Italy – Learning With My Boys

Columbus’ Letter to the King and Queen of Spain

Discuss: What country did Columbus first sail for? (Portugal) Columbus believed he could sail across the Atlantic Ocean to Asia, but he needed ships and men to do it. He requested the help of King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella of Spain. Let’s pretend you are Columbus writing a letter to the king and queen requesting their help. Include what supplies you would need (food, water, ships, etc.) and three reasons why they should help you.

Egg Cup Ships

Materials:

3 cardboard egg cups

Brown acrylic craft paint

Paintbrush

¼ cup modeling clay or play dough

6 toothpicks

1 sheet white paper

Scissors

White craft glue

Directions:

Paint the 3 egg cups inside and out with brown paint and set aside to dry.

Cut sails from white paper. You will need 6 large sails (1.5” x 1”) and 18 small sails (.5” x .75”).

Set aside three of the toothpicks for the large sails. Break or cut the other three toothpicks in half, so that you have 6 halves.

Put a line of glue through the middle of one of the small sails. Place the cut or broken end of one of the toothpick halves onto the glue line.

Roll it in the glue to cover both sides, then place another sail on top, sandwiching the two sails together. Flatten the sails together with your fingers and set aside to dry.

Repeat step number 5 with each toothpick half and 2 small sails (each).

Following the guide in step number 5, make the larger sails. For each large sail you will need a toothpick, 2 small sails and 2 large sails. Glue the small sail to the end of the full toothpick, and then glue the larger sail beneath it, leaving a small gap between the top and bottom sail. Then set those aside to dry too.

Roll a small amount of clay in your palm, enough to line the bottom of the egg cup. Place in the egg cup and flatten to cover bottom.

Put one large sail and 2 small sails into the clay, one small sail on either side of the large sail.

Making a Map

Discuss: The people of Columbus’ time thought that they could sail west around the world to get to the Indies. They didn’t know about the 2 big continents that were in there way. Draw a map to show what was really across the ocean between Europe and China?

Materials: I used “Making a Map” on page 11 of Hands on History Christopher Columbus by Mary Tucker.

For the first day of our Christopher Columbus unit study we became more acquainted with his early life. We learned that he was from Italy over 500 years ago and that he loved to sail. We read a little from the book Columbus by Ingri and Edgar Parin D’Aulaire each day of this unit.

1. Read: pages 4-13 in Columbus by Ingri and Edgar Parin D’Aulaire.

2. Map Skills: Have the students find Italy on a world map or globe, then the city of Genoa. Ask them what sea Christopher Columbus would have sailed on as a boy? Ligurian Sea What bigger sea did this lead to? Mediterranean Sea

3. Review: what we have learned about Columbus so far.

Columbus was born in Genoa, Italy
He lived over 500 years ago
He believed the world was round while others believed it was flat
He left his father’s house at age 13 to become a sailor

4. Comprehension questions:

Where was Christopher Columbus born? Genoa, Italy
What did others believe would happen if they went out to far in the ocean? They would fall off the earth
What did Columbus believe about the world? It was round
What did the boy Christopher hold and look at to help him understand that they earth was round? An orange and a butterfly
How did he help his father with his business? Sailed up and down the Genoese coast and delivered the things that he father had woven
How old was he when he left his family to be a sailor? 13
Who attacked and sunk Columbus’s ship? A fleet of pirates

5. Discuss:

Have you ever ridden in a boat, was it fun?
What kinds of boats can people travel in today? Canoe, raft, kayak, rowboat, motorboat, sailboat, paddleboat, tugboat, submarine, cruise ship, etc…
Discuss what the purpose is of each kind of boat and how do they move across the water?
Which boat would you like to travel in and why?
Where would you go?
Who would you take with you?
Would you work on the boat or just enjoy the ride and let someone else to all the work?
How long would you want to be gone?

Orange Jello Boats

Directions:
1. Just cut an orange in half
2. Scoop out everything inside making sure not to break the rind
3. Pour in jello refrigerated it
4. Once it is set, cut it in half again
5. Add the sail with a toothpick and small paper

Sailing Song

Have the children sing this song a few times doing the actions, pretending to be Christopher Columbus.

To the tune of “My Bonnie Lies over the Ocean”

I wonder what’s over the ocean.

~Lean forward to the left as you shade eyes with hand and look far away.

I wonder what’s over the sea.

~Lean forward to the right as you shade eyes with hand and look far away.

Someday I’ll sail over the ocean

~Move hand in wavey motion.

That will be an adventure for me!

~Jump up and raise hands over head.

Sailing, sailing,

~Move hand in wavey motion.

In a ship over the sea, the sea.

~Point forward.

Sailing, sailing,

~Move hand in wavey motion.

That will be an adventure for me!

~Jump up and raise hands over head.

Landform Peninsula

1. Discuss Italy:

Columbus is from Italy. Do you remember where Italy is on the map? What is Italy shaped like? a boot Italy is surrounded by water on 3 sides, that makes Italy a peninsula.

2. Define Peninsula:

Peninsula: A peninsula is a body of land that is surrounded by water on three sides. A peninsula is a type of landform.

Define Landform:
Landform: A description of the Earth’s shape and origin. As we continue to learn about Columbus we will discuss other types of landforms.

3. Directions:

Supplies: flour, salt, water, poster board and paint

Make an outline of Italy on poster boards. Make sure to include the surrounding water.
Mix 2 parts flour, 1 part salt, and 1 part water into a dough.
Shape dough to form your map.
Place dough on aluminum pan and bake at 300° for 1 hour.
Allow to cool.
Paint your salt map now that it is cooled.
While painting your map review the terms peninsula and landforms.