It’s Columbus Day on Monday in the United States, and it’s also known as Indigenous Peoples’ Day.

I’ve previously posted about a related lesson I do in my ELL U.S. History classes (see Here’s What My ELL Students Are Reading & Writing About Columbus).

I’ve modified it a bit this year.

After learning about Columbus through our textbook and through Brainpop,  students divided into breakout rooms to read portions of Columbus Day: Some Love It, Others Not So Much, an article from Learning English – Voice of America (it also provides audio support for the text).

They had these instructions:

Your group will make a slideshow of your section of the article.

FIRST SLIDE: Title of article, the number of your part, the names of people in your group

SECOND SLIDE: One word that is new to you, what they mean – IN YOUR OWN WORDS, and a picture.

THIRD SLIDE: One word that is new to you, what they mean – IN YOUR OWN WORDS, and a picture.

FOURTH SLIDE: A one sentence summary – IN YOUR OWN WORDS (do not copy a sentence and do not use Google Translate) of your part

FIFTH SLIDE: Another important fact from your part

 

Then, after they presented their presentations to each other, and after taking notes about what they learned from each one, they responded to this prompt (they went back to their breakout rooms, shared screens, and composed responses as a group)  and the accompanying instructions (you can download the entire handout here):

 

Do you think we should celebrate Columbus Day?

Answer the question using the ABC format:

 

Answer the question

 

Back it up” with information from the article and presentations

 

Comment on how the information supports your answer

 

 

Here’s an example of an ABC paragraph answering a different question:

Do you think Lionel Messi is better than Ronaldo?

 

ANSWER THE QUESTION: I think Lionel Messi is better than Ronaldo.  He is the best football player in the world.

 

BACK IT UP: They have both scored about the same number of goals, but Messi’s team has won more championships.

 

COMMENT: A great player makes the people around you great.  Messi has helped his teammates be greater and won championships.

 

I think Lionel Messi is better than Ronaldo.  He is the best football player in the world. They have both scored about the same number of goals, but Messi’s team has won more championships. A great player makes the people around you great.  Messi has helped his teammates be greater and won championships.

 

 

Now it’s your turn: Do you think we should celebrate Columbus Day?

 

ANSWER THE QUESTION:  I do think we should celebrate Columbus Day 

                                                                OR

                                          I do not think we should celebrate Columbus Day.

 

BACK IT UP: The article and presentation said ____________________________.

 

COMMENT: This supports my answer because _____________________________.

 

 

The lesson went very well.  On Monday, they’ll be presenting their slideshows to a smaller group of Newcomers with less proficiency in English, and teaching it to them!

I’m adding this post to The Best Online Resources About Christopher Columbus (& ‘Indigenous Peoples’ Day’).