Today in social studies, the students were given a few different types of sources to learn more about Christopher Columbus. We analyzed an excerpt from “the log of the voyage of Columbus” (1492) and an excerpt about Columbus from a textbook written in 2006. We discussed the advantages, disadvantages, and reliability of both types of sources. We also discussed the types of questions to ask of sources to better understand what kind of information can be gleaned from them:
- What kind of source is it?
- Who wrote it?
- Why was it written?
- What can I learn from this source about events, people, or places in the past?
We will continue dissecting some more primary sources to answer the essential question: did Columbus die believing he had reached Asia? Primary sources will include a letter from Columbus, excerpts from his writings about his 3rd voyage, and a map made by Columbus’ brother.
