1. ASManager2_6.zip Driver
2. d_columb.txt File Contents

d_columb.txt Driver File Contents (ASManager2_6.zip)

Name: <  >
Class: <  >
Date: <  >

Dear Columbus

Using this file, write letters to Columbus in two different time periods. Think back and think ahead! Use books and library materials for more background.

Did Christopher Columbus "discover" America? Native Americans don't think so! Some people say the Vikings or Irish monks were the first white people to reach the western shores. Columbus thought he was bringing back riches from the East to Queen Isabella and King Ferdinand of Spain. He didn't know the "new" land was a new continent. Yet, his four voyages uncovered the wealth of a whole new world. Europe's kings and queens needed the riches of the East to expand commerce and pay for wars. Thus, a whole new continent was explored, and eventually settled.

Pretend

Suppose you lived at the time of Columbus. Pretend you are a king, queen, merchant, fishwife, monk, sea captain, chef, Indian, sailor, ... or choose the person you would wish to be.

Write a letter to Christopher Columbus. Introduce yourself and tell Columbus why you approve (or disapprove) of his recent voyage. Tell him what you want him to do (or not do) on his next voyage.

A format for a letter and suggestions for what to include are below. Type beside the <  > markers.

October, 1495

Mr. Christopher Columbus
c/o King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella
Royal Court of Castile and Leon
Spain

Dear Mr. Columbus:

[Introduce your "pretend" self.] <  >

[Tell Columbus what you've heard about his voyage and how you heard about it.] <  >

[Tell Columbus how you feel about his voyage.] <  >

[Give Columbus suggestions for what should or should not be done in the future and why.] <  >

[Your Name] <  >

[Address] <  >

[Now go back and delete the words in [brackets]. You will have a letter to Columbus when you finish.]

Name and save this file now.  (Press Ctrl-S, type a name for the file, and press Enter.)

====================

Now, put yourself into a different time period. Type in the missing information inside the angle brackets. Use your imagination and choose sometime in the future.

It is the year <  >. Imagine you are about to take a voyage to <  > in <  >. Write a letter to Columbus. Tell him about your voyage. Tell him how you expect your voyage to be similar and different from his own. Tell him about your chances of success and what people are saying about you and your adventure.

Start your letter beside the <  > marker below.

<  >

If you haven't done so already, name and save this file now.  (Press Ctrl-S, type a name for the file, and press Enter.)

====================

end of activity
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