chapter 8 Homework born 1451

Christopher Columbus dates discovered America died 1492 1506

Use the chart to solve the problems. Show your work. 1. How old was Columbus when he died?

2. The first flashback is in 1461. How old was Columbus in 1461?

Columbus was ____ years old when he died. 3. The third flashback is in 1465. How old was Christopher in 1465?

Christopher was ____ years old in 1461.

Christopher was ___ years old in 1465.

Columbus died ______ years after he discovered America. 6. How many years after the discovery of America was 1942?

5. How many years ago did Columbus discover America?

Columbus discovered America _____ years ago.

4. How many years after discovering America did Columbus die?

In 1942, it was _____ years after the discovery of America. In 2042, it will be _______ years after the discovery of America.

32 SPECTRUM SPRINGBOARD BOOKS. Columbus Day Book, © 2011 E. Johnson

An ELL book

Chapter 9: Flashback to 1465 15th century sailing ship - caravel

sail

mast sail mainsail captain

sailors

33 SPECTRUM SPRINGBOARD BOOKS. Columbus Day Book, © 2011 E. Johnson

An ELL book

a compass

a chart

Christopher leaned over the ship captain’s shoulder. He watched the man draw a straight line on the chart. The line was from Genoa to Savona. There was a compass rose on the chart. It showed the direction of the line. The captain was charting his course. “We will sail along this line,” the captain explained to Christopher. The captain handed the boy a compass. “In which direction must we sail to reach Savona?” he asked “We must sail west by southwest,” Christopher answered carefully. Teen-age Christopher was aboard a small sailing ship. He stood with his feet wide apart for balance. The boat rocked up and down in the water. It was still in the Genoa harbor. Christopher pointed at a big, red X on the chart. “What is that?” he asked. “There are large rocks at this spot,” the captain answered. “A ship can crash into those rocks.” “So the X is a warning to stay away from there,” Christopher said. He pointed at a cross mark on the chart. “Is this a warning also?’ 34 SPECTRUM SPRINGBOARD BOOKS. Columbus Day Book, © 2011 E. Johnson

An ELL book

“Yes,” the captain answered. “Here the water is very shallow, not deep enough for a ship.” “Then the ship could not move,” the boy said. “Another warning!” Christopher was learning how to chart a course. He was learning about navigation. “Now you must help the sailors, Christopher. We are ready to leave port,” the captain directed the boy. Long-legged Christopher climbed up the tall main mast. “Raise the mainsail!” a sailor shouted. “Now hook it to the mast.” Christopher followed the sailor’s directions. Then he looked around from his high perch. “Whoo-pee!” he shouted excitedly. He looked down at the sea. The water seemed to go on and on. He looked back toward the town and the mountains behind it. Christopher was learning how to make his dream come true.

mast

From Beginner’s History of the United States, 1913

35 SPECTRUM SPRINGBOARD BOOKS. Columbus Day Book, © 2011 E. Johnson

An ELL book

Chapter 9E: Flashback to 146

a chart

a compass

Christopher is on a ship. It is in the Genoa harbor. The captain and sailors are on the ship. The captain works on a chart. He says, “We will sail to the city of Savona.” He draws a straight line on the chart. The line is from Genoa to Savona. The captain asks, “In which direction do we sail?” He gives Christopher a compass. Christopher looks at the compass. He says, “We sail west by southwest.” The captain says, “That is correct.” Christopher sees the X on the chart. He asks, “What is that?” The captain says, “There are big rocks here. The ship can crash into the rocks.” Christopher says, “So the X is a warning. Do not come close.” The captain says, “That is right.” 36 SPECTRUM SPRINGBOARD BOOKS. Columbus Day Book, © 2011 E. Johnson

An ELL book

Christopher learns to sail a ship. He learns to navigate. Now it is time for the ship to go. The captain says, “Help the sailors, Christopher!” A sailor says, “Climb up the mast.” Christopher climbs up the mast. A sailor says, “Pull up the sail.” Christopher pulls up the sail. Christopher learns to sail a ship. He learns to navigate. Christopher is high up. He looks down at the sea. He is happy. Sailing is his dream.

mast

sail

37 SPECTRUM SPRINGBOARD BOOKS. Columbus Day Book, © 2011 E. Johnson

An ELL book

Chapter 10. Language arts class on Friday Classroom materials: homework

Teacher: Today we will talk about the flashback on the ship. How did Christopher learn to navigate? But first, I want you to think. How did you learn to do something new? Something that is important to you? Peter (raises his hand): Well, when I was a little kid, I wanted to play baseball. I wanted to beat all the records. But I never got to play - ever. Then one day I actually got to bat. And then I got to pitch a ball. I was so happy! Teacher: Good example, Peter! Jenny? Jenny: Last year, I couldn‟t figure out how to download music. Kids always told me to download stuff. But I didn‟t know how. Finally I asked my big sister lots of questions. She answered my questions. And she made me practice. Teacher: Very good, Jenny! Now think about the flashback. How did Christopher learn to navigate? Milly: Questions. He asks questions. Sam: By asking questions. That‟s how he learned to navigate. Fabio: Yeah, he asked lots of questions. And he tried to understand the answers. Dave: And he got to practice. He put up the big sail. Ajay: Yeah! He was learning from the bottom up. (laughs) Get it? He climbed from the bottom to the top of the mast. Ben: He actually got to help sail the ship. Not just dream about it Kit: That was so cool! He looked down from way up high. Teacher: Yes, he had to learn everything about sailing. Why was learning to navigate important in Christopher Columbus‟ life? Jenny: When he was the captain, he was in charge. He had to know everything about sailing ships. Mark: He wants to sail the sea. 38 SPECTRUM SPRINGBOARD BOOKS. Columbus Day Book, © 2011 E. Johnson

An ELL book

Peter: He had to know how to run ships and a crew. Or he would never be an explorer. Rosa: He could never sail to new places. He had to know how to nav – navigate. Teacher: Think again how you learn to do something new. Learning to navigate was Christopher‟s training. Here is your homework. (holds up homework papers) Everyone: A compass! Teacher: Yes, you will write on the picture of the compass. Read the directions first. Dave, please, pass out the homework. Dave passes out the homework papers.

39 SPECTRUM SPRINGBOARD BOOKS. Columbus Day Book, © 2011 E. Johnson

An ELL book

Name ____________________________

Date ___________

Chapter 9-10 Homework Directions: Think about the flashback in chapter 9. What did Christopher learn by using the compass? What was his dream? Write around the compass.

Bonus: Write the directions on the points of the compass.

40 SPECTRUM SPRINGBOARD BOOKS. Columbus Day Book, © 2011 E. Johnson

An ELL book

Chapter 11. Social studies class on Friday Classroom materials: world map, vocabulary chart, homework

Teacher: Let‟s talk about the name Christopher Columbus. What did his parents name him? Fabio (waves his hand): I know! I know! Cristoforo Colombo. That was his name. Sam: He was named for Saint Christopher. He‟s the saint for travelers. Peter: He went to Spain to get ships. His name was Cristóbal Colón in Spanish. Milly: It is Christopher Columbus in English. Ben: Do you think they called him Chris? My brother‟s name is Christopher. But we call him Chris. Teacher: I wonder? What do you think, class? Christopher Columbus. Did they call him Chris? Everyone: Yes! Fabio: I think only his buddies called him Chris. Teacher (points to the three names on the vocabulary chart): Cristoforo. Cristóbal. Christopher. What is the same about all three names? Mark: They all start with Chris! Teacher: So maybe Chris was his nickname. Kit: I guess lots of Christophers have his name. Ajay: Well, lots of places have his last name too. I was born in Columbus, Ohio. Ben: Hey, wait a minute. My cousins live in Columbus, but it‟s not Ohio. Teacher: Maybe they live in Columbus, Georgia. Ben: Yes, that‟s it. Peter: I was born in Washington, D.C. 41 SPECTRUM SPRINGBOARD BOOKS. Columbus Day Book, © 2011 E. Johnson

An ELL book

Ajay: What‟s that got to do with Christopher Columbus? Peter: D.C. Washington, D.C. That‟s District of Columbia. Columbia. Get it? Dave: I saw a big statue of Christopher Columbus there. Sam: I saw it too. It‟s by the train station, near the Capitol. Rosa (raises her hand): My grandmother lives in Colombia. Teacher (pulls down the world map): Rosa, show us where Colombia is. Rosa: It‟s right here at the top of South America. (points) Jenny: Well, my brother goes to Columbia University. It‟s in New York City. Teacher: All right, boys and girls. You will do some research for homework. Here is your homework. (holds up homework papers) Everyone: A map! Teacher: Yes, you will write on the map of North America. Read the directions first. Milly, please, pass out the homework. Milly passes out the homework papers. Teacher: On Monday the author of “The Columbus Day Book” will visit our class.

42 SPECTRUM SPRINGBOARD BOOKS. Columbus Day Book, © 2011 E. Johnson

An ELL book

Name ____________________________

Date ___________

Chapter 11 Homework Directions: Use maps or an atlas for information. Find places in North America that are named for Columbus. Write them on the map.

43 SPECTRUM SPRINGBOARD BOOKS. Columbus Day Book, © 2011 E. Johnson

An ELL book

Chapter 12. Language arts class on Monday Classroom materials: homework

Teacher: Boys and girls, here is the author of “The Columbus Day Book”. Everyone claps. Author: Good morning, boys and girls! Do you have some questions for me? Ajay: How do you know about Christopher? I mean when he was a boy. Author: I read biographies of Christopher Columbus. Well, each Columbus biography had many chapters about his discovery. But there was only one chapter about his childhood. Why do you think that is? Jenny: „Cause that‟s why he‟s famous. He discovered America. Fabio: Yeah, he wasn‟t famous when he was a kid. Author: Many countries say that Christopher Columbus was born there. But Genoa has the best documents. Columbus talks about Genoa in his own writing. That‟s why I describe his life in Genoa. Rosa: Where did you get your information? Author: I got information from biography and history books. I also found lots of online articles. I looked for maps and pictures of Genoa in the 15th century. I learned a lot about Genoa. Now it is a city in Italy. Then it was a republic. Some of the city walls and gates are still there. Dave: Is the Columbus book fiction or non-fiction? Author: It‟s historical fiction. I used the facts to make up a story. Dave: How do you write? Author: I write on my computer. I try to imagine students reading the text. I try to write so that it‟s easy to understand. Sam: We always have to tell the author‟s purpose. Now we can find out from the author. 44 SPECTRUM SPRINGBOARD BOOKS. Columbus Day Book, © 2011 E. Johnson

An ELL book

Mark: Why do you write this book? Author: That‟s a good question. You are children, right? Everyone: Yes! Author: Each famous person was a child once. What children do and learn is very important. That‟s what I want you to understand. That is my purpose. Kit: So one day I can discover something too? Author: Yes, you could. Peter: We have to study all this stuff. You mean it might help me one day? Author: That is exactly what I mean! Did you know that Columbus kept a log? (Everyone shakes their heads.) Author: He was the captain of three ships. He wrote what happened each day in a log book. Columbus recorded the events of his first voyage. Milly: Can we see the log? Author: Yes, it is a book now. You can also read it online. His log was translated from Spanish to English. Listen to his first entry: "Friday, 3 August, 1492. We set sail on the third day of August, 1492 at 8 o‟clock in the morning from the bar (port) of Saltes. The wind is strong and variable, and we had gone 45 miles to the south by sunset. After dark I altered the course for the Canary Islands to the SW and south by west.” Jenny: That‟s cool that he talked about the sunset! Teacher: Now you know what Christopher Columbus learned when he was a boy. You know what his dream was. You know how this helped him when he was a man. What is your dream? That is your homework. (passes out homework)

45 SPECTRUM SPRINGBOARD BOOKS. Columbus Day Book, © 2011 E. Johnson

An ELL book

Name ____________________________

Date ___________

Chapter 12 Homework: Book Wrap-up Think about Christopher. What was his dream? What questions did he ask? Write in the dream bubble.

Think about yourself. What is your dream? What questions do you have? Draw a picture of yourself and a dream bubble. Write in the dream bubble.

46 SPECTRUM SPRINGBOARD BOOKS. Columbus Day Book, © 2011 E. Johnson

An ELL book

Bibliography Boorstin, D. J. (1985). The discoverers. A History of Man's Search to Know His Worlld and Himself. New York: Vintage Books. Dor-Ner, Z. (1991). Cokumbus and the Age of Discovery. New York: William Morrow and Company. Granzotto, G. (1985). Christopher Columbus. the Dream and the Obsession. A Biography. (S. Sartarelli, Trans.) New York: Doubleday and Company. Morison, S. E. (1970). Admiral of the Ocean Sea. a Life of Christopher Columbus. Boston: Little, Brown and company.

Acknowledgements: Many thanks to Arlington Public Schools (Arlington, VA)‟ students in Mrs. Sever‟s and Mrs. Crittenden‟s HILT classes for piloting this book in 2007.

47 SPECTRUM SPRINGBOARD BOOKS. Columbus Day Book, © 2011 E. Johnson